THE SUCCESSFUL CONCLUSION of the 22nd General Assembly of the African Road Maintenance Funds Association (ARMFA) in Monrovia, Liberia, last week was more than just a statutory meeting; it was a resounding commitment to the continent’s most vital asset: its connective infrastructure. Bringing together delegates from 35 nations, the gathering, themed “Innovative Financing and Sustainability of Road Infrastructure in the Face of Climate and Mobility Challenges in Africa,” served as a crucible for practical solutions needed to drive the next wave of economic integration.
THE CHOICE OF Monrovia as the host city—a historic first for Liberia—was symbolic of a nation keen to reposition itself as a dynamic player in West Africa’s infrastructure narrative. It was here that the dual challenge facing Africa’s transport sector was laid bare: the persistent need for sustainable funding models, coupled with the existential threat posed by rapid climate change. Roads, the arteries of trade, commerce, and social connectivity, are increasingly vulnerable to extreme weather events, demanding a pivot toward resilient, climate-smart engineering.
THE ASSEMBLY’S MOST urgent discussion centered on Innovative Financing. Currently, many African road networks suffer from a crippling maintenance backlog due to chronic underfunding. The consensus in Monrovia was clear: dedicated fuel levies and vehicle registration fees, while essential, are no longer sufficient to meet the continent’s rapidly expanding infrastructure needs.
THE SOLUTIONS DEBATED included aggressively seeking private sector involvement through Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), utilizing specialized infrastructure bonds, and expanding the use of tolling mechanisms where feasible and transparently managed. Furthermore, there was a strong call for members to professionalize revenue collection and management—a move that, as noted by Liberia’s own National Road Fund, can significantly boost annual collection targets, providing immediate capital for maintenance and allowing countries to attract larger development funding packages.
ADDRESSING CLIMATE RESILIENCE defined the sustainability aspect of the agenda. With weather patterns becoming increasingly volatile, traditional road designs are failing, leading to severe washouts, flooding, and rapid deterioration of surfaces. The Assembly underscored the need to integrate climate-proofing measures into every stage of infrastructure development. This means shifting maintenance strategies to adopt eco-friendly practices, utilizing locally sourced recycled materials, and designing drainage systems that can handle extreme precipitation. The mandate is to move beyond mere repair and focus on building durable infrastructure that actively anticipates and mitigates the impact of climate change, ensuring that regional corridors—crucial for facilitating the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)—remain open and operational year-round.
UNDERPINNING THE FINANCIAL and technical discussions was the pillar of Road Fund Autonomy. ARMFA champions the transition of national road funds from government-controlled “first-generation” models to independent, transparent “second- and third-generation” bodies. This reform is critical because autonomous funds, governed by independent boards with multi-stakeholder representation (including the private sector and civil society), are better positioned to ring-fence dedicated user fees.
THE ABILITY TO collect and manage revenue independently, with full openness to external audits, minimizes the risk of fund diversion and ensures that collected revenues are efficiently spent on road maintenance. Liberia’s candid acknowledgment of its journey toward this enhanced governance model was a powerful demonstration of institutional self-assessment and a commitment to continent-wide best practice.
AS THE DELEGATES depart Monrovia, they carry a renewed mandate: to transform rhetoric into asphalt. The success of the 22nd ARMFA General Assembly will not be measured by the resolutions adopted, but by the kilometers of road repaired, the number of resilient projects launched, and the level of financial autonomy achieved by member funds in the coming year. The path to Africa’s prosperity is tie to resilient, well-maintained roads, and the work done in Monrovia has provided a clear roadmap for that essential journey.