Addis Ababa, 26 November 2023 (ECA) - To mark the 2nd World Sustainable Transport Day, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) in collaboration with member States, the European Union, the World Bank Group, Transport Corridor Authorities and other partners, held an event on sustainable transport in Africa.
The event, organised as part of the 8th PIDA Week, focused on current trends and the role of digitalisation in sustainable development of Africa’s transportation systems.
Robert Lisinge, Director Technology, Innovation, Connectivity, and Infrastructure Division at ECA stressed that the event provided a platform to consult with African stakeholders on the development of an implementation plan for the Sustainable Transport Decade 2026-2035.
He noted that ECA is already leading by example through the development of an Artificial Intelligence and geographic information system-based tool to support the monitoring of Africa’s transport corridors.
On her part, The World Bank’s Infrastructure Programme Lead for Eastern Africa, Monali Ranade, highlighted that “to achieve sustainable transport, an integrated planning approach is needed for the transport, digital, energy and other sectors”.
She added that “by prioritising sustainable transport options, we can mitigate climate change, improve social equity, and drive economic growth”.
The Head of Information Society Division of the African Union Commission (AUC), Mr. Waleed Hamdi, invited African States to use AU policy frameworks to mainstream digitalisation in transport.
Other speakers at the event included Dr. Kazaura Kamugisha, Director for Infrastructure and Energy of AUC, Fabio Di Stephano of the European Union, and Emmanuel Imaniranzi, Director for Transport Policy and Planning of the Northern Corridor Transit and Transport Coordination Authority (NCTTCA).
Robert Lisinge concluded the event by assuring participants that their views and contributions will be conveyed to the drafters of the implementation plan of the Sustainable Transport Decade 2026-2035.
About the UN Decade of Sustainable Transport (2026-2035)
In 2023, the General Assembly resolution A/78/148 titled “Strengthening the links between all modes of transport to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals” called, among others, for closer UN cooperation, a UN Decade of Sustainable Transport (2026-2035), and a Third UN Global Sustainable Transport Conference, and the celebration of the next World Sustainable Transport Day on 26 Novembers. The UN Member States also requested the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs to develop an Implementation Plan for the UN Decade of Sustainable Transport, in collaboration with the UN Regional Commissions and in consultation with the Member States, the United Nations system and all other relevant stakeholders.
Issued by:
Communications Section
Economic Commission for Africa
PO Box 3001
Addis Ababa
Ethiopia
Tel: +251 11 551 5826
E-mail: eca-info@un.org