"Smart Freight Centre is happy to officially launch the Green Freight Support Program. Decarbonizing freight transport in one of the world’s rapidly growing freight markets is critical to reaching our global climate goals. Through launching the Green Freight Support Program in Eastern Africa, we can provide a platform for the freight stakeholders to work together and support its green freight. Companies can demonstrate strong leadership and show to others that collaboration is key to take steps towards sustainable freight and logistics. We invite ambitious shippers, LSPs and other organizations to work with us and achieve zero emission freight in Eastern Africa."

“The logistics industry helps trade and development, but also produces significant amounts of CO2e. As countries in Eastern Africa embark on the journey towards a low carbon future, the Kuehne Climate Center is committed to supporting local logistics stakeholders in adopting and scaling up climate-friendly practices. During the program's scoping process, we met with a lot of enthusiasm for greener freight systems, but also a lot of uncertainty about the actual implementation steps. With the program now underway, we look forward to playing our part in creating the necessary competences, networks, dialogues and innovations.”

“The Central Corridor Strategic Plan 2021-2025, under its Intervention Area “Corridor Safeguards – Safety and Environmental”, contains the development and roll-out of the Central Corridor Green Freight Programme and a related Communications Plan. This is our Agency’s response to increased carbon emissions due to transport and logistics activities and operations along the Central Corridor coupled with low levels of awareness and knowledge of the issue. The expected change is a reduction in Greenhouse Gas emissions associated with Logistics Service Providers, as well as enhanced knowledge and awareness of the correlation between transport logistics and climate change. The current review of our Strategic Plan 2021-2025 has shown that this key activity has not yet been comprehensively implemented. Therefore, CCTTFA welcomes the timely support from Kuehne Climate Center and Smart Freight Centre to defining a Green Freight Strategy for the Central Corridor based on a consultative approach. Once this Strategy has been approved by our Member States, we hope that Kuhne Climate Center and Smart Freight Centre will provide further support to translating the Strategy into the Central Corridor Green Freight Programme and its implementation.”

“The Northern Corridor is East and Central Africa's busiest transport route, with 2,000 to 3,000 trucks daily, facilitating the movement of about 75,000 tonnes of freight from Mombasa to Kenya and EAC countries. However, the review of the Northern Corridor Green Freight Programme (2017-2021) carried out in 2023 highlighted that implementation of sustainable green freight solutions are hindered by challenges like low public awareness, lack of expertise, and limited funding. In response, the Northern Corridor Transit and Transport Coordination Authority (NCTTCA) and UNEP have developed the Northern Corridor Green Freight Strategy 2030. The Strategy has established priority actions to deliver on set targets which include, green freight capacity building initiative; driver and fleet manager training schemes; establishment of a green freight transport network; operationalizing emission quantification methodology; advocating for modal shift; climate resilient corridor initiative; and regulating the import of old inefficient trucks. The NCTTCA aspires to become a Net-Zero Emission Corridor by 2050 and welcomes the Green Freight Support Program by Kuehne Foundation and, Smart Freight Centre, and other active players and partners in the green freight and logistics sub-sector to jointly implement the NCGFS 2030.”

"The Green Freight Support Program represents a significant leap forward in our collective efforts to achieve sustainable economic development in the region, particularly in the logistics and trade facilitation sectors. We are enthused by the potential of this agile, issue-based network to drive innovation and implementation in green logistics across Eastern Africa. GIZ remains steadfast in its commitment to support and actively contribute to this collaborative approach, recognizing that together, we can more effectively advance sustainable practices and create lasting positive change in the region's logistics sector."

“Heavy duty vehicles which handle road freight are a major contributor to air pollution, road accidents, high fuel consumption and climate emissions. With the global vehicle fleet set to double by 2050, there is an urgent need to switch to zero emissions vehicles. The Green Freight Support Program of Smart Freight Centre and Kuehne Climate Center will offer a platform for decisive action in reducing emissions from the freight industry, aiming to minimize the negative health, safety, and environmental impacts"

“For over a decade, TradeMark Africa has led efforts to reduce the time and costs of trade in Africa. As we expand across the continent, addressing the environmental concerns of trade, particularly climate change, has become more crucial than ever. Notably, the transport and logistics sectors, key pillars of trade facilitation, are among the largest contributors to carbon emissions. Together with our partners in Government, the private sector, and development organisations, we are piloting climate-smart solutions in trade facilitation projects. These efforts, including our collaboration with other partners through the Green Freight Support Program Eastern Africa, align seamlessly with our vision for a sustainable Continent, reinforcing our commitment to a greener, more resilient future”

“Since we launched the CCAC’s Global Green Freight Action Plan in 2015, the sector has taken steps to implement best available technologies and strategies to enhance efficiency and environmental performance to improve public health and generate cost reductions. This shows that when the private sector puts its innovation capacity to work, to comply with performance based standards, we can see economic development around the world. The new Green Freight Support Program of Smart Freight Centre and Kuehne Climate Center in Eastern Africa is further evidence that political commitments drive change and that collaboration between governments, private sector companies, and civil society are key to meet the challenge. Today’s critical step will scale up capacity among shippers, freight forwarders and carriers to realize sustainable green freight objectives across the region”

“FEAFFA is excited to collaborate with the Smart Freight Centre (SFC), the Kühne Climate Centre, and transport and logistics stakeholders in Eastern Africa on the implementation of this crucial initiative. Greening logistics is still a relatively new concept for many customs agents and freight forwarders in this region, but it is gradually gaining momentum through awareness creation. FEAFFA is committed to participating in the program to achieve a zero-emissions transport and logistics industry in Eastern Africa. We strongly believe that the Green Freight Support Program will empower customs agents and freight forwarders, particularly SMEs to significantly reduce their carbon footprint”

“The Green Freight Support Program is not only timely, but critical to assist create awareness, institute requisite intervention for partners such as Shippers Council of Eastern Africa and others in the region towards sustainable and green freight logistics. Cargo owners will have the primary responsibility to ensure sustainable production and procurement of services premised on low carbon emissions and meeting market demands amongst others.”