Bangkok, 7 November 2024 – The UN Road Safety Fund (UNRSF) joined the ESCAP-led Development Partner Round Table as part of the Committee on Transport's Eighth Session. This high-level side event gathered development partners and regional leaders to discuss enhancing the impact of development assistance in sustainable transport across Asia and the Pacific over the coming decade.

Representing the UNRSF, Head Nneka Henry highlighted critical financing and regulatory challenges in road safety, underscoring the importance of international cooperation in achieving shared goals. Henry noted that, while the Fund aims to halve road deaths by 2030, the broader ecosystem of development partners must work together to address tough issues such as low law adherence to road safety regulations and limited domestic financing. Despite the goal of halving road deaths by 2030, only a few countries have adopted comprehensive safety laws, and even fewer have fully funded national road safety plans.

As the UNRSF recently closed its 2024 Call for Proposals, Henry shared that the Fund received multiple submissions from the Asia-Pacific region, many focusing on financing innovations like road safety bonds, targeted taxes, and PPPs to drive sustained investment. Other proposals seek to address urgent needs in motorcycle safety, helmet usage, and making child safety equipment more accessible. These proposals will be evaluated, with successful projects announced in February 2025 at the 4th Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety in Morocco.

With ongoing support from regional stakeholders and international partners, the UNRSF remains committed to advancing sustainable transport in Asia and the Pacific, aligning with both regional priorities and global sustainability goals to make roads safer for everyone.