The EU International Business Forum on Transport and Strategic Corridors, held in Abidjan from March 30 to April 1, 2026, was more than just a meeting of policymakers; it was a dialogue about the future of West African connectivity. While much of the conversation centered on the massive Abidjan–Lagos and Abidjan–Ouagadougou corridors, a critical session on urban mobility highlighted a vital truth: these corridors are only as strong as the cities they connect.

A central theme emerged from the discussions: technical cooperation is the de-risking strategy needed to turn ambitious infrastructure plans into bankable, sustainable realities.

The urban heart of strategic corridors

Cities are the economic nodes that make international corridors productive. Without efficient urban mobility, the last mile of a trade corridor becomes a bottleneck of congestion and cost. To address this, the “Avoid-Shift-Improve“ framework still proves valid:

• Avoid: Integrate urban and transport planning to reduce the need for unnecessary traffic.
• Shift: Develop public transport systems to shift commuters from private cars to more efficient modes.
• Improve: Electrifying fleets and optimizing traffic through technology.

Cities are not isolated points on a map — they are the economic nodes that make corridors productive. Improving urban mobility is not only about better cities; it is also about making wider transport corridors and therefore the whole economy more resilient, more inclusive, and less dependent on the movement of raw materials alone.

Martin Schäfer, Transport Policy Advisor, Transformative Urban Mobility Initiative (TUMI)

Martin Schäfer, Transport Policy Advisor at the Transformative Urban Mobility Initiative (TUMI), speaking at the Urban Mobility panel, Abidjan, 31 March 2026.

 

Technical cooperation: the de-risking instrument needed to turn plans into reality

Technical cooperation doesn’t build roads, but it sets the rules of the game. By improving framework conditions, technical partners help establish reliable long-term financing models and regulatory environments that investors need. This includes harmonising land-use and transport planning to ensure that infrastructure actually meets future demand.

Large-scale transport projects are notoriously capital-intensive and often struggle to deliver the direct financial returns needed to cover their costs. Turning a visionary idea into a successful investment requires addressing four interconnected risks, and this is precisely where initiatives like the Transformative Urban Mobility Initiative (TUMI), together with GIZ, make the difference.

1. Institutional risk: By supporting agencies like LAMATA (Nigeria) and AMUGA (Ivory Coast), technical partners help overcome institutional fragmentation. Integrated governance ensures that roads, rail, and land-use planning work together rather than in silos.
2. Implementation risk: Many cities have plans but lack the capacity for complex procurement, data use, and stakeholder engagement. Technical cooperation provides the know-how to take a concept to construction-ready status, and trains staff to operate and maintain new systems once built.
3. Financial risk: Through project preparation support and initiatives like the TUMI E-Bus Mission, technical partners help develop bankable projects that attract international development banks such as KfW and private investors.
4. Political risk: By demonstrating the economic necessity of mobility — including its potential for large-scale job creation — technical cooperation keeps these projects high on the national political agenda.

Putting the people at the centre

Perhaps the most important takeaway from Abidjan was that infrastructure is ultimately about people. Transformative change requires visionary leaders who are willing to make decisions that will shape their regions for decades — decisions which influence the daily reality of millions of commuters.

True transformative change isn’t measured in kilometers of asphalt, but in reduced travel times, improved reliability, and lower costs for the urban economy.Whether it is a student in Lagos reaching their exams on time or a small business owner in Abidjan saving on transport costs, the ultimate goal is to enhance the quality of life and accessibility for all citizens.

Beyond moving people and goods, sustainable mobility is a significant generator of employment. In Berlin, for instance, public transport operation gives direct jobs to roughly 20,000 people, and West African cities, with their large and often informal transport ecosystems, hold comparable potential. By professionalising the transport sector and building partnerships between African and European companies, technical cooperation is helping create a new ecosystem of high-skilled jobs in maintenance, regulation, and green technology. Sharing decades of experience in integrated land-use and metropolitan governance, it turns out, is just as valuable as financial capital.

From Abidjan to Berlin

A resilient, inclusive West African economy does not just require more roads or railways: it requires integrated planning, strong institutions, and strategic partnerships. As we look beyond the EU International Business Forum in Abidjan, technical cooperation will continue to make the difference between ambitious plans and successful projects.

The insights gathered in Abidjan will serve as input for the upcoming TUMI Conference 2026 under the theme “People, Cities and Corridors: Integrating Transport for Sustainable and Resilient Regions”. Join us in Berlin to reconnect with global partners, celebrate a decade of advancing sustainable mobility, and help us shape the next chapter of interconnected, resilient transport systems.