ZAMBIA ROAD SAFETY TRUST

What ZAMBIA ROAD SAFETY TRUST does

Zambia Road Safety Trust (ZRST) is a Lusaka-based, non-governmental organisation registered in Zambia in 2015 (RNGO 101/0503/2015) that operates as the country's designated road safety implementation partner. It applies the Safe System approach and iRAP Star Rating methodology to deliver school-zone infrastructure works (zebra crossings, speed humps, signs, traffic calming), pedestrian and cycling corridor assessments, motorcycle rider safety programmes, fleet driver training (FleetSafe Zambia) and fee-based road safety audits. The organisation also operates the ZRST Driving School, a co-located practical driver training facility at its Woodlands, Lusaka headquarters, with tiered courses for individual learners, corporate/fleet drivers and diplomats.

ZRST generates revenue through a mix of grant funding, corporate sponsorship and fee-for-service training. Grant and sponsorship income comes from multilateral institutions (UNDP Zambia, UN Road Safety Fund), EU Horizon Europe research consortia (AfroSAFE, TRANS-SAFE), foundations (FIA Foundation, TotalEnergies Foundation) and corporates (Yango Zambia, Zambian Breweries/AB InBev, Puma Energy). Fee-bearing services include FleetSafe Zambia driver workshops (per participant or annual retainer), ZRST Driving School courses priced at ZMW 1,600–3,000 per participant, school-zone safety packages (per school or cluster), and route risk assessments (by route length and complexity). Programme delivery is on-site in Lusaka and other Zambian locations; research outputs include three peer-reviewed papers co-authored in Traffic Safety Research (2025) and conference hosting at the University of Zambia.

The go-to-market is partnership-led and evidence-based rather than commercial: enquiries are routed through a structured website contact form into partnership agreements with defined deliverables, budgets and reporting. ZRST serves five primary segments — companies/insurers/mines/logistics operators, donors/foundations, government and councils, schools/universities, and PSV/bus operators — and is differentiated by registered NGO status, published audited accounts, a defined ZRST Method, iRAP-rated school-zone results (3-star across all 15 assessed sites), and formal research collaboration with the University of Zambia and Lund University-coordinated EU consortia.

Name

ZAMBIA ROAD SAFETY TRUST

Legal name

Zambia Road Safety Trust

Website

https://zambianroadsafety.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Zambia Road Safety Trust is a Lusaka-based NGO that designs, funds and delivers road safety programmes in Zambia — Safe School Zones, FleetSafe driver training, ZRST Driving School, motorcycle rider safety and road safety audits — for government, corporates, schools, donors and multilateral partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Road Safety Services

NAICS

Building Inspection Services (54135)

akta.pro primary industry

Road Safety Audits, Engineering & Data Analytics Services (RSA, Blackspot Analysis, Vision Zero Programs) (TLAJAGAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Traffic Enforcement & Road Safety (Highway Patrol, DUI, Collision Investigation) (BPAIAGAJ), Transport Safety & Infrastructure Standards Cooperation (BPADANAK)

Keywords

• Road safety programmes
• Driver safety training
• School zone safety
• Fleet safety services
• Pedestrian safety programmes

Headquarters

HQ city

Lusaka

HQ country

Zambia

HQ region

Africa

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Corporate Training Services: ZRST generates revenue through paid training programmes including FleetSafe Zambia driver safety training, motorcycle rider training, and city/council Safe System training. Services are quoted per participant, per workshop, per school, or as annual retainer packages.
2. School Safety Sponsorship: Companies and donors sponsor Safe School Zone packages that include signs, crossings, traffic calming, education and implementation evidence. Sponsorship is structured as a corporate partnership with defined deliverables and reporting.
3. Government and Institutional Grants: ZRST receives grant funding from government institutions, UN agencies (UNDP, UN Road Safety Fund), European Union Horizon research programmes, foundations (FIA Foundation, TotalEnergies Foundation), and corporate partners for specific road safety programmes.
4. ZRST Driving School Fees: Revenue from driving school course fees charged at four tiered levels: ZMW 3,000 (21-day full course), ZMW 2,500 (15-day intermediate), ZMW 2,100 (10-day half course), and ZMW 1,600 (7-day refresher).
5. Road Safety Audits and Risk Assessments: Fee-for-service road safety audits, route risk assessments, and school-zone safety packages charged by route length, complexity, or per school/cluster.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Zambia Road Safety Trust (ZRST) is a Zambian non-governmental organisation that implements practical road safety programmes including Safe School Zone infrastructure, FleetSafe driver safety training for fleet operators, motorcycle rider safety training, pedestrian and cycling safety assessments, road safety audits, and a ZRST Driving School. The organisation applies the Safe System approach with iRAP star-rating methodology and participates in EU Horizon Europe research consortia (AfroSAFE and TRANS-SAFE) producing peer-reviewed outputs and policy evidence.

