Key Insights from the SSATP Webinar on Leveraging Digitalization for African Ports: Insights and Pathways
May 16, 2024
Regional Integration
Leveraging digital solutions to enhance performance along regional transport corridors is a key focus of the Africa Transport Policy Program (SSATP) Fourth Development Plan (DP4-2022-2026). Within this context, on April 17, 2024, SSATP hosted a webinar titled "Leveraging Digitalization for African Ports: Insights and Pathways." The event provided a platform to delve into a comprehensive World Bank study/ SSATP working paper on the Status of Digitalization and Policy Impediments in African Ports, which assesses the current digital situation of 39 ports in 31 African countries, using a digital maturity score to measure the digitalization level of each port.
The digital maturity score provides a good appreciation of the current port digitalization status and varies across ports. There was a clear consensus from participants to use this digital maturity score as a benchmark to assess the digitalization progress of African ports. While there is agreement on the transformative potential of digitalization in enhancing supply chain efficiency and transparency, challenges persist. These challenges include limited policy direction, infrastructure constraints, and a notable deficit in cybersecurity preparedness among port authorities.
Moreover, the correlation between policy existence and digital maturity was found to be tenuous, underscoring the need for a more cohesive and coordinated policy framework to drive digital transformation in African ports.
Considering these findings, the webinar endorsed the report’s recommendations aimed at catalyzing digitalization efforts within African ports. These recommendations include the need to establish more maritime single windows, increased infrastructure investments, policy alignment with government support, capacity building in digital skills, particularly in cybersecurity, and enhanced collaboration among ports for knowledge sharing.
The webinar also featured compelling case studies presented by the Gambia Ports Authority and Djibouti Port Community System, offering firsthand accounts of the digitalization journeys at the Ports of Banjul and Djibouti. Through these case studies, attendees gained valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities associated with digital transformation (increased transparency and efficiency of operations), underscoring the imperative of embracing technological advancements to drive the operational efficiency and competitiveness of ports. Additionally, the webinar gave the port associations of East and West Africa an opportunity to share their insights and perspectives on port digitalization.
Attracting a total of 165 participants, the webinar served as a platform for stakeholders to converge on and chart a collective path forward towards advancing digitalization in African ports. Overall, the event underscored the imperative of harnessing the power of digitalization to enhance the operations and boost the competitiveness of African ports.
Webinar Materials:
Related Reports:
- SSATP Working Paper on the Status of Digitalization and Policy Impediments in African Ports
- National Fact Files for Maritime Digital Maturity
- Maritime Sector Digitalization Policy Matrix
Presentations:
- Mark Wootton – African Ports Digitalization Study
- Ousman Jammeh – Case Study on the Experience of Banjul Port
- Warsama Guirreh – Case Study on the Experience of Djibouti Port
