AfDB and Germany Deepen Partnership to Drive Africa’s Rail and Transport Transformation

During the visit, the African Development Bank delegation toured the DB Railway Academy in Potsdam, one of the world’s leading railway training centres.

The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) is strengthening its strategic partnership with Germany to accelerate the development of modern, sustainable, and integrated transport systems across Africa, with a major focus on rail infrastructure, technical skills development, regional connectivity, and green mobility solutions.

The expanded collaboration follows a high-level mission to Germany in late 2025 led by Mike Salawou, Director of the African Development Bank's Infrastructure and Urban Development Department, where Bank officials held extensive discussions with German government ministries, transport institutions, financial partners, and infrastructure experts.

At the centre of the initiative is a landmark partnership with Deutsche Bahn Engineering & Consulting (DB E&C), the engineering and consulting arm of Germany's national railway operator, aimed at helping Africa build the technical expertise and institutional capacity required to modernise rail systems across the continent.

New African Rail Competence Centre Planned

One of the most significant outcomes of the mission was the signing of a Letter of Intent (LOI) between the African Development Bank Group and DB E&C to collaborate on a feasibility study for a proposed African Rail Competence Centre.

The centre is envisioned as a continent-wide hub for:

• Railway skills development

• Technical training

• Innovation and research

• Rail systems engineering

• Operational excellence

• Capacity building for African transport professionals

Officials say the facility would support Africa's rapidly growing rail modernisation agenda by helping develop a skilled local workforce capable of designing, operating, and maintaining next-generation railway systems.

Both sides agreed to explore multiple institutional models — including decentralised, cooperative, and centralised structures — to determine the most effective framework for the continent's diverse transport needs.

Germany's Railway Expertise Seen as Key to Africa's Future

During the visit, the African Development Bank delegation toured the DB Railway Academy in Potsdam, one of the world's leading railway training centres. The academy has delivered more than 2,500 training programmes and trained approximately 250,000 participants since 1995.

Discussions focused heavily on how STEM education, technical training, and workforce development can support African nations as they expand and modernise national and regional rail networks.

Mike Salawou described the partnership as a transformative opportunity for Africa's infrastructure future.

"This partnership marks a significant milestone for Africa's railway sector," Salawou said.

"By leveraging Deutsche Bahn's expertise and experience, we are laying the foundation for a centre that will build local capacity, enhance technical skills, and support sustainable and efficient rail systems across the continent."

He added that strategic international partnerships would be essential to launching "a continental-wide skills revolution" capable of supporting resilient infrastructure growth across Africa.

Transit-Oriented Development and Sustainable Urban Growth

The African Development Bank delegation also examined Germany's multimodal transport systems, including integrated rail, tram, cycling, and bus networks, as examples of how transport infrastructure can shape more sustainable and economically vibrant cities.

Officials highlighted how German cities have successfully combined transport planning with urban development to reduce car dependency, encourage compact mixed-use growth, and strengthen climate resilience.

"German cities illustrate how coordinated land-use planning paired with reliable rail services reduces car dependency while stimulating mixed-use development, economic activity, and sustainable mobility," Salawou said.

The Bank believes African cities can adapt these principles as urbanisation accelerates across the continent, particularly as many African governments pursue large-scale rail expansion projects.

Germany Expands Support for Africa's Infrastructure Agenda

Beyond railway cooperation, the mission included discussions with several key German government institutions and financial partners aimed at supporting broader African infrastructure and industrial development priorities.

The delegation held talks with:

• Germany's Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)

• Federal Ministry of Transport (BMV)

• Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE)

• KfW IPEX-Bank

• German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ)

Officials discussed collaboration across several strategic sectors, including:

• Regional economic corridor development

• Critical minerals value chains

• Electric vehicle supply chains

• SME capacity building

• Sustainable mobility infrastructure

• Clean energy and smart urban development

The BMZ confirmed support for capacity-building programmes through GIZ, reinforcing Germany's broader commitment to sustainable African economic development.

Major African Infrastructure Projects Under Discussion

The African Development Bank and KfW IPEX-Bank also explored opportunities for co-investment in several major transport and logistics projects across Africa.

Projects discussed included:

• The Lobito Corridor

• The Abidjan–Lagos Corridor Highway

• The Uganda–Kenya Standard Gauge Railway

• Ethiopia's Bishoftu International Airport

Both institutions reaffirmed their commitment to financing transformative infrastructure capable of strengthening regional integration, improving trade connectivity, and accelerating long-term economic growth across Africa.

Focus on Green Mobility and Future Cities

As part of the mission, the delegation also visited Berlin's EUREF Campus, a globally recognised innovation hub focused on clean energy, sustainable urban development, and smart mobility technologies.

The visit reinforced the broader emphasis of the partnership on future-oriented transport systems that combine infrastructure growth with environmental sustainability and climate resilience.

Deutsche Bahn Highlights Long-Term Skills Partnerships

DB Engineering & Consulting officials stressed that infrastructure development must go hand in hand with local skills transfer and workforce empowerment.

"At DB Engineering & Consulting, we believe that building sustainable railway systems goes hand in hand with developing local expertise," said Stefan Geisperger, COO International Business at DB E&C.

"Together with the African Development Bank, we are ready to create long-term, collaborative training programs that empower local professionals with the technical know-how needed to design, operate and maintain modern rail infrastructure."

He added that the partnership would help advance "smart, resilient, and connected mobility solutions" benefiting both Africa and Germany.

Germany Backs Electrified Rail Expansion Across Africa

Germany's Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development also highlighted the importance of rail development in supporting economic transformation and climate goals across Africa.

"BMZ is committed to supporting Africa's economic and social development at a par with reaching international climate commitments and building mutually beneficial economic relationships," said Daphne Gross-Jansen, Deputy Head of Division for Energy, Urban Development, and Mobility at BMZ.

She said the cooperation would create jobs, strengthen investment environments, and support the African Development Bank's ambition of building a fully electrified railway network across the continent.

Rail Infrastructure Seen as Critical to Africa's Economic Future

The partnership comes as African governments increasingly prioritise railway development as a cornerstone of economic integration, industrialisation, trade expansion, and climate-friendly transport.

Analysts say improved rail connectivity could significantly reduce logistics costs, strengthen intra-African trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and support sustainable urbanisation in some of the world's fastest-growing cities.

The African Development Bank's collaboration with Germany is therefore being viewed as part of a broader continental push to modernise transport systems while ensuring African countries build the technical expertise needed to sustain infrastructure growth independently over the long term.