Ethiopia has one of the highest numbers of road fatalities in the world, and most victims in urban areas are pedestrians. In the rapidly growing capital, Addis Ababa, they account for nearly 90% of road deaths. UN-Habitat, supported by the United Nations Road Safety Fund and in partnership with the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP), the Ethiopian Ministry of Transport and the Addis Ababa Transport Bureau, launched the ‘Scaling Up Safe Street Designs in Ethiopia’ project to help the authorities tackle the road safety issues.
The project resulted in the adoption of a Non-Motorised Transport Strategy for Ethiopia and Addis Ababa, and a five-year implementation plan for 69 cities and towns with harmonised street design guidelines guiding investments in safer facilities for walking and cycling. Championed by Ethiopia’s Minister of Transport, Ms Dagmawit Moges, car-free days and ‘placemaking’ events helped to build public support for walking and cycling, promoting a shift to sustainable mobility focusing on the needs of vulnerable road users. Bringing together local and national government, the public, and the private sector, the project paved the way for safe, accessible and inclusive non-motorised transport that will allow all Ethiopians to reach their destinations in a climate-friendly safe and healthy way.