Product overview

Zambia Road Safety Trust operates as a Zambian NGO offering a portfolio of road safety programmes and services rather than a unified technology product. The core offerings include the ZRST Driving School (practical driver training with three pathways for individuals, corporate fleets, and international drivers), FleetSafe Zambia (driver safety training for fleet operators with six modules), Safe School Zones Programme (infrastructure and education combined), Pedestrian and Cycling Safety Programme, Motorcycle Safety Programme, Road Safety Education Services, and Training and Technical Services. Additional offerings include Adopt a Safe School Zone (corporate sponsorship package), and policy/operational documents (Cookie Policy, Privacy Policy, Terms of Use). The organisation also contributes to research through AfroSAFE and TRANS-SAFE EU Horizon Europe research consortia. The portfolio is implemented-focused rather than technology platform-based.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ZRST Driving School: Practical driver learning for individuals and structured road-risk training for companies, fleet teams, diplomats and foreign workers.
• FleetSafe Zambia

Products and services

• ZRST Driving School
• FleetSafe Zambia
• Safe School Zones Programme
• Pedestrian and Cycling Safety Programme
• Motorcycle Safety Programme
• Road Safety Education Services
• Training and Technical Services
• Adopt a Safe School Zone

Quantifiable outcome

• >30% speed reduction across assessed school zones (TRANS-SAFE Lusaka living lab)
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• Yango ZambiacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Yango Zambia is the primary corporate partner funding the Safer Journeys to School programme expansion from 5 pilot schools in 2025 to 15 schools in 2026, reaching over 24,000 learners. The partnership combines school-zone infrastructure (zebra crossings, speed humps, signs, road markings) with learner road safety education and community engagement. Yango's support has been described as part of the transport ecosystem in Zambia with a private sector responsibility to road safety.
• UNDP ZambiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNDP Zambia co-funded school-zone interventions at Kabanana, Kalingalinga, Lusakasa and Jacaranda Combined schools in Lusaka, including raised crossings, rumble strips, footpaths, bollards and signs. UNDP has published press releases confirming ZRST's role in the school road safety improvements. UNDP also supported the Zambia Road Safety Investment Case publication.
• Zambian Breweries (AB InBev)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerZambian Breweries supported infrastructure at Diana Kaimba and Kizito Primary Schools (paved pedestrian routes, bollards, zebra crossings, signs, pedestrian gates, traffic warden training) and commissioned motorcycle rider safety training for its riders covering protective equipment, observation, road position and defensive riding.
• AfroSAFE (EU Horizon Europe, Grant No. 101069500)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEU Horizon Europe research project (2022–2026, ~€4 million) across Ghana, Zambia and Tanzania, coordinated by Lund University. ZRST is the Zambian partner, leading project activities and contributing data, fieldwork and co-authorship. ZRST hosted the 3rd AfroSAFE International Road Safety Conference at the University of Zambia in June 2026.
• TRANS-SAFE (EU Horizon Europe, Grant No. 101069525)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEU Horizon Europe project building Safe System capacity across African cities. ZRST led the Lusaka living lab, a Safe System intervention across 15 high-risk school zones. Results presented at the 2026 AfroSAFE Conference: vehicle speeds down >30%, unsafe crossing down 20%, road safety knowledge up ~80% among 24,000+ pupils.
• Global Designing Cities Initiative (GDCI)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerGDCI supported ZRST's work on permanent street improvements around two schools under the Streets for Kids programme, with Lusaka City Council. GDCI reports documented new pedestrian space, traffic calming, crossings and road markings.
• Lusaka City CouncilcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLusaka City Council is a key public authority partner for school-zone work, pedestrian and cycling policy support, NMT implementation, and non-motorised transport planning. ZRST worked with the council on the Streets for Kids programme and the Lusaka Cycling and Pedestrian Safety Policy.
• Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerRTSA is the national road transport safety regulator in Zambia. ZRST collaborates with RTSA on road safety audits, school-zone approvals, data interpretation, and enforcement support. ZRST is advocating for age-disaggregated crash data reforms with RTSA coordination.
• AmendsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerAmend led the nine-country Safe School Area Infrastructure and 30 km/h advocacy programme in which ZRST participated, contributing to the national advocacy that led to Zambia's Statutory Instrument No. 7 of 2020 establishing the national 30 km/h school-zone limit.
• University of Zambia (UNZA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormal research collaboration framework between ZRST and UNZA supporting joint studies, student involvement, and a Zambian evidence base for road safety. ZRST co-hosts the AfroSAFE Academy and conference activities with UNZA's School of Engineering. The 3rd AfroSAFE Conference was held at UNZA in June 2026.
• World Resources Institute (WRI) / Digital Transport for AfricasecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch collaboration funded through the Zambia Flexible Research Fund (awarded 2022), applying data and GIS methods to transport and road safety in Lusaka.
• Lund University (Sweden)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLund University coordinates the AfroSAFE EU Horizon Europe project and is partnered with ZRST on Road Safety Impact Assessment pilots and Road Safety Audit training with the Road Development Agency in Zambia.
• COMESAsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerZRST is preparing a pre-feasibility and concept-validation study for a truck rest-hub network along the Zambian sections of the North-South and Tanzam corridors, addressing fatigue, freight safety and roadside risk on regional corridors.
• iRAP (International Road Assessment Programme)coreTechnology or IntegrationiRAP's Star Ratings for Schools app was used by ZRST and its partners to assess pedestrian risk at school access points. ZRST achieved a 3-star iRAP pedestrian rating across all 15 school zones assessed in the Lusaka living lab.
• FIA Child Health InitiativesecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-host of the 2017 Safer and Healthier Journeys to School Roundtable in Lusaka alongside ZRST and Amend, focused on child road safety and safe access to education across Africa.
• De Montfort University (UK)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch and public-engagement collaboration under the STEGA project (2020–2021), delivering road safety engagement activities in Zambia.
• University of York / Stockholm Environment Institute (UK)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerZRST served as the Zambian research partner for fieldwork under the UK-funded High Volume Transport applied research programme and Low-Carbon Transport Futures work, running stakeholder interviews and focus groups in Lusaka (2020–2023).

