A report from the European Court of Auditors (ECA) highlighted that the European Commission is partially effective in its support for a sustainable road network in Sub-Saharan Africa. Partner countries visited by the Court do not do enough to ensure the sustainability of road infrastructure, roads are affected to varying degrees by premature deterioration.

The special report entitled “The European Development Fund (EDF) contribution to a sustainable road network in Sub-Saharan Africa” and published by the European Court of Auditors (ECA) assessed whether the EDF has contributed to sustainability of the road network in Sub-Saharan Africa effectively. The Court concluded that the Commission is partially effective in its support for a sustainable road network in Sub-Saharan Africa. Partner countries visited by the Court do not do enough to ensure the sustainability of road infrastructure, roads are affected to varying degrees by premature deterioration.

According to the Court, most of these countries have adopted institutional reforms, notably entailing the creation of road funds and road agencies, and made significant progress on road maintenance. However, many challenges remain to be addressed in all of them to ensure appropriate maintenance. Although spending on road maintenance has increased over time in all the partner countries visited by the Court, it remains insufficient to cover the needs.

The Commission is partially effective in promoting the adoption and implementation of the sector policy reforms that are required to address the existing obstacles to a sustainable road network in Sub-Saharan Africa. Therefore the Court recommends that in a number of respects the Commission should better focus EDF resources and make better use of conditions attached to its programmes, of policy dialogue with the partner countries' governments and technical cooperation, so as to maximise the effectiveness of the development support provided by the EDF towards a sustainable road network in Sub-Saharan Africa.