Many of our readers will be unaware of a UK-based organisation called Transaid and the good work it does in the trucking arena in sub-Saharan African countries, the latest success story being a Transaid-supported project that has helped to successfully train more than 450 truck drivers in Mozambique over two years, with 100 per cent of those surveyed following the training saying the initiative has helped them to be better at their job.
Transaid’s involvement was part of the initiative Employment and Skills for Development in Africa (E4D), implemented by GIZ – the German Agency for International Cooperation – and funded by the German and Norwegian governments, with further support from Appload and EnergyWorks.
Founded by Save the Children, The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) and its Patron, HRH The Princess Royal, Transaid works with communities, partners and governments to solve transport challenges throughout sub-Saharan Africa. In essence, it is a unique, passionate organisation that works with partners and governments to solve transport challenges in sub-Saharan Africa and enjoys strong backing in the UK from the transport and logistics industry and the active involvement of its patron, HRH The Princess Royal.
The Mozambique project focused on several key areas to ensure it met the immediate priorities and was sustainable in the long term. This saw 31 driver trainers trained – more than three times the initial target – including two women. Collectively, this group went on to deliver training to 452 HGV (Heavy Goods Vehicle) drivers over the initial two-year period.
Three specially tailored training courses were offered to drivers, including one focused around transporting cargo safely and another focussed specifically on defensive driving – with a mix of classroom and practical on-road instruction. The National Authority for Professional Education is currently working to combine the three courses as one registered course; plus, the training institutions and driving schools are actively marketing the new training to drivers and businesses.
The courses were well reviewed by employers, with a spokesman for one of the companies to benefit, saying: “The material was well cultivated to match feedback from local technical committee members to ensure that the instruction matched what was most needed.”
A representative for Usalama, a local driving school, said: “We have been able to better establish ourselves in the market with our clients, especially large suppliers for whom road safety is paramount.”
The drivers also had positive responses about the course, with one saying: “I am now more cautious on the public road. I fully comply with the traffic rules, and I really feel like a professional, capable of seeing and analysing what is happening around me better than before.”
Caroline Barber, Chief Executive of Transaid, says: “Prior to this project, professional HGV driver training was limited in Mozambique with no set standard and largely focused on rapid acquisition of driving permits. Drivers tended to be reliant on peer-to-peer or self-learning methods, with little formal driver training available.
“To launch this project, and surpass our training goal, is a fantastic achievement for everyone involved – and we’re confident that the programme will continue to help Mozambique’s drivers to be safer on the road.”
Addressing attendees at the 35th BIFA (British International Freight Association) Freight Service Awards in London recently, Barber thanked BIFA and the industry for their continued support of Transaid and stressed the urgent need for Transaid’s work.
“Whilst global road deaths have reduced by five percent over the last decade, they have risen in Africa by 17 percent. Over the last 12 months, Transaid and our partners have been busy training almost 7000 professional drivers in Uganda, Zambia, Tanzania, Mozambique and Ghana.”
It’s quite amazing that people so far away can care so much. FleetWatch salutes Transaid.
