Transaid Extends Work with FIA Foundation

Transaid has secured an extension of its work funded by global road safety philanthropy the FIA Foundation, to lead the second phase of a project to establish a National Helmet Wearing Coalition in Kenya, using its extensive experience in motorcycle and motorised three-wheeler safety.

Priorities for a new 13-month term are to secure the long-term future of the Coalition and cement Kenyan ownership of this initiative, whilst strengthening the implementation of the existing Kenyan Helmet Standard through improved enforcement capacity.

This will see Transaid continuing to work with local stakeholders to increase awareness amongst motorcycle users around the importance of wearing a quality helmet, as well as securing additional funding to broaden the short and medium-term impact of the Coalition.

Sam Clark, Head of Programmes at Transaid, says: “Research during the first phase of the project revealed that up to 40% of road traffic fatalities in Kenya were linked to the use of motorcycles and motorcycle taxis, and that helmet prevalence was low amongst motorcycle users. We will now be focused on building the capacity of relevant authorities to strengthen implementation of the current Kenyan Helmet Standard, while also equipping motorcycle users with an improved sense of what constitutes a poor quality and a good quality helmet.”

Aggie Krasnolucka, Programmes Director of the FIA Foundation, explains: “The FIA Foundation is excited to support the second phase of the Kenya Helmet Wearing Coalition with Transaid. This exciting new chapter will build on the data and relationships to advocate for improved legislation and strengthened enforcement of certified helmets as well as wider public awareness.”

Official figures released in 2018* showed there were approximately 1.4 million motorcycles used as taxis – known as ‘boda bodas’ – in urban and rural areas across Kenya. While the country already has a compulsory motorcycle helmet use law, enforcement is largely inconsistent and helmet use is low – despite research which shows a motorcycle helmet can reduce the risk of death by 42% and risk of head injury by 69% in a crash.

Clark adds: “Road traffic crashes continue to constitute a global health crisis, and the consequences are disproportionately felt in low and middle-income countries. This initiative aims to directly reduce injury and death on Kenya’s roads, benefitting a broad audience, including riders and their fare-paying passengers.”

Whilst Kenya is the first country where the FIA Foundation’s Helmet Wearing Coalition is being implemented, Transaid plans to share its learnings from the project with organisations and clubs worldwide that are working towards the same aim of improving motorcycle and three-wheeler safety.

*Source: Directorate of Registration and Licensing at the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), reported there were 1,393,290 registered motorcycles in Kenya in February 2018.

DSV inaugurates largest logistics centre in Africa

DSV has inaugurated its new Gauteng HQ in South Africa, DSV Park Gauteng, which is Africa’s largest integrated logistics centre. With this centralised facility DSV will be able to provide more seamless service to customers which is an integral part of creating a strengthened and more efficient logistics network in South Africa.

DSV has consolidated its Gauteng operations in South Africa into a new, centralised facility which is the largest of its kind in Africa. It is situated near O.R. Tambo International Airport between Johannesburg and Pretoria and with easy access to the East and West Rand. The logistics centre consists of approx. 130,000 sq m of buildings and covers supply chain solutions from first to last mile controlled and managed under one roof, by DSV.

The investment in DSV Park Gauteng is a testament to DSV’s commitment to South Africa and to continuing to strengthen the logistics infrastructure in the country to the benefit of DSV customers and the South African society.

The new DSV logistics centre was officially inaugurated at a virtual ceremony. The ceremony host and CEO of DSV Africa, Keith Pienaar, says: “The inauguration of DSV Park Gauteng once again underlines DSV’s strong commitment to South Africa and our will to grow the business in the region. DSV Park Gauteng consolidates several smaller offices and warehouses around Johannesburg into one large, modern logistics centre.

“The foundation of our values and culture is to promote an inclusive workforce and sustainable business practices. One consolidated facility will enhance collaboration and offer truly integrated supply chain solutions for our clients and customers.

“The sprawling complex houses a logistics warehouse of 79,000 sq m, a cross-dock facility of 41,000 sq m and office space of 10,000 sq m. DSV’s divisions Air & Sea, Road, Solutions as well as the Shared Services function will be inhabiting the new logistics centre while other specific units such as Healthcare and parts of Mounties and Solutions will continue out of their current specialised facilities.

“With DSV Park Gauteng, DSV has developed a large-scale modern logistics centre which captures the essence of our consolidation strategy to create larger and more efficient facilities, enabling us to have many of our business units together under one single roof.”

Brian Almind Winther, EVP and Head of Group Property, DSV, says: “We have packed the new DSV facility with solutions such as an innovative sorter that can handle 13,000 packages every single hour. Throughout the whole building process, we have also utilised our global experience to construct buildings where sustainability and resource optimisation have been fundamental in all processes.”

To further improve the infrastructure nationally in South Africa, DSV is also building a consolidating logistics centre in the Western Cape called DSV Park Cape Town. This site will be located near the Cape Town International Airport, and close to the harbour and industrial and commercial hubs.

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