NEWSLETTER
Our year in review
ISSUE #1
DECEMBER 2019 FRIENDS OF
ROAD SAFETY DEADLINE FOR
WORKSHOP ON 2019 CALL
2019 CALL FOR FOR PROPOSALS
PROPOSALS
5 NOVEMBER 4 DECEMBER
HIGHLIGHTS
OF 2019 BRIEFING ON
CALL FOR
PROPOSALS LAUNCH OF
TO PUNOS AND 2019 CALL FOR
PARTNERS PROPOSALS
25 OCTOBER 9 OCTOBER
UNRSF PILOT PROJECT UNRSF THIRD THIRD SESSION
ONE-YEAR IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY SESSION OF THE OF THE STEERING
ANNIVERSARY COMMENCES WORKSHOP ADVISORY BOARD COMMITTEE
12 APRIL 1–10 MAY 8 JULY 3 SEPTEMBER 4 OCTOBER
IN THIS ISSUE
From the governing bodies . . page 2
Our work on the ground . . . . page 2
Financing the UNRSF . . . . . . page 5
2019 Call for Proposals . . . . . page 6
UN-HABITAT
Spotlight . . . . . . . . . . . . .page 7
Our work on the ground 2019 Call for Proposals
Looking ahead . . . . . . . . . page 8
FROM THE GOVERNING BODIES
The governance structure of the UNRSF is composed of an Advisory Board, a Steering Committee,
a Secretariat and an Administrative Agent. The Advisory Board provides strategic direction to
the Fund, including advice on criteria for proposals, monitoring and evaluation and priorities for
funding projects. The Steering Committee has the direct oversight on the Fund and the authority
to make decisions such as the approval of projects for funding in line with the strategic direction
provided by the Advisory Board.
Following the Advisory Board’s request to suggest some project proposals. In addition to deciding on the formal
ways to identify key priority areas for project proposals, call for proposals, the Advisory Board invited UNESCO to
the Steering Committee at its second session in November become a Fund participating UN organization in view of its
2018, requested the secretariat to organize a seminar to importance in promoting the safe system principles of the
facilitate the identification of future directions for the UNRSF Global Framework Plan through education. Furthermore, the
and to produce guidelines which give strategic direction Advisory Board reviewed progress in the implementation
in applying the Global Framework Plan of Action for Road of the five pilot projects approved by the Fund’s Steering
Safety and Priorities and Criteria for Funding Projects Committee in November 2018. The Advisory Board also
documents. This seminar took place in Geneva on 8 July adopted the Fund’s branding and visual identity as well
2019 with participation from members of the Advisory as its Business Plan 2019-21.
Board and the Steering Committee. The workshop focused
on two issues: the strategic positioning of the UNRSF and The Advisory Board session was followed by meeting of the
the fundraising roadmap for the UNRSF. Fund’s Steering Committee on 4 October 2019. Based on
the strategic decisions of the Advisory Board, the Steering
Subsequently, the UNRSF Advisory Board met on 3 September Committee approved the funding cycle parameters for the
2019 to discuss the conclusions of the July Workshop in order 2019 call. The Committee also reviewed and approved the
to consider the themes or focus areas for the 2019 call for secretariat budget for 2020.
OUR WORK ON THE GROUND
Guided by its Global Framework Plan of Action for Road Safety, the Fund finances projects in
low- and middle-income countries to assist them in developing and addressing key gaps in their
national road safety systems. The Fund was created to finance actions to a) substantially reduce
death and injuries from road crashes, and b) reduce economic losses resulting from these crashes.
Egypt Pakistan
Senegal
Ethiopia Philippines
Côte d’Ivoire
Paraguay
South Africa
2
In November 2018, the UNRSF Steering Committee approved Non-Motorized Transport (NMT) and road safety provisions
five pilot projects, implemented in eight countries across in existing design manuals in Ethiopia, identifying areas for
four regions worth nearly USD 1 million. The pilot projects improvement, and participated in workshops organized by
address key components of national safety systems and the Ethiopian government to review the transport project
are currently well into their implementation phase with performance of each region in the country and help prepare
emerging positive results. annual plans for the coming years, including NMT and road
safety provisions.
