The International Road Federation (IRF) supported a three-part online training series on road safety engineering, delivered under the UNRSF Safe & Inclusive Road Designs in Central Asia project in April 2025. Designed to build capacity in Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, the training brought together professionals committed to improving road safety in the region.

Over 60 engineers and road safety practitioners joined each module, which covered key areas including the fundamentals of road safety engineering and the Safe System approach, practical design guidance, and the iRAP methodology for road assessment.  

Participant feedback reflected the practical value of the sessions.

“Recent webinars focused primarily on road safety and inclusivity in road design. These aspects play a key role at the feasibility study stage, as they are directly linked to reducing the risk of injuries and fatalities. Effective safety approaches were discussed, including proper design of curves, road shoulders, and minimising excessive measures such as an overuse of signs. The importance of striking a balance between safety and budget was emphasised. Such meetings provide valuable insights and are especially beneficial if more students and professionals from relevant organisations are involved. Thank you for the opportunity to participate.” – Dilovar Hikmatov, Ministry of Transport, Tajikistan.

From Kyrgyzstan, Road Police Official Tynychbek Saidov, highlighted the benefits of hearing directly from international experts: “Their perspectives helped deepen our understanding of current challenges and best practices in road design and safety.”

The trainings were delivered with the support of specialists from several leading organisations in the field. Contributors came from the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), the International Road Federation (IRF) the International Road Assessment Programme (iRAP), and the Eastern Alliance for Safe and Sustainable Transport (EASST) alongside independent experts and engineering professionals from Australia and Europe. Their combined expertise offered a broad and practical perspective on how global road safety principles can be applied to local contexts. 

The broader project, led by ESCAP in partnership with iRAP, EASST and IRF, is funded by the United Nations Road Safety Fund (UNRSF). Launched in March 2024, the 18-month initiative aims to review and update national road design standards (GOST-SNiP), align them with global safety targets and best practices, and develop a common regional recommendations manual to complement existing standards to guide safer, more inclusive road infrastructure across the three countries. 

By strengthening the capacity of road designers and policymakers, the project contributes to regional efforts to improve infrastructure, enhance accessibility for pedestrians and cyclists, and reduce road casualties.