Accelerating maritime digitalization in Eastern and Southern Africa

The International Maritime Organization (IMO), the Africa Transport Policy Program (SSATP), and the World Bank, in partnership with the United Republic of Tanzania's Ministry of Transport, convened a regional workshop in Dar es Salaam to accelerate the digitalization of ports across 12 African countries.

Opened by Minister of Transport Hon. Prof. Makame Mbarawa (MP) the five-day event (20 to 24 April) aimed to:

• promote the adoption of the IMO Compendium on Facilitation and Electronic Business which sets out how shipping and port data is structured and shared electronically to streamline communication; and
• scale up implementation of Maritime Single Windows (MSW) and Port Community Systems (PCS), which are integrated digital platforms that streamline vessel and cargo clearance, reduce bureaucratic delays, and strengthen Africa's competitiveness in global maritime trade.

Strengthening regional collaboration

The workshop convened regional and international institutions committed to translating policy into action, including the Port Management Association of Eastern & Southern Africa (PMAESA), the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Harbour Masters' Committee (AHMC), the African Alliance for Electronic Commerce (AAEC).

More than 100 participants, including 36 women, from maritime administrations, port authorities, and customs authorities from Angola, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, Somalia, South Africa, and the United Republic of Tanzania, took part in knowledge-sharing and practical capacity building. 

Sessions highlighted the strategic benefits of MSWs and the need for alignment with the IMO Compendium, drawing on IMO needs assessments conducted in the region which have identified challenges and provided recommendations for MSW deployment. Participating countries presented their current port systems, enabling peer learning on progress, challenges and opportunities.

Supporting a regional trade facilitation ecosystem

The workshop examined Port Community Systems and explore potential synergies with MSWs. A central premise of the workshop was that MSW systems are not standalone digital solutions, but core elements of a broader, regionally harmonized trade facilitation ecosystem.

By deepening participants' understanding of the FAL Convention, strengthening coordination among port stakeholders, and clarifying the financing and policy requirements for MSW implementation, the workshop helped to equip countries with the practical knowledge needed to accelerate MSW deployment.

The workshop draws on a previous IAPH - World Bank Study, Port Community Systems : Lessons from Global Experience.

Aligned with SSATP's Strategic Agenda

This workshop builds on a first regional session held in Abidjan in December 2025. The initiative aligns with SSATP's Fourth Development Plan (DP4), which prioritizes digitalization of transport and trade corridors across Africa. MSW systems are widely recognized as key to reducing logistics costs, improving efficiency and strengthening port competitiveness.

SSATP's role in the workshop includes alignment and harmonization of MSW initiatives across countries, as well as presenting areas for continued support and targeted technical assistance.

The workshop was delivered under IMO's Integrated Technical Cooperation Programme (ITCP) with financial support from China, alongside World Bank funding through the Korea World Bank Partnership Facility and support from Tanzania's Ministry of Transport. The initiative builds on recent analytical work emphasizing that effective port digitalization requires not only technology, but also legal frameworks, institutional capacity and coordinated stakeholder engagement.