Ezulwini, Kingdom of Eswatini, 18 April 2025 - The Kingdom of Eswatini hosted the 3rd edition of the Kofi Annan Road Safety Award in Ezulwini on the 14th and 15th of April 2025 on the theme “Mobilizing Domestic Financing to Accelerate the Road Safety Agenda in Africa”.
Jointly organized by the Ministry of Public Works and Transport and the Road Safety Council of Eswatini, in collaboration with the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Road Safety, the United Nations in Eswatini, and the Kofi Annan Foundation, the event celebrated progress while confronting the urgent need for sustained investment in road safety.
Held under the esteemed patronage of the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Eswatini, the event brought together high-level political leaders, government ministers, international experts, private sector stakeholders, and civil society representatives. The gathering reflected a growing recognition that addressing Africa’s road safety crisis demands collective commitment, cross-sector collaboration, and innovative thinking.
“As the UN family, we remain committed—alongside the Government and our partners—to reducing morbidity and mortality caused by road traffic injuries,” said Mr. George Wachira, UN Resident Coordinator in Eswatini.
Reflecting on the spirit and legacy of the late Secretary-General, Mr. Jean Todt, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Road Safety, remarked: “Kofi Annan’s foresight and tireless advocacy placed road safety firmly on the global agenda. His legacy reminds us of the power of visionary leadership in shaping a safer, more just world. The Kofi Annan Road Safety Award honours that legacy and recognizes those who are creating transformative solutions to one of Africa’s most urgent challenges.”
Echoing the theme of the event, Mr. Antonio Pedro, Deputy Executive Secretary of ECA, emphasized the importance of domestic and private investment. He said,
“Governments alone cannot address the magnitude of road safety issues. The private sector plays a vital role—by investing in frontier technologies, modernizing vehicle inspection infrastructure, and upgrading road networks to meet UN safety standards.”
The Kofi Annan Road Safety Award was established to incentivize excellence and inspire action among governments, the private sector, and civil society. Aligned with the UN General Assembly’s target of halving global road traffic deaths and injuries by 2030, the Award is anchored in the African Union’s Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021–2030.
In his opening address, the Prime Minister of Eswatini, Russell Mmiso Dlamini, reaffirmed Eswatini’s dedication to this cause, saying “we were among the first countries to ratify the African Road Safety Charter adopted by the African Union in 2016. This commitment reflects our belief in a harmonized, continent-wide approach to road safety—one that protects our people, empowers our economies, and honors the dignity of every life lost”.
The 2025 awards recognized outstanding efforts across five key categories, reflecting core pillars of the Global and African Road Safety Action Plans, namely: management, innovation, safer vehicles, financing, and sustainable mobility. The winners of the 3rd edition of the Kofi Annan Award are:
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Innovation (with a focus on digitalization): Republic of Cameroon.
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Road Safety Management: Federal Republic of Nigeria.
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Public Transportation / Modal Shift: Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.
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Safer Vehicles: Republic of Kenya; and
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Road Safety Financing: Republic of Senegal.
As road safety continues to pose a major challenge across Africa, the Kofi Annan Road Safety Award stands as a beacon—spotlighting progress, mobilizing partnerships, and reminding us all that behind every statistic is a life that can be saved.