Mr. Jean Todt, the United Nations Secretary-General’s
Special Envoy for Road Safety, promotes UNRSF projects In addition, a one-day training on how to organize car-free
during his in-country missions. Currently, follow-up letters days at the request of the Ministry of Transport, Federal
signed by Mr. Todt, heads of agencies and the Executive Transport Authority, was held on 22 November 2019.
Secretary of UNECE are being sent to heads of state of UN-Habitat highlighted experiences and lessons learned
countries where projects are being implemented in order from Nairobi, Maputo, Kampala and Cape Town, while local
to ensure visibility of the Fund’s work and encourage the experience was shared by the officials who have been
channelling national resources to the project in order to running the event in Addis Ababa.
further implement this important initiative and maximize
its results and impact. On 24 November, the project team, in collaboration with
the Bike Ethiopian Network, participated in the Car-Free
Event and organized a bicycle skill training for children.
SAFE ROAD – SCALING SAFE STREET DESIGNS Young children were taught safe cycling rules and the
IN ETHIOPIA project team co-organised an art visualization.
The pilot project “Scaling up safe street designs in Ethiopia” This was followed by a workshop on 25 November, that
is executed by the United Nations Human Settlements kicked off the harmonization of existing street design
Programme (UN-Habitat) in collaboration with the Institute guidelines, in which the project team highlighted incon-
for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP). sistencies and is now tasked to produce a summary of
recommendations for design alignment, which will be
The project’s objective is to strengthen discussed in upcoming technical workshops. To reinforce
the capacity of Ethiopia to better design the partnership, an MoU was signed between UN-Habitat
and the Addis Ababa Transport Bureau on 25 November
and implement policies that prioritize the that outlines the future areas of collaboration as part of
needs of pedestrians and cyclists. this project, but also beyond the scope of this project.
The team organized a two-day workshop in Addis Ababa
in august 2019, during which the participants were able POST-CRASH RESPONSE - IMPROVING ROAD
to successfully identify issues affecting the provision of TRAFFIC FATALITY DATA IN COTE D’IVOIRE
safe walking and cycling infrastructure in the city. More AND SENEGAL
information about the workshop can be found online.
The team has also conducted an initial assessment of The project “Improving road traffic fatality data in Côte
d’Ivoire and Senegal” is executed by the World Health
Organization (WHO) in partnership with the Ministries of
Bicycle skill training for children on Health, Transport and Interior in both countries. In order
the Car Free Day on 24 November in Addis Ababa to strengthen existing health information systems to
provide accurate and timely data through civil registration
on vital statistics for road traffic deaths, the team has
organized two-day workshops in each country with the
participation of Ministry counterparts. The main objective
of these workshops was to explain to attendees the ratio-
nale of the project, its objectives and expected results.
The team has also set up Multisectoral
National Committees, led by the National
Data Coordinators for the Global Status
Report on Road Safety, to improve
UN-HABITAT
road traffic death data collection in
both countries.
3
The project is also an opportunity to build a strong and country activities. This will provide a baseline information
sustainable network on road safety via the multisectoral to guide the remainder of the project activities.
national committee during the project period and after
the end of the project.
SAFE USER – STRENGTHENING SPEED
A Business Process Mapping exercise took place in November MANAGEMENT IN THE PHILIPPINES
2019 to determine the actors involved in the collection of
data on deaths due to road traffic crashes as well as to The project “Strengthening speed management in the
define actions that should be taken to improve the quality Philippines” is executed by the United Nations Economic
of the data collected. and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP)
in partnership with the Global Road Safety Partnership
Finally, a Knowledge, Attitude and Perception Survey on the (GRSP) and in cooperation with ImagineLaw Inc., Land
quality of road safety data was started in both countries. Transportation Office (Philippines) and the Department of
The analysis of the data from the first survey will be shared Transportation of the Philippines Government.
with the countries during the coming workshops.
As part of the project’s goal to improve road user behavior
The project has been well-received in both countries in order to reduce speed related road crashes in the country,
and the launch event in Côte d’Ivoire was featured in the the team has provided best practice speed management
Radiodiffusion Television Ivoirienne (RTI) website. training on 7-8 October 2019 by the GRSP policing experts
via a Train-the-Trainer (ToT) methodology.
