Railway infrastructure in Africa is at the center of a new agreement. It links the African Development Bank (AfDB) with DB Engineering & Consulting. The two sides will cooperate on railway development across the continent. This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

AfDB-DB agreement targets African rail expertise
AfDB-DB agreement targets African rail expertise

According to the African Development Bank, the AfDB Group delegation met with DB Engineering & Consulting on May 6. The company is the engineering and consulting division of Germany’s Deutsche Bahn. The talks covered technical skills development and STEM training programs. STEM refers to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The discussion focused on how those programs could support railway modernization. It also covered the wider railway sector on the African continent.

During the visit, the delegation also toured the DB Railway Academy in Potsdam. The academy is described as one of the world’s leading railway training centers. Also, it offers more than 2,500 courses and trains around 250,000 participants each year.

African Railway Competence Center framework

A central element of the cooperation is a Letter of Intent. The AfDB and DB Engineering & Consulting signed the document. As International Railway Journal reported, it will establish the framework for a feasibility study. The study concerns the creation of an African Railway Competence Center. The proposed center is intended to become a regional platform. Its focus is innovation, training, and railway-sector expertise. In addition, it is intended to support the expansion and modernization of Africa’s transport infrastructure.

At the same time, the parties are reviewing several possible institutional formats for the center. These include decentralized, cooperative, and centralized models. The aim is to identify the most effective structure for the continent.

“This partnership marks an important milestone for the railway sector in Africa. By leveraging Deutsche Bahn’s expertise and experience, we are laying the groundwork for a center that will develop local capacities, improve technical skills, and support sustainable and efficient railway systems across the continent. Such strategic collaborations are essential to spark a skills revolution across the continent and to build resilient infrastructure in Africa,” said Mike Salawou, Director of the AfDB’s Infrastructure and Urban Development Department.

Germany and AfDB expand infrastructure cooperation

After the agreement was signed, the delegation continued talks with BMZ. This is Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development. The ministry reaffirmed its support through GIZ, its implementing agency. The later meetings broadened the agenda. It moved from the railway training framework to wider infrastructure and transport cooperation.

Also, the AfDB delegation met with other German institutions. These included the Federal Ministry of Transport (BMV). They also included the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE), and KfW IPEX-Bank. The discussions addressed regional economic corridors. They also covered supply chains linked to critical minerals and electric vehicles. Support for small and medium-sized enterprises involved in infrastructure projects was also discussed.

Co-financing options

In addition, the sides explored co-financing options for major infrastructure projects in Africa. The projects included the Lobito railway corridor and the Abidjan–Lagos highway. They also included the Uganda–Kenya railway and Bishoftu International Airport in Ethiopia. The focus was on sustainable projects capable of improving regional connectivity and economic integration.

Separately, the delegation visited the EUREF Campus in Berlin. There, it examined innovative models of urban development. It also reviewed clean energy solutions and smart mobility concepts. These were aligned with sustainable transport objectives.

DB Engineering & Consulting representatives emphasized developing local expertise for sustainable and modern railway systems. Meanwhile, BMZ reiterated support for Africa’s economic and social development. This was in line with international climate goals.

At the end of last year, an AfDB delegation also held extensive discussions. Those discussions involved several government institutions and organizations involved in transport infrastructure and digital connectivity.

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