African Member States work together to advance maritime digitalization

The International Maritime Organization (IMO), the Africa Transport Policy Program (SSATP) and the World Bank, together with Côte d'Ivoire's Ministry of Transport, hosted a sub-regional workshop in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire (9-12 December) to advance the implementation of the Maritime Single Window (MSW) across 12 French-speaking African countries.

The MSW is a centralised digital platform that facilitates the exchange of information among ships and various government agencies, streamlining procedures for arrival, stay and departure of ships at ports to enhance efficiency.

The event was organized in collaboration with the Port Management Association of West and Central Africa (PMAWCA), the Port Management Association of Eastern & Southern Africa (PMAESA), the Union of Port Administrations of Northern Africa (UAPNA), and the African Harbour Masters Committee.

The workshop brought together 79 participants, including 20 women, representing maritime administrations, port authorities, and customs agencies from Benin, Cameroon, Comoros, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Guinea, Madagascar, Mauritania, Senegal and Togo.

The aim was to strengthen regional knowledge on MSW implementation by sharing lessons learned and good practices emerging from IMO-led needs assessment missions undertaken in Benin, Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea, Liberia, Mauritania, Sierra Leone, and Togo. These assessments included a thorough functional analysis of existing ship and cargo clearance systems, which identified key challenges and targeted recommendations for effective MSW deployment.

African member states presented their current port systems, enabling peer learning on progress, challenges, and opportunities. Discussions emphasized that MSW systems are not standalone digital solutions, but core elements of a broader and regionally harmonized trade facilitation ecosystem.

By deepening participants' understanding of the IMO's Convention on Facilitation of International Maritime Traffic (FAL Convention), strengthening coordination among port stakeholders, and clarifying the financing and policy requirements for MSW implementation, the workshop equipped countries with the practical knowledge needed to accelerate MSW deployment.

Supporting SSATP's strategic agenda

This workshop supports SSATP's Fourth Development Plan objective of promoting digitalization along transport and trade corridors. The establishment of MSW systems is a critical step in reducing logistics costs, facilitating trade, and strengthening the competitiveness of African ports.

As an international partnership hosted by the World Bank, SSATP's engagement promotes alignment and harmonization of MSW approaches across countries, supporting regional coherence and sustainability.

SSATP-funded participants will remain for an additional day (13 December), for a dedicated technical session focusing on areas where SSATP can provide targeted assistance and long-term support.

Strengthening regional collaboration

The participation of regional port associations-including PMAWCA, PMAESA, UAPNA, and the African Harbour Masters Committee-the African Alliance for Electronic Commerce (AAEC), as well as representatives from development institutions, such as the African Development Bank (AfDB), added valuable perspectives to the discussions.

The workshop was delivered through IMO's Integrated Technical Cooperation Programme (ITCP) in close collaboration with the World Bank, and the General Directorate of Maritime and Port Affairs of Côte d'Ivoire.

It builds on SSATP's recent analytical work, Catching Up on Digital Port Infrastructure for Africa, which underscores that MSW implementation requires not only digital tools but also strong legal frameworks, institutional leadership, and coordinated stakeholder engagement.