By Isabella Njeri
In a groundbreaking shift towards addressing the African road safety crisis, youth-led initiatives and civil society organizations are emerging as powerful catalysts for change. However, much more remains to be done.
This was underscored during the launch of the Africa Regional Road Safety Status Report in Nairobi, Kenya. Dr. Abdourahmane Diallo, Kenya’s World Health Organization Representative, presented sobering statistics.
According to Dr. Diallo, it is estimated that globally 90 percent of the 1.19 million road traffic deaths, with over 50 million sustaining non-fatal injuries, occur in low and middle-income countries.
Despite these challenges, the report also highlights promising initiatives making a difference. Mr. Patrick Kinyanjui, Regional Coordinator of Africa Global Alliance of NGOs for Road Safety, shared insights on how civil society empowers youth to lead the charge for safer roads.
According to Mr. Kinyanjui, the youths are the most productive age group, and if they are killed and maimed in road crashes, then there may be no future generation. Thus, the Global Alliance of NGOs for Road Safety focuses on empowering youth-led road safety initiatives through several key strategies.
One of the primary approaches is building solid networks. Thus, the organization connects youth groups through cooperative efforts involving campaigns, such as the Annual Commit to Act campaign and participation in the United Nations Global Road Safety Week.
A standout example of youth leadership in this space is the Youth for Road Safety (YOURS) organization, which has youths from different countries. YOURS brings together many young professionals from various fields. In Rwanda, for instance, young doctors who recognize the impact of road crashes on hospital resources have joined the movement.
When you build a strong network, your voice is amplified, Mr. Kinyanjui explained. You can ask for your share on the table and be involved in serious decision-making processes.
Another crucial aspect of these initiatives is the design and execution of targeted campaigns. The Global Alliance of NGOs for Road Safety assists youth organizations in creating evidence-based messaging and campaign materials. These campaigns often focus on themes such as Safer Streets for Youth and Streets for Life.
The Regional Coordinator highlighted a recent campaign that examined dangerous intersections in cities like Nairobi. “We pick intersections where people think the danger is normal and show it is not normal if the following things are implemented, they will save lives.”
Despite the progress, NGOs and youth organizations face several challenges in road safety work. One of the primary obstacles is a lack of community awareness. Many people don’t recognize unsafe road conditions as violating their mobility rights.
Organizations focus on community mobilization to address this, often starting with school safety initiatives. Media engagement presents another hurdle. Road safety issues are often overlooked in favor of more sensational stories.
The Global Alliance of NGOs for Road Safety is working to develop compelling, evidence-based narratives to capture media attention and shift the focus from behavioral blame to systemic solutions.
Engaging with policymakers remains a significant challenge, as NGOs must establish credibility and present targeted evidence-based proposals. The Global Alliance is building capacity among youth organizations to communicate effectively with decision-makers.
Funding is also a persistent issue. To address this, the Global Alliance connects NGOs with potential funders and advocates for increased funding from multilateral development organizations.
Despite these challenges, youth-led initiatives have achieved notable successes. In Kenya, advocacy efforts reduced urban speed limits from 80 km/h to 50 km/h, with ongoing efforts to further reduce it to the internationally recommended 30 km/h.
Zambia has passed new legislation on speed limits around schools, while Tunisia has integrated data from various sources to improve road safety reporting. The Global Plan of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030 recognizes the crucial role of youth and civil society in these efforts.
It clearly shows the role of the civil side of Kinyanjui. It is not a choice. It indicates a whole section of the youth roles specifically. As these initiatives continue to grow, the focus shifts from awareness to implementation.
Youth organizations are now being trained to implement projects, work with companies, and engage in fundraising. The Regional Coordinator emphasized the importance of solution-based reporting.
We don’t just complain about the situation in the country. We ask what about the solution? With continued support and capacity building, youth-led road safety initiatives are poised to significantly impact Africa in the coming years, potentially saving countless lives and shaping safer, more sustainable urban environments for future generations.
