AfDB and Libya Advance Strategic Transport Reform to Power Economic Recovery

The milestone follows a three-day high-level workshop held in Tunis from 15 to 17 April 2026 at the Bank’s North Africa regional office.

In a significant move to rebuild Libya's economic foundations, the African Development Bank (AfDB) has partnered with the country's Ministry of Transportation to launch a comprehensive roadmap for reforming the national transport sector—an initiative seen as critical to restoring growth, connectivity, and investor confidence.

The milestone follows a three-day high-level workshop held in Tunis from 15 to 17 April 2026 at the Bank's North Africa regional office. The session brought together senior representatives from Libya's key transport and finance institutions alongside AfDB experts to finalize implementation arrangements for a strategic transport sector study.

The Libyan delegation, led by Issam Abdallah Al-Qouri, Chair of the Preparatory Committee at the Ports and Maritime Transport Authority, included officials from the Land Transport Authority, the Roads and Bridges Implementation Authority, and the Ministry of Transportation. Their participation reflects a coordinated national effort to modernize infrastructure and strengthen institutional capacity in a sector widely viewed as a backbone of economic recovery.

At the core of the initiative is a $340,000 grant from the African Development Bank's Middle-Income Country Technical Assistance Fund (MIC-TAF), complemented by financial contributions from the Libyan Government. While modest in size, the funding is strategically targeted to unlock larger investments by building a pipeline of viable, bankable projects and strengthening policy frameworks.

The planned study will deliver a comprehensive diagnostic of Libya's transport sector, including a detailed situational and gap analysis. It will also produce a forward-looking strategic plan outlining prioritized short- and medium-term interventions designed to improve efficiency, reduce bottlenecks, and enhance overall system performance.

Key outputs will include recommendations for policy and institutional reforms, strategies to boost private sector participation, and indicative financing options for future infrastructure investments. Importantly, the study is expected to identify investment-ready projects across road, maritime, and logistics networks—laying the groundwork for future AfDB and international partner financing.

"An efficient and integrated transport system connects people to opportunities, facilitates trade, and enhances quality of life," said Malinne Blomberg, AfDB Deputy Director General for North Africa and Country Manager for Libya. Her remarks underscore the central role of transport infrastructure in rebuilding economic resilience and social cohesion in a country still navigating post-conflict recovery.

Libya's transport sector has faced years of underinvestment and fragmentation, resulting in weakened connectivity between regions, inefficiencies in trade logistics, and limited access to essential services in remote areas. By addressing these structural challenges, the new strategy aims to reconnect markets, stimulate domestic and cross-border trade, and reduce regional disparities.

The initiative aligns closely with the African Development Bank's Ten-Year Strategy, which prioritizes infrastructure development, regional integration, and private sector growth. It also reflects broader continental ambitions under frameworks such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), where efficient transport systems are key to unlocking intra-African trade.

A notable feature of the study is its emphasis on inclusivity and accessibility. By producing key reports in Arabic, English, and French, the project aims to ensure broad engagement among Libyan institutions, policymakers, and international development partners—facilitating coordinated implementation and shared ownership of reforms.

Beyond technical outputs, the workshop itself served as a platform for capacity building and institutional alignment, helping stakeholders converge on a unified vision for the sector's transformation. The next phase will involve executing the study, refining investment priorities, and advancing policy reforms that can translate analysis into tangible infrastructure improvements.

As Libya seeks to rebuild its economy and reintegrate into regional and global markets, the transport sector is emerging as a critical enabler. The African Development Bank's support signals renewed international commitment to the country's recovery—anchored in strategic planning, sustainable investment, and long-term resilience.