Russian Federation announces contribution of USD 2 million to the UN Road Safety Trust Fund, bringing total pledges to USD 19 million

The Government of the Russian Federation has announced its decision to make a voluntary contribution of USD 2 million to the UN Road Safety Trust Fund, bringing total pledges to date to USD 19 million.

The Russian Federation hosted the first Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety in Moscow in 2009 and has sponsored numerous resolutions on road safety by the United Nations General Assembly over the past 15 years.

The UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Road Safety Jean Todt stated: “I wholeheartedly thank the Russian Federation, a country which has tirelessly advocated for improving road safety worldwide, for this contribution. Together with France, through Agence Française de Développement, they are the first countries to contribute to the UN Road Safety Trust Fund. I call on all the Member States of the United Nations to join them and contribute to the Fund to mobilize the resources so badly needed to take action to save lives on the world’s roads”.

“Together with that of private donors, the strong engagement of Member States is crucial to the success of the UN Road Safety Trust Fund. I warmly welcome the contribution by the Russian Federation. The Fund has just adopted five pilot projects.  As the host of the secretariat of the Fund, UNECE is looking forward to working with the Russian Federation, other member States and all partners on the implementation of these, and of future projects, to help saving lives”, highlighted UNECE Executive Secretary Olga Algayerova.

Established in April 2018, the United Nations Road Safety Trust Fund aims to contribute to two major outcomes, assisting UN Member states to (a) substantially curb the number of fatalities and injuries from road traffic crashes, as well as (b) reduce economic losses resulting from these crashes. Building on the best practices and expertise developed through the Decade of Action for Road Safety, the Trust Fund will focus on supporting concrete actions helping to achieve the road safety-related targets of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).