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Global Road Safety Partnership (GRSP): GRSP is an NGO hosted by the International Federation of Red Cross that builds road-safety capacity with governments, companies and civil society in LMICs. Its country-programme model and donor-funded operating structure closely resemble ZRST's.
• Walk21: Walk21 is a global pedestrian-focused charity promoting walkable cities. ZRST's pedestrian and cycling safety work (including Lusaka walkability reports) is closely aligned in target beneficiaries and policy themes.
• Amend: Amend is a road-safety NGO that led the nine-country Safe School Area and 30 km/h advocacy programme in which ZRST participated. It is directly comparable in mission (school-zone safety, pedestrian protection, advocacy) and operating model (NGO delivering programmes in African countries).
• Global Designing Cities Initiative (GDCI): GDCI partnered with ZRST and Lusaka City Council on the Streets for Kids programme. Both translate global urban street-design guidance into local school-zone and pedestrian safety improvements in low- and middle-income cities.
• Child Health Initiative (FIA): Co-host with ZRST of the 2017 Safer and Healthier Journeys to School Roundtable in Lusaka. Both focus on child road safety and safe access to education in Africa, with comparable advocacy and programme delivery models.
• International Road Assessment Programme (iRAP): iRAP is the global methodology provider for star-rating roads and the Star Rating for Schools app that ZRST uses. Both organisations focus on evidence-based road infrastructure safety assessment and work with school zones, governments and donors on safer road design.

Broad incumbents

• FIA Foundation: FIA Foundation is a major global philanthropic funder of road safety (including the Child Health Initiative) and co-funded the school-zone advocacy programme ZRST participated in. It is a broader incumbent that sets road-safety agendas ZRST operates within.
• NACTO (National Association of City Transportation Officials): NACTO publishes urban street-design guidance (e.g., Streets for Kids, transit street design guides) that GDCI and ZRST draw on. It is a broader incumbent shaping the technical frameworks ZRST applies at city level.
• Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative for Global Road Safety: Bloomberg Philanthropies funds city-level road-safety programmes in LMICs (including partnerships in Africa) and helps shape the global donor ecosystem ZRST operates within. It is a broader incumbent funder rather than a direct delivery peer.
• ITDP (Institute for Transportation and Development Policy): ITDP is an established sustainable transport NGO working on NMT corridors, cycling policy and street design. ZRST's pedestrian/cycling and NMT work in Lusaka (including the Lusaka Cycling and Pedestrian Safety Policy) overlaps ITDP's city-level remit.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/zrst

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about ZAMBIA ROAD SAFETY TRUST