Sustainable smart ports (SSP) for African countries

As part of the UN Development Account project “Sustainable Smart Ports for African Countries, including Small Island Developing States”, UNCTAD is organizing an online capacity-building course on sustainable smart ports (SSP) for Africa.

This course builds on previous regional workshops delivered under the project, including how to design efficient energy management systems and how to advance the electrification of port equipment. It seeks to equip key stakeholders in Africa’s port sector—including port authorities, terminal operators, government agencies, and private sector actors—with the technical expertise and hands-on capabilities needed to support sustainable port development.

The training will guide participants through the core building blocks of SSP development: It offers targeted guidance on planning and implementing SSP strategies, beginning with an introduction to key concepts, reform principles, and the UNCTAD methodology for assessing a port’s SSP status. Participants will also explore energy efficiency measures through ISO 50001-based energy management systems and develop practical approaches for the electrification of port equipment, supporting the transition toward low-emission, energy-efficient operations.

The course will be delivered through four online sessions, each lasting one hour. Sessions will blend theoretical input with practical case studies, ensuring that participants gain both conceptual understanding and actionable skills. The programme will also include interactive exercises, enabling participants to collaboratively design and refine roadmaps for implementing SSPs in their respective contexts.