About

TUMI (Transformative Urban Mobility Initiative) is the leading global implementation initiative on sustainable mobility formed through the union of 11 prestigious partners. We are united in one goal: changing mobility for the benefit of people and the environment, with a view to the future. With TUMI, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) is supporting climate-friendly, inclusive, safe and affordable Mobility in cities. TUMI is funded by BMZ and implemented by GIZ in collaboration with all TUMI partners.

Vision

TUMI supports transport projects all around the world and enables policy makers to transform urban mobility. TUMI is based on three pilars: innovation, knowledge, investment. We support innovative pilot projects around the whole world. We share knowledge with planners about modern mobility concepts, in workshops and conferences. We invest in construction and modernisation of sustainable urban infrastructure.

Avoid Shift Improve

© TUMI

One important concept that we base our innovations on is the Avoid Shift Improve method. The Infographic shows how the Avoid Shift Improve method works, in terms of the instruments including planning instruments, regulatory instruments, economic instruments, information instruments and technological instruments.

Our team

Insa Illgen

Project Director

Tech and Mobility Enthusiast and Team Leader of the Sector Project Sustainable Mobility, is specialized in smart mobility solutions and emerging technologies for sustainable development. Former Head of the GIZ techradar techDetector, her motivation is to join forces on sustainable urban mobility solutions and increase technology and data based solutions for sustainable development.

Jens Giersdorf

TUMI Management Head

Since 2022 Jens is the Management Head of TUMI. He joined TUMI in August 2020 as the focal point of the TUMI E-Bus Mission. Between 2013 and 2020 he had been working for GIZ in Brazil with a focus on bioenergy and electric mobility. He holds a PhD in political science from the Freie Universität Berlin.

Focus Areas: TUMI E-Bus Mission

Vlada Andreychenko

Financial Controller

Since 2019 part of the project "Sustainable Mobility" and responsible for the financial controlling of the TUMI Initiative in the sector project "Sustainable Mobility". She has over 10 years of experience in several departments as well as projects of GIZ.

Kristian Au

Controller

Responsible for controlling the global project of the TUMI initiative. He joined the TUMI team in 2022 and brings 6 years of experience in GIZ, including 4 years in tendering for service contracts up to the EU threshold. He holds a degree in Business Administration and has written his thesis on the sharing economy in the mobility sector.

Gabriela Bachmeier

Office Manager

Before she joined the TUMI Team Eschborn, Gabi worked in an engineering office that focused on transportation and infrastructure on the international level. She is happy to be involved with the mitigation of climate action and promotion of transport projects worldwide. Her contributions to team planning, logistics and moral are an invaluable asset.

Ariadne Baskin

Sustainable Mobility Advisor

A sustainable mobility expert with on-ground experience in Africa, the Caribbean and Europe. Ariadne oversees TUMI's Africa portfolio and co-leads Women Mobilize Women. Previously, She worked for C40 Cities and UN Environment on public transport, e-mobility and mobility justice. She holds a master´s degree in Urban Planning from the LSE.

Focus Areas: TUMI E-Bus Mission, TUMI Labs, WMW

Lena Fischer

Transport Communications Advisor

Urban Geographer and Communications Advisor who gained experience in international cooperation with GIZ in Rwanda. Lena studied Communications and European Studies in Cologne and Dublin and holds a master’s degree in Geography, focusing on holistic sustainable mobility solutions.

Focus Areas: TUMI E-Bus Mission, TUMI Friends, TUMI Data

Herman Kwoba

Advisor, Transport and Climate Change

Graduate in environment and climate change policy who worked extensively in transport and climate change policy development in Kenya. He is based in Nairobi Kenya and is actively working on the transformation of public transport in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Focus Areas: TUMI E-Bus Mission

Laura Menzel

Transport Policy Advisor

Policy Transport Advisor and political communications expert. Laura leads TUMI Friends – TUMI’s network with the mobility private sector, and is part of GIZ’s Women Mobilize Women initiative. Prior to joining GIZ, Laura worked as Policy Advisor at the German Parliament. She holds an MA in political science from Freie Universität Berlin and the American University of Beirut.

Focus Areas: TUMI Friends, WMW

Mathias Merforth

Project Manager

Experienced Policy Advisor and Project Manager in Latin America and Eastern Europe. He co-shaped the TUMI and MYC partnerships. In Mexico, he coordinated the mobility component of a climate change und urban development programme. Focusing on policy, urban mobility planning, public transport, and cycling. Holding a master’s degree in Transport Economy at the TUD.

Focus Areas: TUMI Labs, Mobilize Minds

Rohan Shailesh Modi

Transport Advisor

Since several years he is working with GIZ with a focus on Asia & Africa. At TUMI he is on an ambitious journey to ensure procurement of 100000 E-buses by 2025. An energy manager by academics, he specializes in coupling digitization and circular economy topics with sustainable mobility solutions.

