For a number of years the World Bank has supported a clean air initiative to improve urban air quality based on a reduction of vehicle emissions using a range of strategies from reducing traffic congestion and increasing access to public transport to improving fuel qualities. To date the focus has been on motor gasoline. A series of five regional initiatives were developed throughout SSA culminating in an international conference on the phase-out of leaded gasoline in SSA in Dakar late June, 2001.

The World Bank now wishes to extend its Clean Air Initiative for urban centres in SSA to include diesel fuel.