SAFE USER – STRENGTHENING LEGAL 45 national police officers participated
FRAMEWORKS FOR ROAD SAFETY IN EGYPT in a hands-on session in real traffic
AND PAKISTAN situations. They will then spread the
training to Local Transportation Offices
The multi-country project “Strengthening legal frameworks
for road safety” is executed by the World Health Organization
at the district level, promoting a
(WHO) in collaboration with the Ministries of Health, systemic approach to speed enforcement
Communication, Transport and Interior in Egypt and Pakistan. throughout the country.
In order to identify legislative gaps in The ToT training focused on speed enforcement key princi-
the five road safety pillars and facilitate ples and enforcements in real traffic situations with different
a multi-stakeholder dialogue for the technical devices, practical measurement procedure, and
mitigation tactics. The next scheduled activity will be the
development of a more comprehensive
follow-up with the trainers on speed enforcement which
legal framework in the field of road safety, is scheduled for the end of 2019.
project kick-off discussions were held with
high-level officials in both countries.
The discussions took place during a meeting of the Eastern
Mediterranean regional legislative held in Oman in June 2019.
Participants included high-level representatives from the
Ministry of Interior from Egypt and the Ministry of Health
from Pakistan as well as members of parliament from both
countries.
In Pakistan, WHO has partnered with Johns Hopkins
University International Injury Research Unit (JHU-IIRU) to
support and facilitate the development of recommendations
to strengthen institutions, consultation with international
and national experts and provincial consultations on draft
policies or law amendments. In Egypt, after due con-
sideration and the situation on the ground, focusing on
developing a proposed amendment is premature. As a
result, WHO is facilitating a policy dialogue in December Speed management
UNESCAP
2019 with high-level officials from Ministries of Transport, training on 7-8 October
Health and Interior to discuss next steps on documenting in the Philippines
4
UNICEF / Zotti
“This is my street” awareness campaign
with children on safe journeys to school on
24 October in Fernando de la Mora
SAFE USER – CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT their accreditation guidelines for urban developers in the
ON CHILD RESPONSIVE URBAN PLANNING design of new communities. UNICEF Paraguay is coordinat-
AND SUSTAINABLE URBAN TRANSPORT ing the project with the National Traffic and Traffic Safety
IN PARAGUAY, THE PHILIPPINES AND Agency (ANTSV) and working with three municipalities
SOUTH AFRICA that are committed to ensure safe and healthy journeys to
school and children’s access to public space. Also, inspired
This multi-country project is executed by the United by the training objectives, the Paraguay Ministry of Housing
Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in collaboration with and Urban Planning has issued a memorandum to ensure
its country offices, institutional, academic and technical that all future urban development projects are based on
partners in Paraguay, the Philippines and South Africa. child rights. The three universities that participated in the
The objective of the project is to strengthen the capac- training are also preparing modules on child-responsive
ity of relevant urban stakeholders to put children first urban planning in civil engineering and architecture careers.
in urban development and transportation planning to UNICEF Paraguay will strengthen its Child Road Traffic
improve independent mobility for children in the cities of Injuries Prevention Program with the gained knowledge
Asuncion, Lambaré and Fernando de la Mora (Paraguay), and articulate its engagement with municipalities through
Cape Town (South Africa) and Valenzuela city (Philippines). a new child-friendly cities initiative. Every training included
a place-based exercise with a site visit to an unsafe school
A team of technical experts has rolled out environment, to make an assessment of the existing
a training package on Child Rights and situation supported with technical tools, to interview
children and local stakeholders, to design solutions and
Urban Planning principles amongst the
draft action plans. Physical interventions and mobility
first cohorts of in total 53 master trainers plans for three school environments are foreseen, as
in these three countries. demonstration projects for future interventions in similar
high-risk places for children.
Trainers were selected amongst public authorities, univer-
sities and professional organizations. UNICEF Philippines Follow these links for more information on Child Rights and
will now work with the Housing and Urban Development Urban Planning, and country-level capacity development
Coordinating Council (HUDCC) to integrate child rights in in the Philippines, Paraguay (with video) and South Africa.
