IRF | International Road Federation

Better Roads, Better World

 

IRF in the Press

04 December 2009
Landmark IRF/gTKP/TARA Rural Roads Convention and gTKP Workshop on Governance held in Arusha, Tanzania

Presentations and papers presented in this convention can be downloaded here.

This highly successful Rural Roads Convention, held in Arusha, Tanzania from 25-27 November 2009, attracted some 215 delegates from 30 countries covering all continents. Participants were drawn from a comprehensive range of backgrounds, including politicians, policy makers, academics, partners in development, road users and leading representatives from the private sector, civil society and international organisations.

The Convention was opened by the Prime Minister of Tanzania, The Hon. Mizengo Kayanza Peter Pinda, who stressed in his keynote address the importance of secondary road networks to regional economies and socio-economic development.

 
Seated (left to right): Sibylle Rupprecht, Director General IRF Geneva; Joseph Haule, Convention Chairman, Tanzanian Road Funds Board, Tanzania; Hon. Mizengo Kayanza Peter Pinda, Prime Minister, United Republic of Tanzania, Abdul Awadh, Chairman, Tanzania Roads Association   
The main theme of the Convention, "Rural Roads for Economic Development, Social Cohesion and Poverty Reduction" was, indeed, particularly relevant to the development agenda of Tanzania and other developing countries.
During the Convention, internationally-renowned experts in the fields of rural roads and rural transport presented 26 papers over five interrelated sessions covering:

  • the importance of rural roads.
  • planning and management of rural roads.
  • financing of rural roads.
  • construction and maintenance of rural roads.
  • rural road safety.

An authoritative set of resolutions emerged with a view to assisting delegates in their efforts to influence and encourage government agencies to give renewed priority to the importance of rural road networks.
 
The Convention was preceded by a Workshop and Round Table discussion on Governance in Transport, which brought together 80 participants.

Comprehensive introductory presentations by a panel of experts sparked lively, highly constructive dialogue on the range of governance challenges facing transport sector Ministries in African regions. A number of recommendations ensued, aimed at improving governance, with particular emphasis on promoting sound transport policies based on due research as well as knowledge and experience of good practice. The workshop concluded with the creation of a Tanzania Transport Forum engaging key stakeholders from academia, the public sector and civil society. This forum will assist the government by providing a platform for ongoing dialogue, and by generating and disseminating knowledge on policy issues affecting the transport sector.