Sustainable development of smart ports

In 2022, UNCTAD launched a three-year project to support several African countries in assessing the progress of selected ports towards becoming Sustainable Smart Ports (SSPs). STC Next delivered this project in partnership with Haskoning.

The project examined how ports use energy, whether national power grids are prepared for electrification, the potential for integrating renewable energy sources, and the strength of existing regulatory and institutional frameworks. Both barriers and practical opportunities for progress were identified.

The findings were discussed through stakeholder consultations and validation workshops, followed by capacity-building activities that brought together port authorities, ministries of energy and transport, regulatory bodies, utility providers, terminal operators, and technical experts.

Based on a shared understanding of the challenges and opportunities, key stakeholders agreed on priority actions, which were subsequently incorporated into country-specific SSP recommendations and action plans.