INSTATA: Innovation Science and Technology for Advancing Transportation in Africa

INSTATA is a groundbreaking 5-year initiative (2025–2030) dedicated to empowering the African transport workforce. It represents a shift from purely infrastructure-focused development to a workforce-centered approach, recognizing that the men and women who move Africa are the true engines of the continent's economy.

The initiative is built on a consortium model, bringing together academic institutions, government bodies, trade unions, and private sector partners to co-design solutions for real-world challenges.

The 5-Year Vision (2025–2030)

Through INSTATA, FIRAT and its partners are committed to achieving the following milestones by 2030:

1. Certification: Certify 50,000+ transport workers through Continuing Professional Education (CPE) programs.
2. Cost Reduction: Reduce vehicle maintenance costs by 30% by promoting localized spare parts production.
3. Regional Scale: Launch model workshops and welfare programs across four major African regions.
4. Institutional Legacy: Establish the African Transport Workforce Institute to serve as a permanent hub for policy, research, and technical training.
5. Pilot Leadership: Position Nigeria as the pilot model for this continental transformation.

Key Impact Areas

01. Workforce Empowerment

• Professionalization: Developing standardized curricula for mechanics, drivers, and logistics personnel.
• Welfare: Aiming for a 50% improvement in member welfare through direct access to health services, mental health support, and family counseling.
• Recognition: Elevating the social status of transport workers through certification and public advocacy.

02. Economic Resilience

• Localization: Supporting the local manufacturing of vehicle spare parts to reduce dependency on costly imports.
• Formalization: Transitioning informal spare parts markets into organized, productive interactions that drive local economic growth.
• SME Support: Providing business training and financial literacy to small transport enterprises.

03. Policy & Governance

• Worker-Centric Policy: Advocating for the adoption of policies at state and federal levels that prioritize worker safety, rights, and voice.
• Global Standards: Aligning African transport regulations with global best practices while respecting and addressing local realities.
• Union Engagement: creating a "Workers' Parliament" platform for continuous dialogue between unions and policymakers.

The Consortium Model

INSTATA is driven by a powerful coalition of partners:

• Research & Strategy: Foresight Institute of Research and Translation (FIRAT)
• Technical Training: Yaba College of Technology (YCT), Federal Polytechnic Ilaro (FPI), Mashood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY)
• Academic & Policy: Lagos State University – School of Transport and Logistics (LASU)
• Industry & Consulting: M-Solution Consult International (MSCI), Expanse Resources Consulting Ltd
• Specialized Education: Federal University of Transportation, Daura

Join the Transformation

The African Transport Conference 2025 marks the official launch of the INSTATA roadmap. We invite partners, investors, and stakeholders to join us in building a sustainable, worker-centered future for African transport.

View the Conference Details