Leading multinationals, logistics service providers and carriers are working together in the Green Freight Support Program, initiated by the Kuhne Climate Center and Smart Freight Centre, to achieve efficient and low emissions, safe and inclusive freight in Eastern Africa.

What is Green Freight Support Program in Eastern Africa?

The Green Freight Support Program in Eastern Africa is an action-oriented network of organizations to advance green freight in the region. The program brings together shippers, carriers and other freight stakeholders with an aim to achieve efficient, low emissions, safe and inclusive freight in the Northern and Central Corridors. This is done through:

Measuring and reporting freight emissions and use that to identify reduction opportunities,
Supporting carriers to make their truck fleets more efficient and reduce its emissions,
Empowering leaders, professionals and industry players through training, degrees and research and
Collaborate to introduce electric trucks along the Northern and Central corridors.

The Green Freight Support Program has been developed through a consultative stakeholder process led by Smart Freight Centre and the Kühne Climate Center and was launched at the Global Logistics Convention in Dar es Salaam in August 2024.

The program collaborates with all stakeholders in the region’s freight and logistics ecosystem. The program focuses on allowing leading multinationals, logistics service providers and carriers to track and reduce their emissions, and supports the Northern Corridor Transit and Transport Coordination Authority and Central Corridor Transit Transport Facilitation Agency in the development and implementation of their respective Green Freight strategies, and leverages partnerships with associations, and development partners including Trademark Africa, UNEP and GIZ.

Why do we need a Green Freight Support Program?

Logistics is rapidly growing in Eastern Africa, presenting significant challenges, but also numerous opportunities. As trade and logistics expand, there is a risk that Africa's logistics sector could become entrenched in carbon-intensive practices, leading to significant air pollution and hindering the transition to a green economy. A way to pool resources and work towards reducing emissions is through a comprehensive Green Freight Support Program that brings together all actors in the logistics landscape.

Key Objectives & Vision

The Green Freight Support Program in Eastern Africa works towards five key objectives:

Well-established and mobilized freight ecosystem

Convening and engaging stakeholders across the sector to develop a well established and mobilized freight ecosystem.

Complete transparency of emissions

Ensuring calculation and reporting of emissions is enabled through data collection and follows a standard methodology of GLEC framework and ISO1408

Efficient and low-emission truck fleets

Improving existing fleet, optimizing freight, and enhancing intermodality is key towards building efficient and low-emission truck fleets.

Initiating Electric truck roll-out along corridors

Demonstrating economic viability and demand signals is crucial to beginning the electric truck roll out along the Northern and Central corridors.

Empowering leaders, professionals and industry players

Educating, empowering, and building capacity within the program network will be vital for the success and sustainability of the Green Freight Support Program.

The ultimate vision of the Green Freight Support Program is to achieve efficient, low-emission, safe, and inclusive freight transport in the Northern and Central Corridors and across Eastern African countries.