MOMBASA:Over 40 senior officials from seven African countries converged in Mombasa this week for a high-level leadership training program aimed at accelerating road safety reforms across the continent.
The Road Safety Executive Leadership Course 2025 (RSELC) brought together heads of transport agencies, traffic commissioners, a member of parliament, and senior government officials in a week-long engagement focused on reducing traffic injuries and fatalities in Africa.
The program is supported by the Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative for Global Road Safety (BIGRS) and jointly delivered by the Johns Hopkins University International Injury Research Unit (JH-IIRU) and the Global Road Safety Partnership (GRSP).
According to organizers, the RSELC provides a platform for leadership development, knowledge sharing, and strategic planning to strengthen national and regional capacity in road safety management. The course emphasizes evidence-based interventions, behavioral change communication, and data-driven decision-making.
Speaking during the opening ceremony, Daniel Manyala, County Executive Committee Member for Transport and Public Works in the County Government of Mombasa, welcomed the participants and reaffirmed the county’s commitment to promoting safer mobility.
“Road safety leadership is critical to saving lives. The commitment shown by these leaders underscores the growing momentum across Africa to make roads safer for all,” said CEC Manyala.
Dr. Abdulgafoor Bachani, Director of the Johns Hopkins International Injury Research Unit, expressed his delight at hosting the course in his hometown, describing it as an opportunity to empower African road safety professionals.
“This course is equipping senior road safety professionals with tools to deliver measurable impact on Africa’s roads. We hope that this week’s dialogue fosters lasting partnerships and accelerate progress toward safer, more resilient transport systems,” Dr. Bachani said.
Through BIGRS, Bloomberg Philanthropies has been instrumental in supporting governments and partner organizations to implement proven interventions and strengthen leadership capacity in road safety. Across Africa, the initiative has contributed to data system improvements, policy reforms, and national road safety action plans that are making cities safer and more livable.
Participants at the Mombasa course pledged to apply the lessons learned to enhance collaboration among stakeholders, align national strategies with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and reinforce leadership in both national and local government levels.
The RSELC forms part of Bloomberg Philanthropies’ ongoing investment in leadership development for road safety professionals, aimed at empowering them with the skills, vision, and partnerships necessary to drive meaningful change on African roads.