Improving Road Safety in Bouaké, Côte d’Ivoire

Road accidents are the leading cause of death among children and young people aged 5 to 29 worldwide. Africa has the most dangerous roads in the world, and mortality rates are rising as the continent develops, urbanises and motorises.

The Urban Mobility and Planning in Bouaké (MAMBO) project, funded by the Agence française de développement (AFD), aims to improve urban mobility by implementing the priority actions set out in its Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan (SUMP). As part of this wider program, Amend and the Institut de recherche pour le développement (IRD) are jointly leading a dedicated road safety component, building on previous work carried out in the city by both organisations. 

This component is structured around five areas of activity: 

• Safe school zones: Identification and improvement of up to 60 schools using the SARSAI methodology (School Area Road Safety Assessments and Improvements), delivering tailored safe pedestrian infrastructure at each site.
• Capacity building: Training and support for local stakeholders involved in road design and construction, with a specific focus on embedding safety from the design stage.
• Technical assistance: Support to local road management authorities on infrastructure maintenance, including the establishment of a structured dialogue with Bouaké City Council.
• Road safety education: Targeted road safety training programs for schoolchildren.
• Air quality and noise: Pilot project to study the impact of the projects on noise and air quality around the project schools.