The African Development Bank has deepened its collaboration with Germany to drive sustainable and integrated transport systems across Africa, with renewed emphasis on rail infrastructure, skills development and regional connectivity.
This formed the outcome of a high-level mission to Germany in late 2025 led by the Bank’s Director of Infrastructure and Urban Development, Mike Salawou, who engaged government institutions and key transport stakeholders.
Rail skills take centre stage
Central to the discussions was a strategic partnership with DB Engineering & Consulting, focused on strengthening Africa’s rail sector through structured training and knowledge transfer.
The delegation also visited the DB Railway Academy in Potsdam, a globally recognised hub for vocational railway training, where thousands of professionals are trained annually.
As part of efforts to institutionalise capacity building, both parties signed a Letter of Intent to explore the establishment of an African Rail Competence Centre. The proposed centre is expected to support training, innovation and institutional development across the continent’s rail systems, with governance models under consideration ranging from centralised to decentralised frameworks.
Salawou described the partnership as a milestone for Africa’s railway sector, noting that leveraging Germany’s expertise would help build local capacity, deepen technical skills and support the development of efficient and sustainable rail networks.
Learning from Germany’s integrated transport model
The mission also provided insight into Germany’s integrated transport systems, where rail, tram, bus and non-motorised transport networks are closely aligned with urban planning.
Officials said such models offer practical lessons for African cities, particularly in advancing transit-oriented development, reducing reliance on private vehicles and promoting compact, mixed-use urban growth around transport corridors.
Expanding infrastructure and financing cooperation
Beyond rail development, the delegation held talks with key German institutions, including the German Agency for International Cooperation and KfW IPEX-Bank, to explore broader infrastructure collaboration.
Discussions covered regional transport corridors, participation of small and medium-sized enterprises in infrastructure delivery, as well as emerging opportunities in electric vehicle supply chains and critical minerals.
Further engagements with KfW IPEX-Bank examined co-financing prospects for major projects, including the Lobito Corridor, the Abidjan–Lagos Highway, the Uganda–Kenya Standard Gauge Railway, and Ethiopia’s Bishoftu International Airport.
Push for sustainable mobility
Chief Operating Officer of DB Engineering & Consulting, Stefan Geisperger, emphasised that sustainable railway development must go hand-in-hand with building local expertise, adding that long-term training programmes would equip African professionals with the technical skills required to design, operate and maintain modern rail systems.
Similarly, Daphne Gross-Jansen of Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development underscored the importance of aligning infrastructure development with climate goals, job creation and private sector investment.
She noted that collaboration between Germany, the African Development Bank and Deutsche Bahn would support the Bank’s ambition to develop a fully electrified rail network across the continent.
The partnership underscores a broader shift towards linking infrastructure development with sustainability, skills transfer and long-term economic integration across Africa’s transport corridors.
