National Road Fund Gains Critical Skills Through IRF Training in Istanbul

Istanbul, Turkey — Three staff members of the National Road Fund of Liberia (NRF) have successfully completed a two-week, three-module professional training program in Istanbul, Turkey, aimed at strengthening technical and managerial capacity in road sector governance and infrastructure sustainability.

The intensive training, held from January 12 to January 23, 2026, was organized by the International Road Federation (IRF) in partnership with Road Safety Action International (RSAI). It focused on three critical thematic areas: Road Assets Management, Road Financing, and Road Safety by Design—all of which are central to the NRF’s mandate of ensuring sustainable financing and effective maintenance of Liberia’s road network.

The NRF participants were Levi Hamilton Martin, Rashall Scott, and Emmanuel Vesselee, representing key operational and technical functions within the institution. Their participation forms part of the NRF’s broader capacity-building agenda to equip staff with modern tools, global best practices, and practical approaches to address emerging challenges in road infrastructure development and management.

According to officials of the National Road Fund, the training provided in-depth exposure to contemporary methodologies for planning, prioritizing, and maintaining road assets to maximize their lifecycle value. Participants explored how data-driven asset management systems can support evidence-based decision-making, improve maintenance programming, and ensure that limited resources are allocated where they deliver the highest impact.

The Road Safety by Design module emphasized the integration of safety principles at every stage of road development—from planning and design to construction and operation. Participants were introduced to concepts such as safe system approaches, road safety audits, and the incorporation of protective design features that reduce the likelihood and severity of crashes.

Speaking on the importance of the training, NRF officials noted that investing in staff development is essential to ensuring better value for money, improved service delivery, and stronger institutional performance