8 – 10 April | Dakar, Senegal and Nouakchott, Mauritania – The International Road Federation (IRF) was in West Africa for the Safe and Inclusive Road Design in North and West Africa project.

IRF Senior Advisor Brendan Halleman and Project Manager Paul Karst were in Dakar, Senegal and Nouakchott, Mauritania for a series of seminars that convened stakeholders to advance implementation roadmaps based on earlier project recommendations and to build capacity in safer road design.

Funded by the UNRSF – UN Road Safety Fund and the Islamic Development Bank, the Safe and Inclusive Road Design in North and West Africa project is now moving into implementation, with concrete steps underway in Morocco, Senegal and Mauritania. This work is underpinned by applied training on network-level diagnoses, road safety audits, vulnerable road user protection as well as safe work zone practices. In parallel, IRF is overseeing the development of practical handbooks supporting project personnel in making optimal design decisions.

Article originally published by the Agence Mauritanienne d’information

A workshop dedicated to the revision of design references for Safe and Inclusive Roads in Mauritania began on Monday, 6 April, in Nouakchott. Organised by the Ministry of Equipment and Transport, the workshop aimed to develop a roadmap for the development roads in the area.

The workshop is part of the local transport sector’s efforts to strengthen road safety and improve the quality of infrastructure in accordance with national guidelines to develop the transport network and facilitate the movement of people and transportation of goods.

The Secretary General of the Ministry of Equipment and Transport, M’aizira Mint Kerbally, explained in her speech that the this meeting is in accordance with the high guidelines of His Excellency the President of the Republic, Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, who made road safety a national priority to protect lives and preserve development of the region. She stressed that the government is working to make this vision a reality by integrating road safety standards at all stages of project planning and execution, ensuring safer and more sustainable infrastructure.

Hon. Kerbally stressed the importance of this workshop as a means to provide practical training in road safety audits, which has become a fundamental pillar of public policy. She added that Mauritania has experienced a significant expansion of its road network in recent years, exceeding 6,000 kilometres, with more than 2000 kilometres still in progress. This is in addition to the launch of major structural projects, including the Nouakchott 2026 transport project, which has helped to modernise urban transport, improve traffic fluidity and strengthen public transport.

She noted that despite these advances, technical assessments have revealed certain shortcomings in international standards, highlighting the importance of continuing efforts, including in establishing an effective system for road safety auditing, considered an essential tool to prevent road accidents before they occur.

She also mentioned that the workshop will organise advanced training sessions for national executives, thus strengthening their skills and providing a solid basis for the development of this vital area, calling on participants to interact positively and exchange experiences, in order to contribute to the development of practical and innovative solutions that meet the specificities of the country.

For his part, the senior advisor to the International Roads Federation (IRF), Brendan Halleman, said that the current phase represents a transition from diagnosis to execution, stressing that the roadmap should be a practical tool for guiding decisions and coordinating efforts, and that its success is measured by the degree of integration of safety standards in road projects over the coming months, from the design phase to execution and audit.

He added that the biggest challenge lies in effective enforcement, calling for clear priorities and effective implementation mechanisms, while reaffirming the commitment of the International Roads Union to support Mauritania through a long-term partnership based on technical assistance and the exchange of experience.

The workshop took place in the presence of several technical executives, experts and actors in the field.