Background Entering the final years of the SDGs and 2nd Decade of Action for Road Safety, progress on road safety needs to be accelerated. Globally there is some progress among countries that are able to mobilise resources and commitment. But against a backdrop of rapid development, many are struggling to cope with the toll of road deaths and injuries. Progress cannot be made without a step-change in financing.

Objective To advance an agenda aimed at strengthening catalytic financing, particularly from the MDBs but also other sources. In particular, presenting ways that effective ‘safe system’ solutions developed by expert NGO partners working with Governments could be financed and scaled-up.

Major Gaps to Address a) Unlocking demand: Authorities at both national and city level, are often not in a position to request catalytic financing for ‘safe system’ road safety. An open platform providing opportunities for to request such financing should be established.

b) Lack of capacity: Too often authorities lack capacity and expertise to ensure that effective methodologies are deployed and integrated through the project lifecycle.

c) Effective integration, with key related priority areas, particularly climate:

Climate objectives are often either not included or an add-on in road safety financing. There are examples of effectively combining road safety and climate objectives but they need to be replicated and become more systematic.

Policy Analysis The analysis will be evidence based. It will use the evidence from key case studies to form recommendations of how improved approaches to financing can be taken.

Policy Implications Engaging partners with this policy analysis is an important exercise in promoting more effective catalytic financing. It will also contribute to the discussions on improved financing through to the 4th Global Ministerial on Road Safety.

Conclusion Major gaps in global financing for road safety – barriers in raising demand, lack of capacity and integrating with other priority areas such as climate, need to be addressed. Collaboration between financing institutions, Governments and expert organisations needs to be further strengthened. Key steps taken should include establishing a new platform for collaboration to address the gaps in financing on road safety globally.