Young Tae Kim (ITF), Daniel Pulido, Volkan Recai (World Bank Group) and other experts, including those from Haiti and Serbia and Ghana, joined a High-Level Roundtable on Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) for Road Safety at the 8th UNECE International PPP Forum in Istanbul, Turkey.

In support of the 2024 Call for Proposals’ funding priority on domestic road safety financing, the UNRSF convened a panel of experts on May 9 to discuss the critical role of PPPs in preventing road traffic injury.  

Road crashes remain a leading cause of death and injury worldwide, with a disproportionate impact on low- and middle-income countries. Traditional funding sources often struggle to keep pace with the resources needed to create safe and sustainable road infrastructure. PPPs offer a promising solution by leveraging private sector expertise and resources to bridge this funding gap.  

The UNRSF's High-Level Roundtable showcased successful PPP initiatives and explored new approaches to attracting private sector investment in road safety projects. The experts identified key elements for crafting successful PPP policies that prioritize road safety and strategies for promoting knowledge sharing and collaboration on PPPs for road safety, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. 

Mr Young Tae Kim (ITF) and Mr Daniel Pulido among other experts, emphasized the significant opportunities that PPPs present to raise the standard of road safety. They also highlighted that governments should share experience to handle risk and keep costs down. Furthermore, Mr Pulido mentioned that the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private sector arm of the World Bank Group, is structuring PPPs to include road safety performance targets and economic incentives. 

The roundtable featured a keynote address from Mr Jean Todt, the UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Road Safety, highlighting the critical role of PPPs in advancing global road safety efforts. Ms Nneka Henry, Head of the UN Road Safety Fund, moderated the discussion and reiterated that "the UNRSF strongly advocates supporting countries in developing and implementing effective PPPs for road safety. We urge our implementing partners and countries to seize this opportunity and submit proposals for the 2024 UNRSF call."

The UNRSF's High-Level Roundtable on PPPs for Road Safety served as a valuable platform for fostering collaboration and innovation in tackling the global challenge of road safety. By leveraging PPPs, the road ahead can be paved with safer infrastructure, improved safety measures, and ultimately, fewer lives lost on the roads.

During the roundtable discussion, it was emphasized that the UNRSF and its partners can assist member states in several crucial capacity-building areas. These include the gathering and analysis of road safety data, public awareness campaigns, development of legal frameworks, technical and technological education and implementation of best practices, optimization of procurement, inter-ministerial coordination, and more.