Africa Transport Policy Programme, known as SSATP will be convening its annual stakeholders meeting in Dakar, Senegal 10-12 December 2013 to review progress, exchange good practice and facilitate dialogue on policy development and its impact. It will be preceded by a knowledge-sharing event.
The meeting aims to share the Programme's new orientation and vision as elaborated by its board and engage its stakeholders on how to better serve Africa for its economic and social transformation.
Co founded by the UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), the programme plays a role in addressing the challenges faced by Africa's transport sector.
Although the Programme is located in Washington DC in the World Bank offices, it is autonomous and has its own governance structure comprising a core management team, a programme manager and a board.
The board acts as the Programme guardian and promoter with members representing stakeholder constituencies. The board is appointed and guided by the Consultative Assembly composed of contributing donors, Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and private sector representatives.
It is chaired by ECA; the current chairperson is Mr. Stephen Karingi, Director of the Regional Integration and Trade Division (RITD). The African Union Commission (AUC) joined the board in 2012.
The programme is financed through a multi-donor Trust Fund administered by the World Bank.
The Africa Transport Policy Programme (SSATP) was launched in 1987 during the United Nations Transport and Communication in Africa (UNTACDA I) in recognition of the pivotal role transport played in Africa's economic and social development.
It was a joint initiative of the World Bank and ECA. Its main objective was to assist African States and donors to address important issues related to transport policies and to build up ad-hoc capacities in the continent.
Since then, the Programme has gained importance in facilitating policy development and capacity building in the transport sector in African countries; North African countries were invited to join the programme in 2012and the programme now covers the whole Africa.