UN Road Safety Fund: Meeting the Global Road Safety Challenge Head-On

Nneka Henry, the Head of the UN Road Safety Fund, is leading the fight against the global road safety crisis that impacts millions of people every year. In 2018, 1.3 million people died on the world’s roads, while another 50 million were injured or disabled. Against the backdrop of multiple global crises, including the coronavirus pandemic and the climate emergency, preventing road crashes from claiming more lives is the Fund’s ultimate goal. To achieve this goal, the Fund adopts a coordinated and multi-faceted approach that addresses the underlying causes of unsafe roads, interconnections with other global development crises, and effective post-crash responses. By mobilizing pooled financial resources and technical knowledge, the Fund works with partners to ensure road safety is treated as a public health issue. It finances projects across the global south that address issues such as speed control and vehicle quality standards. The Fund also communicates effectively with the public, stakeholders, and decision-makers using flagship events and knowledge exchange sessions to build resilience and preparedness for future crises. As the Fund celebrates its fifth year, more nations, companies, and individuals are urged to invest in this global response and rise to meet the serious and interconnected challenges of the global road safety crisis today.