Introducing the CAREC Road Safety and Sustainable Mobility Course
ADB’s CAREC Program in collaboration with the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) Institute, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Eastern Alliance for Safe and Sustainable Transport (EASST) and International Road Assessment Programme (iRAP), organized a one-week program designed for road practitioners from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan last February 26 – March 2, 2024, in Bishkek.
“CAREC Strategy 2030 includes a focus on road safety and road asset management. The program is based on the Safe System approach, with five pillars of action: Safe Road Users; Safe vehicles; Safe speeds; Safe roads and roadsides; post-crash response. Road safety is a collective regional priority for the CAREC countries”, said ADB Country Director Zheng Wu.
Land transportation has been the main mode of transport and transit for the CAREC countries given the region’s topography. A road network is expanding due to new road construction in the region helping to improve regional connectivity, cooperation, and integration. With road expansion, road safety has become a collective regional priority for the CAREC countries echoed by their strategic motto “safely connected”. The CAREC countries have formally endorsed a 50% reduction in road trauma by 2030 through the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030 and UNGA Resolution A/RES/74/299.
To support CAREC countries to achieve these strategic goals, the CAREC Institute and its partners have been offering capacity building services and knowledge products. Several country-specific workshops have been delivered to every CAREC country and CAREC-customized manuals and educational videos on various aspects of road safety were developed in English, Chinese and Russian languages.
Partnering with local academic institutions, the new road safety and sustainable mobility course emphasizes the importance of data generation for informed interventions and sustained focus on road trauma prevention. Through this course, the participants will have the opportunity to engage with international experts, collaborate with peers, and gain practical knowledge on road safety strategies. With country-specific workshops, access to educational materials, and the chance to be part of a community of practice, the participants will be equipped to drive positive change in your community.
The program will allow the participants to enhance their expertise and contribute to the collective effort to reduce road crashes and improve regional connectivity.