Pathways to Advancing E-mobility in Africa
Organised by GIZ and Agora Verkehrswende
Event Recording
About this event
Africa stands at a critical juncture, where decoupling economic growth from rising emissions is essential. Transport is central to the continent’s sustainable development, particularly in the context of rapid urbanisation, population growth, and the increasing impacts of climate change. With motorisation still relatively low, electric mobility offers a unique opportunity to leapfrog the internal combustion engine and pursue green growth. It also represents a dynamic and expanding market. Unlocking these benefits, however, requires informed decision-making and strategic action.
Over the past two years, the Rethinking Transport Initiative by GIZ and Agora Verkehrswende has brought together African stakeholders from academia, civil society, and the private sector to identify key strategies for action to advance sustainable transport across the continent. A central outcome of these exchanges has been a shared focus on electric mobility as a transformative lever for climate action and green development. At least 15 African countries are now developing or implementing e-mobility policies and strategies, with Ethiopia even banning the import of internal combustion engine vehicles.
Against this backdrop, the event aimed at deepening the dialogue on enabling pathways for electric mobility in Africa and reflected on the role Europe, and Germany in particular, can play in this process. It presented the strategic opportunities for action identified through recent expert discussions and explore how to build just, effective, and forward-looking transport systems together.
Our speakers at this event were:
- Ayda Fathi, Director of Automotive Industry, Ministry of Industry and Trade, Morocco
- Naville Geiriseb, Senior Associate, Agora Verkehrswende
- Ingrid-Gabriela Hoven, Managing Director, GIZ
- Dr. Andreas Kammel, VP Alternative Drivetrains, Traton Group
- Edna Mercy, E-mobility expert, Africa Mobility Hub and Sustainable Transport fellowship Alumna, GIZ/Agora Verkehrswende, Kenya
- Eric Ntagengerwa, Head of Transport, African Union Commission
- Dr. Gladys Nyachieo, Senior Lecturer, MMU Kenya
- Achim Steiner, Former Administrator of UNDP, former Under-Secretary-General of the UN and Executive Director of UNEP
Moderator: Christian Hochfeld, Executive Director of Agora Verkehrswende
Photos of the event on 3 December 2025 in Berlin
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Welcome address by Christian Hochfeld, Executive Director, Agora Verkehrswende
Photo: © GIZ by Thomas Ecke -
Keynote Speech by Achim Steiner, former Administrator of UNDP, former Under-Secretary-General of the UN and Executive Director of UNEP
Photo: © GIZ by Thomas Ecke -
Presentation: Insights on Scaling E-Mobility in Africa by Naville Geiriseb (Senior Associate, Agora Verkehrswende) and Dr. Gladys Nyachieo (Senior Lecturer, MMU Kenya)
Photo: © GIZ by Thomas Ecke -
Panel Discussion on Leapfrogging to E-Mobility with Edna Mercy (E-mobility expert, Africa Mobility Hub and Sustainable Transport fellowship Alumna, GIZ/Agora Verkehrswende, Kenya), Ayda Fathi (Director of Automotive Industry, Ministry of Industry and Trade, Morocco), Dr. Andreas Kammel (VP Alternative Drivetrains, Traton Group) and Eric Ntagengerwa (Head of Transport, African Union Commission)
from left to rightModerator: Christian Hochfeld, Executive Director of Agora Verkehrswende
Photo: © GIZ by Thomas Ecke -
Panel Discussion on Leapfrogging to E-Mobility with Edna Mercy (E-mobility expert, Africa Mobility Hub and Sustainable Transport fellowship Alumna, GIZ/Agora Verkehrswende, Kenya)
Photo: © GIZ by Thomas Ecke -
Panel Discussion on Leapfrogging to E-Mobility with Ayda Fathi (Director of Automotive Industry, Ministry of Industry and Trade, Morocco) and Dr. Andreas Kammel (VP Alternative Drivetrains, Traton Group)
Moderator: Christian Hochfeld, Executive Director of Agora Verkehrswende
Photo: © GIZ by Thomas Ecke -
Daniel Bongart, Head of ‘Team Infrastructure and Mobility’, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit
Photo: © GIZ by Thomas Ecke -
Closing and Outlook by Ingrid-Gabriela Hoven, Managing Director, GIZ
Photo: © GIZ by Thomas Ecke -
Photo: © GIZ by Thomas Ecke -
Photo: © GIZ by Thomas Ecke
Event details
Pathways to Advancing E-mobility in Africa
GIZ’s Berlin Representation
Reichpietschufer 20
10785 Berlin
Germany
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