Workshop on development of a sustainable tolling ecosystem for Africa
Background and rationale
Africa’s transport infrastructure gap continues to widen, as many countries face a substantial and growing road infrastructure funding gap. It has been noted that there is an estimated financing requirement of approximately $1.3-1.7 trillion over the next ten years and traditional funding sources, such as public funds and fuel levies, are no longer sufficient due to stagnant fuel levy collections, increasing vehicle fuel efficiency, and the shift towards electric vehicles.
With road networks requiring sustainable financing models to keep pace with rising demand from population growth, urbanization, and regional trade expansion, tolling, when designed and implemented effectively, is a viable user-pay mechanism that can reduce pressure on public budgets, attract private investment, and ensure long-term maintenance of road assets. It is clear that many African countries are seeking to tap into the benefits that tolling provides as there are almost 20 tolling projects at early construction or development stages across Africa which presents a unique opportunity to shape the operational frameworks before these projects go live.
Despite the investment momentum, tolling in Africa remains fragmented, with inconsistent technical standards, tariff-setting approaches, enforcement mechanisms, and customer service models. These gaps risk undermining the financial sustainability of projects, investor confidence, and public acceptance.
This two-day workshop brings together key tolling suppliers and operators, government agencies, lenders and other key stakeholders to showcase how to design, implement and operate a sustainable tolling ecosystem that can be a catalyst for infrastructure financing and development in Africa.
Key Discussion Topics
The workshop will cover a wide range of topics to ensure a comprehensive discussion including:
- State of tolling in Africa: trends, challenges and opportunities
- Legal and institutional frameworks for tolling: Roles of various government agencies.
- Tolling models and revenue mechanisms
- Designing sustainable tolling ecosystems & tariff setting: Cost recovery, public willingness-to-pay, inflation indexing, and payment variations during peak and non-peak hours.
- Social equity and inclusion: Exploring support for local users, public service vehicles, and marginalized groups.
- Selection of technology and systems; Case for interoperability
- Enforcement and penalties
- Environmental sensitivity and green vehicle incentives.
- Monitoring, evaluation, and revenue transparency mechanisms.
- Case for national clearing houses
Who Should Attend
- Officials from tolling operators
- Tolling systems and solutions providers
- Government officials and policy makers
- Toll collection and management agencies
- Infrastructure consultants
- Infrastructure lenders
- Representatives of road user and logistics associations
- Academia and research institutions
- Media representatives
- Civil society organizations
- Development partners