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

Frederik Strompen

TUMI Project Director

Frederik Strompen has been Project Director for TUMI since March 2025. Prior to this, he served as Mobility Advisor in the Mayor’s Office and as Chief of Staff in the Department of Transport of the City of Cologne. With a background in transport economics and expertise in policy and e-mobility, he has contributed to urban mobility projects around the world — including nine years with GIZ in Africa and Asia.

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
Sasank Vemuri

Sasank Vemuri

TUMI Program Director for TUMI Just Mobility and Head of the MobiliseYourCity Secretariat

Sasank Vemuri is the Coordinator of the Global Secretariat for the MobiliseYourCity Partnership in Brussels, Belgium. Before joining the MobiliseYourCity Secretariat in May 2019, Sasank worked for the Asian Development Bank (ADB) since 2013. Sasank is a father, a committed development professional, an economist, and an American. In addition to Belgium, he has also lived in worked in Vietnam, Philippines, India, Germany and the United States.

Focus Areas: MobiliseYourCity, TUMI Just Mobility

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.

Hannah Behr

Communications Specialist

Junior Communications Specialist with a diverse academic background in Communications, Political and Historical Sciences, and Gender Studies. Passionate about feminist perspectives and climate justice, Hannah gained hands-on communication experience working in publishing. Breaking down complex information is a strength, supporting TUMI Data, among other focus areas.

Martin Schaefer

Transport Policy Advisor

Working for more than 8 years for the German Development Cooperation (KfW and GIZ), Martin has broad expertise in the transport sectors across the globe. Having a background in Economics and Economic Geography, Martin worked on mobility projects in India, Nigeria, Ukraine and Albania. His main focus is on promoting walking and cycling.

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

Keisha Alena Mayuga

Advisor, Gender and Inclusivity

Keisha is an urban planner with expertise in sustainable mobility in Asia focused on the intersections between mobility, gender, inclusivity, inequality, and health. She holds an MBA in Sustainable Mobility from TU Berlin and has a background in urban planning and journalism. Previously, she worked with the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank where she focused on transport finance and active transport planning. She is part of 2023's Remarkable Feminist Voices in Transport and was awarded as one of the Philippines' Top Outsdanding Women in Service in 2022 for her work in Urban Transport.

Focus Areas: WMW, Inclusive Mobility

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

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

Juan Manuel Prado Villafrade

Sustainable Mobility Advisor

Expert in sustainable urban mobility with experience in Colombia and Latin America. Advisor for GIZ in Colombia for the Global TUMI initiative and the bilateral portfolio in Colombia. Previously worked at the National Road Safety Agency of Colombia, Mobility Secretariat of Bogotá, and the NGO Despacio, always aiming to improve the quality of life through sustainable mobility. Holds a degree in business administration with a master's in Digital Marketing.

Focus Areas: Colombian Portfolio

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

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

Sustainable Transport Planner

Holding a degree in Aviation Management and Sustainable Transport Planning is well versed across all transport modes. Before joining TUMI she also designed public transport and active mobility infrastructure. At TUMI, Viviane focuses on gender mainstreaming activities, project activities in Cameroon and developing knowledge products and trainings for a diverse audience.

Focus Areas: WMW, Mobilize Minds, MoVe Yaoundé

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.

ADB

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.

BMZ

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.

C40

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.

CAF

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.

GIZ

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.

ITDP

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.

ICLEI

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.

KfW

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.

SLOCAT

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.

UN-Habitat

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.

WRI Ross Center

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