FIA Foundation Advocacy Hub project highlight – New safer school infrastructure unveiled in Mozambique

Image credit: FIA Foundation

Child pedestrians are among the highest-risk groups in Mozambique for road traffic injuries. In fact, a child in Africa is twice as likely to die on the roads as a child in any other region.

The government of Mozambique (Maputo Municipal Council; the Services of Social Affairs, Maputo City; Maputo City Government; INATRO (National Institute of Road Transport); ANE (National Road Administration), iRAP, and; the Mozambique Road Fund – the World Bank, FIA Foundation, ATCM (Automovel Touring Clube de Mozambique) and non-profit Amend have joined forces to deliver new lifesaving infrastructure improvements and speed regulation changes around the A Luta Continua Primary School and neighbouring schools – making the journeys safer for children to and from school.

After consultations with members of the school and the community – including pupils and teachers – and the Maputo Municipal Council, improvements including footpaths, speed humps, zebra crossings, and more were designed and installed around and near A Luta Continua primary and neighbouring schools over several weeks. Additionally, speed limits have been reduced to 30km/h around the schools. These are all measures that are proven to prevent road traffic injuries.

The infrastructure improvements, speed regulations, and ribbon-cutting event at A Luta Continua Primary School are intended to highlight the kind of improvements that are being designed and built around schools in Mozambique on road projects financed by the Work Bank.

An event at the school saw the key stakeholders, students and members of the community come together to cut the ribbon on the new infrastructure and life-saving speed regulations for children.

Saul Billingsley, Executive Director of the FIA Foundation said at the event: “Every child should have the expectation and right to walk to school without fear of road danger from speeding vehicles. Simple measures like proper sidewalks and crossings, speed bumps and enforced speed limits should be in place for every school journey. The FIA Foundation is pleased to be part of this coalition working to protect children in Mozambique.”

Texel Cossa, Country Manager of Amend Mozambique said: “Mozambique is currently facing many road safety challenges, with lives being lost daily on our roads and with many children being injured during their journeys to school. Today we demonstrate how the provision of safe infrastructure, road safety education and enforcement will improve and save the lives of thousands of pedestrians including students, paving the way for safe and sustainable mobility in Mozambique.”

Project partners are working together on World Bank financed projects – such as the ongoing Integrated Feeder Roads Development Project and the proposed Safer Roads for Socio-Economic Integration in Mozambique (a 10-year, multi-phase rehabilitation of the N1 North-South corridor) – to help ensure that children across Mozambique can benefit from the same life-saving measures that have just been put in place around A Luta Continua primary and neighbouring schools.

Star Rating for Schools supports the €15 million FIA Foundation Advocacy Hub for Safe Streets launched in May last year. The Hub is supporting organizations across the world engaged in policy change activities to secure safe, low-speed streets below 30km/h where pedestrians, particularly children and youth, mix with motorized traffic. With an initial fund of €15m over five years, it is intended to deliver on the Child Health Initiative’s Manifesto 2030: Safe & Healthy Streets for Children, Youth & Climate, launched at the Stockholm Ministerial Conference on Road Safety in 2020