UN-OHRLLS Gladys Mutangadura, OHRLLS The benefits of an intergovernmental agreement for the Trans African Highway

UN-OHRLLS Inter Governmental agreement on the TAH Formal agreement by African countries that stipulates basic technical standards for the roads and the route signs to which they should conform to and norms that they may specify Countries will commit themselves to undertake their respective responsibilities to adhere to the agreement.

UN-OHRLLS Potential Benefits of an Inter Governmental agreement on the TAH Improvement and upgrading of the network Closing of missing links Improved road connectivity for land locked developing countries Promotion of regional integration Certainty for the integrated/ well coordinated development of the road infrastructure and resource mobilization

UN-OHRLLS Benefits ECONOMIC Lower transportation costs, less delays Improved efficiency in the use of existing facilities Promotion of trade in particular intraregional trade Expansion of economies of scale Promotion of tourism SOCIAL Safer roads ENVIRONMENTAL Improved environmental protection

UN-OHRLLS

Transport costs - Truck Unit Mombasa- Kampala Douala- N'DjamenaFrance Variable costsUS$/km Fixed costsUS$/km TotalUS$/km Average fleet ageyears1177 Yearly mileagekm Daily SpeedKm/hour304369

UN-OHRLLS How transport costs can be reduced Improved road conditions - poor road infrastructure accounts for 40% of the transport costs in coastal countries and 60 per cent for landlocked countries, An improvement of 1% in the road infrastructure could lower transport costs by 0.14%. Reduced delays due to completion of missing links, harmonized signs and road norms LOWER TRANSPORT COSTS = LOWER TRADE COSTS IMPROVED TRADE CAUTION – Improved trade facilitation to lower the trade transaction costs is vital.

UN-OHRLLS Thank you