Νέα απο την Global Alliance of NGOs for Road Safety

Η ΕΥΘΥΤΑ-ΠΑΡΑΤΗΡΗΤΗΡΙΟ ΟΔΙΚΗΣ ΑΣΦΑΛΕΙΑΣ ΡΟΔΟΥ, ενεργό μέλος της

GLOBAL MEETING: PREPARING NGO ACTION “NGOs are ready,” said Lotte Brondum at the Seventh Global Meeting of Nongovernmental Organizations Advocating for Road Safety and Road Victims (Global Meeting), held last week in Budapest, Hungary, and online. “The Global Plan has clearly outlined the need for NGOs. We know our role: we are relevant, we act at eye level, we are a consolidated voice.” Through the workshops, speeches, and panel discussion, the Global Meeting gave opportunity for NGOs to gather momentum and inspiration to play their role in the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021–2030 and to strengthen their advocacy.  The focal discussion was a panel on We Have a Plan: What Next? It explored the actions and advocacy areas for NGOs and other stakeholders to achieve the 2030 targets. Read the outputs HERE. The Global Meeting featured in-person speeches from the Hungarian Minister for Innovation and Technology, László Palkovics, and the UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Road Safety, Jean Todt, and video messages from the President of the 76th Session of the UN General Assembly, Abdulla Shahid, and the Director of Social Determinants of Health, WHO, Etienne Krug. The primary output was the Budapest NGO Declaration and five regional calls to action, presented on stage by NGOs from the regions. Read more about the calls to action and how NGOs will use them for advocacy BELOW. Read the press release from the Global Meeting HERE and read the round up HERE.

BUDAPEST NGO DECLARATION: ADVOCACY The Budapest NGO Declaration and regional calls to action were presented at the Global Meeting by NGOs from each of the five regions. Each call to action, defined by Alliance members, reflects the different realities and needs in each region. All the calls to action included a specific call for 30 km/h limits where people walk, live, and play, which will be the central ask during the #CommitToAct Streets for Life Week of Action in May. Read the calls to action HERE. The Declaration has already been presented to the European Commission Road Safety Coordinator, Matthew Baldwin, to the UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Road Safety, Jean Todt, and at a side event on Partnerships for Safe and Sustainable Mobility for the UN ESCAP Asia Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development to mobilize support. NGOs will now use the Declaration and calls to action as tools to push for clear and specific action with regional, national, and local decision makers.

#COMMITTOACT STREETS FOR LIFE: GET READY FOR MAY From 16–20 May 2022, the Alliance will coordinate a Week of Action that will push for commitment in the run up to the High-level Meeting on Global Road Safety in June–July 2022. The campaign will use the Budapest NGO Declaration and regional calls to action. It will have a specific call for 30 km/h limits where people live, walk, and play. NGOs will arrange roundtables and events with their decision makers to encourage them to make commitments and present them at the High-level Meeting. The Week of Action will be supported by a social media campaign. Read HERE to download materials, register for campaign walkthroughs in English, French, and Spanish, and find out about small grants.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY: ACCOUNTABILITY We are delighted to announce three new Board Members, elected at the General Assembly, Rajni Gandhi, TRAX, India; Simon Kalolo, Amend, Tanzania; and Viviam Perrone, Asociación Madres Del Dolor, Argentina. They join our existing members of the Board, Kulanthayan Mani, Safe Kids Malaysia, and Prerana Arora, People's Trust Jaipur, India.  We would like to thank outgoing Board Members, Rochelle Sobel, ASIRT, U.S., Gela Kvashilava, Georgia Partnership for Road Safety, and Manuel Ramos, ACA(M), for their many years of dedicated service to the Alliance. Both Rochelle and Manuel were part of our founding Board, and Rochelle has chaired the Board since 2019.  The General Assembly is an important part of the Alliance's accountability to our members. The Alliance's activities and accounts from the last three years since the previous General Assembly were presented and updated bylaws were approved. This was the first time that the General Assembly had been held online, enabling a larger number of Alliance members to participate in our democratic process.

MEMBER SURVEY: READY FOR THE DECADE OF ACTION Last year, the Alliance conducted a survey among members to assess NGOs' opportunities and readiness for the Decade of Action, to review the Alliance's contribution to NGOs' growth, and identify future needs. It found that: 70% of member NGOs saw and described opportunities for the new decade; Key opportunities included funding, collaborations and partnerships, NGO credibility, recognition, and inclusion, greater commitment, and a global movement to push greater action; Top enablers for NGOs in the previous decade included NGOs' knowledge and skills, involvement in decision making, and strategic planning, while top inhibitors included lack of funding for NGOs, lack of an accountable road safety focal point in government, and lack of reliable data;  Top ways that the Alliance had contributed to NGOs' growth in the previous decade included information and awareness building, networking, and advocacy, and top activities included #CommittoAct, the 2020 live sessions series, and the newsletter. The Alliance is using the member survey data to serve its member NGOs more effectively. As a result of the survey, it has strengthened its staff team, increased consultation with members, created more regional opportunities, and is improving its data collection among members so that activities can be tailored more effectively. Read the full survey results HERE.

NEW PARTNERSHIP FOR LATIN AMERICA The Alliance is delighted to announce a new partnership with Michelin that will promote safer roads and sustainable mobility across Latin America by empowering and equipping road safety NGOs in the region. The partnership was announced at the Global Meeting. It will be accomplished via a new Latin America Chapter of the Alliance, which will be launched later in 2022, and will enable the Alliance to support NGOs in its Latin America Chapter through capacity building, networking and sharing, and advocacy. Activities will include training and coaching, resources, campaigns, and small grants. It will support engagement in the region with parliamentary groups and regional fora. Read the press release HERE.

ANNUAL REPORT: SHOWCASING THE STRENGTH OF NGOS We are excited to share our 2021 Annual Report, showcasing how NGOs are influencing road safety action in their countries at city, provincial, and national levels, while also using their joint voice to bring their unique perspective to the global road safety agenda.  Read the report HERE.

ALLIANCE WELCOMES NEW MEMBERS The Alliance is delighted to welcome two new members that joined us recently. Full members LFR International, U.S. Associate members Institution for Community Development, India  Read more about our new members HERE and find out about joining the Alliance HERE.

UPCOMING EVENTS AND DEADLINES

#CommitToAct Streets for Life Campaign Walkthroughs: 12–13 April 2022.

• 12 April 2022, 14:00 CEST (English). Register HERE.
• 13 April 2022, 11:00 CEST (French). Register HERE.
• 13 April 2022, 16:00 CEST (Spanish). Register HERE.

#CommitToAct Streets for Life small grant application deadline: 18 April 2022. Read more HERE.

#CommitToAct Streets for Life Week of Action: 16–20 May 2022. Read more HERE.

High-level Meeting of the UN General Assembly on Global Road Safety: 30 June–1 July 2022.