Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, patron of international development organisation Transaid, has commended the road transport and logistics industry for making an enormous difference to HGV and PSV driver training standards in Sub-Saharan Africa – with more than 9,600 drivers trained over the last 12 months.
The Princess Royal was speaking at Transaid’s annual showcase event on 24 October at law firm Ashurst LLP in London. The charity welcomed 150 supporters, partners and development organisations for an update on its projects, including a presentation from Lloyd Mbasela, the Executive Director of the Industrial Training Centre (ITC) in Zambia.
Guests were reminded how the number of people dying on the roads each year in Sub-Saharan Africa is third only to deaths from HIV/AIDS and Malaria, yet it’s thanks to the transport and logistics industry that Transaid has been able to start tackling this issue.
Caroline Barber, CEO of Transaid, said: “The results we’re achieving from our professional driver training are impressive. It’s not just about prevention, it’s about developing sustainable models that impact the people on the ground and help to increase economic capacity in the countries where we’re working.”
Transaid also used the showcase to focus on its work to support motorcycle and three-wheeler safety – modes of transport which have become a key part of life in many rural areas across Africa. Current projects include an initiative to review legislation and rider training practices in the Democratic Republic of Congo – an enormous country highly dependent on motorcycles – as other means of transport often aren’t suitable due to poor road conditions.
Thanking the industry for its ongoing support, Barber added: “Quite simply, we couldn’t do the work we do today without the people in this room, so we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all your support. Together, we have made strong progress to ensure we are bringing about positive change through the provision of safe, available and sustainable transport.”
Concluding the event, The Princess Royal expressed her gratitude to the UK Warehousing Association (UKWA) for raising £75,000 for Transaid to mark its own 75th anniversary. Representing the largest single donation to Transaid for more than a decade, the funds will be used to help take the life-saving MAMaZ Against Malaria initiative to the next level.
Transaid trustee Robert Goundry was also presented with a commemorative gift to mark his long service as a trustee. He will retire after a final meeting in January 2020.
For more information and to find out how you can support the organisation visit www.transaid.org.
Note to Editor:
Transaid transforms lives through safe, available, and sustainable transport. Founded by Save the Children, The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT), and its Patron, HRH The Princess Royal, the international development organisation shares 25 years’ worth of expertise in 23 countries with partners and governments – empowering people to build the skills they need to transform their own lives.
Transaid’s core work includes creating transport management systems for the public sector and assisting with the provision of professional driving qualification development and the training of driver trainers. It also assists with teaching preventive vehicle maintenance management and introducing local, low cost transport solutions including its innovative bicycle ambulance. Transaid also helps promote road safety awareness and shares its specialist knowledge with the humanitarian aid sector.
Transaid enjoys strong backing from the transport and logistics industry and the active involvement of its patron, HRH The Princess Royal.
For further press information:
Florence Bearman at Transaid +44 (0)20 7387 8136
Sophie Wood or James Keeler at Garnett Keeler +44 (0)20 8647 4467, or by email to sophie.wood@garnettkeeler.com / james.keeler@garnettkeeler.com
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