The African Development Bank Group brought together 104 port statisticians and maritime stakeholders from across Africa through the African Ports Connectivity Portal Project.
The five-day Data Validation and Capacity Building Workshop took place in Abidjan from 23 to 27 March 2026. Participants worked to validate project data and strengthen their ability to align port performance measurement practices by adopting a harmonised set of key performance indicators and the African Port Index.
Through interactive sessions and technical support, participants exchanged knowledge and agreed on practical approaches to data management. The workshop also marked an important step toward producing the African Port Data Book 2025 and developing the African Port Index, both designed to support better decision-making and improve port performance across the continent.
A total of 38 port authorities took part, including 21 from the Port Management Association of West and Central Africa, 12 from the Port Management Association of Eastern and Southern Africa, and 5 from the Union of Port Administrations of Northern Africa. Six delegates also represented five continental industry bodies, showing strong collaboration across Africa’s maritime sector.
Participants reviewed project updates, examined collected datasets, and discussed challenges in data collection. They also explored the importance of port data and the need to harmonize key performance indicators.
The workshop introduced the methodology behind the African Port Index, shared early results, and guided participants on how to interpret performance metrics.
Initial demonstrations showed that the Index could become a useful analytical tool.
By aligning with international standards, including guidance from the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, the project is improving the consistency, reliability, and credibility of port data across Africa.
Marco Yamaguchi, Manager of the Transport and Logistics Division at the African Development Bank, noted that reliable and harmonized data plays a key role in improving competitiveness, attracting investment, and supporting informed policy discussions. He added that the project is building a digital platform to give policymakers, port authorities, and investors access to high-quality and comparable data.
Beyond validation, the workshop included practical training sessions to strengthen participants’ skills in data collection, analysis, and reporting. It also helped them better understand how the African Port Index can support performance benchmarking and investment decisions.
The project will now move into its next phase, which includes finalizing the dataset, producing key analytical outputs, hosting an online session to present the Index results, and carrying out a business sustainability study to support the platform over time.
The African Ports Connectivity Portal Project is a continent-wide initiative led by the African Development Bank Group to standardize and digitize port performance data. It supports benchmarking, investment planning, and policy discussions by providing harmonized indicators and a centralized source of port statistics.
By improving transparency and standardizing performance metrics, the project is helping to strengthen regional economic corridors, improve port efficiency, and support sustainable infrastructure development across Africa.
source: maritimafrica.com
African Maritime Council