FINANCING THE UNRSF
The Fund has attracted almost USD 20 million in pledges Total Foundation, Michelin Corporate Foundation, Pirelli &
from 12 donors both from the public and private sec- C.SpA., and Global Giving on behalf of 3M.
tors to-date. Public sector donors are Cyprus, European
Commission, France, Hungary, Monaco, Russian Federation, Given the need to promote and raise additional funding,
and Slovakia. Private sector donors include FIA Foundation, in September 2019 the Fund’s Advisory Board adopted the
5
Branding Identity and Messaging Framework, as well as Fund partners. They are based on the Fund’s Fundraising
a new logo and shorter name – the United Nations Road Strategy and Policy.
Safety Fund. The Framework, the new logo and name allow
the Fund to take on a brand identity that is engaging, easily The work of the Special Envoy has been critical to the
understood and that spreads a sense of enthusiasm and fundraising efforts of the UNRSF. The Special Envoy advo-
invites joint ownership and engagement in the Fund’s pur- cates for the Fund during his country visits and high-level
pose and vision. The new branding identity and messaging engagements.
framework also ensure that all Fund partners speak clearly
and with one voice to potential donors. The secretariat has also drafted a donor cultivation plan
and calendar that will help it solidify the support of current
The fundraising activities have been supported by advo- donors and attract new ones. It is also working on a donor
cacy efforts and activities of the Special Envoy for Road ranking scheme. In addition, the secretariat has met with
Safety and the Executive Secretary of the United Nations several potential donors to discuss the modalities of their
Economic Commission for Europe. These efforts are planned contributions in line with the Fund’s Terms of Reference
in coordination with the Fund’s secretariat and relevant and due diligence requirements.
Public sector donors
European Russian
Cyprus France Hungary Monaco Slovakia
Commission Federation
Private sector donors
ON BEHALF OF
THE 2019 CALL FOR PROPOSALS
All project proposals submitted through participating UN
organizations are eligible to apply to the call. Priority is
given to individual country and multi-country projects that
have immediate and tangible impact on the reduction of
road fatalities. To capitalize on synergies to achieve impact
on the ground, partnerships were encouraged with other
organizations, multi-lateral development banks, and road
safety NGOs.
To help participating UN organizations and other potential
A workshop on the UNRSF 2019 Call for Proposals partners prepare their project submissions, the secretariat
was organized on 5 November in Geneva of the Fund organized a dedicated briefing session on the
2019 Call for Proposals on 25 October 2019 at the Palais
des Nations in Geneva. The briefing session focused on
In October 2019, the Fund opened its first formal call for the Global Framework Plan of Action and the Priorities and
project proposals, which closed on 4 December and will Criteria for Funding Projects, which provides criteria for
disburse USD 4 million to approved projects. project evaluation.
6
A workshop on the UNRSF 2019 Call for Proposals
was organized for diplomatic corps under the
auspices of the Geneva Friends of Road Safety
Network on 5 November 2019 by the United Nations
$62.5
73 52
Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Road Safety
and the Permanent Delegation of the European
MILLION
Union to the UN in Geneva. The workshop was
PROJECTS COUNTRIES
US DOLLARS
followed by a photo exhibition, which featured
RECEIVED
NEEDED
a keynote speech by Dr. Tedros A. Ghebreyesus,
WHO Director-General.
SPOTLIGHT
VOICES OF OUR DONORS
Alexander Gorovoy
UNRSF Advisory Board Member Rt. Hon. Lord Robertson of
First Deputy Minister of Port Ellen
Internal Affairs of the Russian UNRSF Advisory Board Member
Federation Chairman, FIA Foundation
“The Government of the Russian Federation has been “The UN Road Safety Fund (UNRSF) is a vitally import-
a long-standing champion of efforts to improve road ant initiative. The FIA Foundation is supporting the Fund
safety worldwide. We hosted the first ever Global because we recognise that the level of resourcing for
Ministerial Conference on Road Safety in Moscow in global road safety, and in particular for supporting
2009 and has sponsored numerous United Nations capacity-building in low and middle income countries,
General Assembly resolutions on road safety over is woefully inadequate. By catalysing policy change,
the past 15 years. In December 2018, we contributed and by strengthening regional collaboration, the Fund
USD 2 million to the UN Road Safety Fund (UNRSF). has the potential to save many lives.