Focus Areas: TUMI E-Mobility, TUMI E-Bus Mission

Marta Pastukh

Coordinator of Pilot project in Lviv

As the coordinator of the TUMI pilot project in Lviv, Ukraine, she organised the work on the e-mobility plan and various other activities in Lviv, such as the European Mobility Week, the Electric Bike Promotion Week in the city council.  She puts a lot of effort in communication and participatory process with partners in developing projects in the field of urban development and sustainable mobility.

Focus Areas: TUMI E-Mobility

Lena Katharina Plikat

Policy Advisor

She has experience in divers sectors of urban planning and mobility, including consulting, project management, research and communication. Prior to joining GIZ, she has worked as a Research Assistant at the German Aerospace Centre, focusing on the co-creation of mobility and transport planning through digital tools. She is committed to developing sustainable and user-friendly mobility solutions for all.

Focus Areas: TUMI Data

Stephanie Sophie Pons-Dechent

Transport Policy Advisor

Former consultant for KfW Development Bank in the field of nature protection, prioritizing on sustainable conservation finance. She has worked in Brazil, India and Ghana. Stephanie studied Business Administration and Economic Geography, focusing on new mobility trends.

Focus Areas: WMW

Julia Remmers

Communications Specialist

Junior Communications Specialist with a degree in Political Science. She has a passion for all things communication, climate justice, and gender equity. All three of these topics align in her work at TUMI, where her main task is supporting Women Mobilize Women, communicating on their global activities, and advocating for feminist transport policy. Before joining TUMI in July of 2022, she worked with other GIZ transport projects, gaining experience in event management and capacity development.

Focus Areas: WMW

Marvin Stolz

Transport Policy Advisor TUMIVolt

E-Mobility and sustainable mobility expert who joined the TUMI team in 2020. Previously he worked for KfW Development Bank in renewable energy and urban transport. Marvin studied Business Administration and holds a master’s degree in Risk Assessment and Sustainability Management.

Focus Areas: TUMI E-Mobility

Frederic Tesfay

Project Manager

Mechanical Engineer who immediately went into project management within the field of construction; having worked two years in USA and a further five years for GIZ in Africa focused on project implementation. After developing a strong focus on monitoring and controlling, he successfully began managing projects in the field of technical education and capacity building in Asia.

Focus Areas: TUMI Data, TUMI Labs, TUMI E-Bus Mission

Armin Wagner

Senior Transport Policy Advisor

Traffic and transport engineer with 20 years of experience in sustainable project management. He is a specialist in urban mobility and international fuel prices, known for his technical and managerial skills, attention to detail, and advocacy for sustainable transportation.

Viviane Weinmann

Transport Planner

Holding a degree in Aviation Management as well as Sustainable Transport Planning. She is experienced in road and pedestrian microsimulation modelling, feasibility studies and transport master planning. Before joining TUMI she also designed public transport and active mobility infrastructure, primarily in Singapore and the wider Southeast Asian Region.

Focus Areas: WMW

Jasmin Werra

Head of Finance

Business Economist, holding a degree in International Business with a focus on accounting, controlling as well as international operations management & logistics. She has 6 years of experiences in several departments of GIZ and is presently responsible for the financial controlling of the TUMI Initiative.

Adrian Ortega

E-Mobility Advisor

Adrian is an automotive mechanic engineer, specialized in transport Planning and Environment at University of Leeds joining the team in 2020. Previously he worked at the public sector in the National Transit Agency of Ecuador and as external consultant at world bank.

Focus Areas: TUMI E-Mobility

TUMI Partners

ADB

Asian Development Bank

ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. Established in 1966, it is owned by 67 members—48 from the region.

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BMZ

Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development

The Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) is responsible for German development policy within the German government.

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C40 Cities

Climate Leadership Group

C40 is a network of mayors of nearly 100 world-leading cities collaborating to deliver the urgent action needed right now to confront the climate crisis.

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CAF

Development Bank of Latin America

CAF is a development bank created in 1970, owned by 19 countries - 17 of Latin America and the Caribbean, Spain and Portugal- as well as 13 private banks in the region.

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GIZ

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH

As Germany's main service provider in the field of international cooperation for sustainable development and international education work, GIZ is dedicated to shaping a future worth living around the world.

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ITDP

Institute for Transportation and Development Policy

ITDP is a global organization at the forefront of innovation, using technical expertise, direct advocacy, and policy guidance to mitigate the impacts of climate change, improve air quality, and support prosperous, sustainable, and equitable cities.

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ICLEI

ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability

ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability is a global network of more than 2500 local and regional governments committed to sustainable urban development.

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KfW

KfW Development Bank

KfW Development Bank has been helping the German Federal Government to achieve its goals in development policy and international development cooperation for more than 50 years.

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SLOCAT

Partnership on Sustainable, Low Carbon Transport

SLOCAT is the international, multi-stakeholder partnership powering systemic transformations and a just transition towards equitable, healthy, green and resilient transport and mobility systems for the people and the planet.

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UN-Habitat

United Nations Human Settlements Programme

The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) is mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities.

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WRI Ross Center

WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities

WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities is the World Resources Institute’s program dedicated to shaping a future where cities work better for everyone.

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