The World Bank's Global Road Safety Facility (GRSF) has been recognized with the Prince Michael International Road Safety Award for its significant contributions to road safety over the past ten years. This award, presented annually by HRH Prince Michael of Kent, acknowledges exceptional achievements in enhancing global road safety. This is the seventh time GRSF and the World Bank have received this award, following a notable triple award win in 2020.
The GRSF was honored for its initiative titled "A Decade of Saving Lives Through Catalyzing Road Safety Investments," which emphasizes its innovative role in using World Bank financing to implement essential road safety solutions in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
Between mid-2013 and mid-2023, GRSF facilitated $3.34 billion in World Bank funding for road safety projects. These efforts have improved road safety for over 65 million people from 2018 to 2023, comparable to the populations of South Africa or the United Kingdom.
"Road crashes are not only a human tragedy and a major public health issue but also impose high socioeconomic costs, especially on the poor. Yet meaningful progress on this challenging issue can be made, as the past decade of results from GRSF has shown. The next step is to significantly scale up financing so that more lives can be saved," said Said Dahdah, GRSF Program Manager at the World Bank.
HRH Prince Michael of Kent congratulated GRSF by stating: "The financial and technical support provided has made a considerable contribution to reducing risk in many developing countries."
Since its inception in 2006 as a multi-donor trust fund managed by the World Bank, GRSF has focused on decreasing road traffic deaths and serious injuries in LMICs where there is a significant need. The facility combines grant funding, technical assistance, and thorough research to promote measurable and sustainable improvements in road safety.
In Nepal, crash barriers funded by GRSF along mountainous roads are expected to save over 3,400 lives during their 20-year lifespan. In Iraq, a project supported by GRSF led to an 81% reduction in road fatalities along 225 km of critical transport corridors through enhancements at intersections and other safety improvements. In Bangladesh, GRSF played a key role in shaping the $358 million Bangladesh Road Safety Project approved in 2023—the largest standalone road safety project ever sanctioned by the World Bank.
GRSF’s integration within the World Bank Group and continued support from partners such as Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative for Global Road Safety; TotalEnergies Foundation; and the United Kingdom's Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office ensures ongoing progress in global road safety efforts.
For further details about the Global Road Safety Facility and its impact, visit www.globalroadsafetyfacility.org.
To learn more about the Prince Michael International Road Safety Award, visit www.roadsafetyawards.com.