Our support to the UNRSF is based on our recognition But to do this we need to attract major donor support.
of the key role that it plays in providing a global Donor governments need to be more ambitious and
solution to the costs that societies bear as a result of strategic, and much more generous, if we are to
road safety challenges. The Fund does so, firstly, by drive down road traffic deaths. The first major Call
providing a much-needed financing mechanism for for Proposals of the Fund has demonstrated the scale
the public and private sectors to jointly contribute to of the appetite and need. This must be matched with
the road safety crisis. Secondly, it uses those funds in a significant increase in resourcing.
a structured manner by advancing a safety system
concept (through the Fund’s Global Framework Plan The UNRSF should co-finance with other multilateral
of Action) for national efforts for road safety. funds focused on the Sustainable Development Goals,
with those working on climate, sustainable cities and
The Russian Federation has actively participated in child & adolescent health. We have a compelling case
the UNRSF’s governance mechanism starting upon its for investing in road safety, and need to be energetic
establishment in order to ensure that the Fund’s resources in communicating it. And we need to find ways for
contribute saving lives in the low- and middle-income the Fund to harness the skills and imagination of
countries most plagued by road safety issues. We civil society and the power and reach of the private
encourage more member States and private sector sector. By building strong partnerships, fuelled by
partners to join us in contributing generously to the Fund the UNRSF, we can truly realise its potential to make
in our fight to eliminate road fatalities and injuries in our roads safe.”
pursuit of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.”
7
LOOKING AHEAD
“Four years ago, the UN General Assembly asked
the Secretary-General to explore the possibility
PROJECTS – 2018 PILOT of establishing a UN Road Safety Trust Fund. Two
years ago, the UN General Assembly welcomed its
The Fund will continue to monitor the implementation of establishment and its role towards achieving global
the five pilot projects and will communicate their success targets. In the 2020 UN General Assembly, we must
stories on its website and through social media. These continue to tell our inspiring story, reaffirming and
projects are due for completion in 2020, and it will be celebrating the importance of the Fund and the
important to extrapolate their results and lessons learned impact that it can make.”
to further inform future designs of calls for proposals.
Jean Todt
United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Envoy
PROJECTS – 2019 CALL FOR PROPOSALS for Road Safety | UNRSF Advisory Board Member
In December 2019, the Fund received and screened sub-
missions to its first formal call for proposals. Appraisals of
these projects are conducted by a panel of independent
road safety experts, which will submit their evaluations to invest in road safety as the first Decade of Action for Road
the Fund’s Steering Committee. The Steering Committee will Safety arrives at an end in 2020. The Conference could be
utilize these appraisals to decide on projects during their an opportunity to seek support among Member States to
next face-to-face meeting in Geneva on 14 February 2020. host a road safety pledging conference.
STOCKHOLM MINISTERIAL SECRETARIAT
The approved projects from the 2019 Call for Proposals will The next months will also see the completion of recruit-
be announced at the Third Global Ministerial Conference ments of the UNRSF team, including the position of the
on Road Safety in Stockholm on 19-20 February 2020. The Head of the UNRSF secretariat, and the Public Information
purpose of the Conference is to build a momentum for Officer.
renewed commitment by governments to engage to and
FUNDRAISING
“Road safety has so far not received the political The UNRSF secretariat will continue to strengthen its
attention and, critically, the financial support it fundraising activities, including through the establishment
deserves. We must urgently step up efforts to of an informal working group on funding matters. The
realize the transformative road safety vision of secretariat will also engage closely with nascent discus-
the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. sions on innovative financing mechanisms. The Secretariat
The UN Road Safety Fund takes a decisive step will coordinate with the Special Envoy to identify target
in this direction, bringing all stakeholders around countries and entities for fundraising purposes.
the table to mobilize much needed resources and
strengthen joint action.”
ANNIVERSARY
Olga Algayerova
Executive Secretary of UNECE | UNRSF Advisory On 12 April 2020, the Fund will celebrate its second anni-
Board Member versary, which presents an opportunity to demonstrate the
success of its pilot projects, solidify the support of current
donors and attract new ones.
E-mail: unrsf_secretariat@un.org
www.unece.org/unrsf
