On August 22, 2024, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Tanzania's Ministry of Works signed an agreement in Dodoma to start the road safety strengthening project.
The three-yar project will run from February 2025 to January 2028 with a view of improving road safety in Tanzania.
The project will focus on three main areas: creating a road traffic accident database, improving emergency care for accident victims, and promoting traffic safety education in schools.
The efforts aim to make the roads safer by encouraging responsible driving, improving emergency response, and using data to guide safety policies.
Public awareness programs will target young drivers and pedestrians, teaching them the importance of safety measures like wearing seat belts and following speed limits.
The project will also work on improving emergency response times, which can help reduce the severity of injuries in accidents.
Creating a road safety database will help authorities identify dangerous areas and make the roads safer. Sharing this information with the public will raise awareness and encourage safer behavior.
The project will also allow ongoing monitoring to ensure road safety strategies are effective.
JICA has supported Tanzania’s transport sector for over 40 years. The first major project was the construction of Selander Bridge from 1980 to 1982.
This new project continues the partnership between Japan and Tanzania, aiming to reduce traffic-related deaths and injuries in the country.
Key players of the project, which is a request from Tanzania to Japan in August 2023, will also be the Tanzania Police Force, Amana Regional Referral Hospital, the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, and regional authorities. The Tanzania National Roads Agency (TANROADS), Tanzania Rural and Urban Roads Agency (TARURA), and the Land Transport Regulatory Authority (LATRA).
Eng. Musa Kashinde, Director of the Safety and Environment Unit at the Ministry of Works noted that "We appreciate JICA’s technical cooperation project, and we expect it to begin smoothly."
Mr. SUHARA Yasuhiro, a director at JICA in Tokyo also added that "JICA is committed to working together with the Government of Tanzania to address its road safety issues."
