Road Fund Indaba Convenes in Liberia
The National Road Fund (NRF) of Liberia is this week hosting the 22nd Annual General Assembly of the African Road Maintenance Funds Association (ARMFA), an umbrella organization representing 35 member countries.
ARMFA was founded in 2003 in Libreville, Gabon and Zambia is amongst the 19 founding countries. The aim of the association is to share knowledge and information on the mobilisation and judicious application of road sector finances on the continent.
Since the creation of this continental body, links have been maintained among the different Road Funds in Africa. Annual General Assemblies, Regional focal group meetings and study trips to the various ARMFA member-countries have led to the intensification of experience sharing aimed at bringing all road funds on the continent to a common level of existence.
The high profile annual event is now take place at the Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf Ministerial Complex in Monrovia under the theme “Innovative Financing and Sustainability of Road Infrastructure in the Face of Climate and Mobility Challenges in Africa”. The theme of this year conference elevates road infrastructure financing as a key driver of the African continent’s development and economic integration.
Zambia’s National Road Fund Agency (NRFA) is attending the Annual General Assembly.
They join the continent’s top road infrastructure policymakers at the high-level event led by host Chief Executive Officer of the Liberia Road Fund Mrs. Joseta Neufville Wento.
Other participants include institutions such the World Bank, Africa Development Bank (AfDB), United Nations for Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), International Road Assessment Programme (iRAP), International Road Federation (IRF).
Field visits will showcase Liberia’s climate-resilient construction and transparent fund management—positioning the host nation as a model of reform and accountability.
Mrs. Joseta Neufville Wento
Mrs. Wento has expressed her enthusiasm and Liberia’s commitment to hosting a successful General Assembly.
“This is a proud moment for Liberia. We made the case that our country is transitioning into a second-generation road fund model and that we are ready to showcase the progress we’ve made in sustainable road infrastructure financing and governance,” said Mrs. Wento.
Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf Ministerial Complex
For administrative purposes ARMFA’s governance structure is divided into four continental bodies of Southern, Central, Eastern and Western regions. Zambia belongs to the ARMFA Southern Africa Focal Group.
The Focal Group recently met in Maseru, Lesotho to prepare the region for participation at the 22nd ARMFA AGM and will make a common presentation on the Future of Road Maintenance in the Era of Electric Vehicle (EVs) and Emerging Technologies.
Zambian delegation at the Maseru preparatory meeting.
The SADC region is acknowledging the global shift towards electronic vehicles (EVs) and its inevitable impact on fuel levies which has been the main source of revenue for Road Funds on the continent.
It says Road Funds should exploit the opportunities presented by new technologies to enhance road maintenance efficiency and sustainability and that emerging smart technologies represent a strategic opportunity to modernize road asset management systems and practices.
As Africa turns its gaze to Monrovia, the message will be clear: empowered, accountable road funds are key engines of growth and sustainable development across the continent.