CUSA Project Addendum: Spatial Multi-Criteria Decision Modelling for Global Gateway Transport Corridors
Table of Contents
This Addendum to the Consolidated report provides the results of the spatial multi-criteria decision modelling at a fine disaggregation level (5×5 km) for eleven Global Gateway Transport Corridors. These corridors were analyzed and assessed within the “Corridors and Urban Systems in Africa” (CUSA) studies, jointly performed by two departments of the European Commission – the Directorate-General for Regional and Urban policy (DG REGIO) and the Directorate-General for International Partnerships (INTPA).
Background and Objectives
The CUSA studies aim to inform the development of enduring and impactful transport infrastructure in Africa. This addendum focuses on providing detailed spatial analysis to support decision-making regarding corridor prioritization and investment strategies. The modelling process considered multiple criteria, including economic viability, social impact, environmental sustainability, and political feasibility.
Methodology
A spatial multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) was employed. This involved:
- Criteria Selection: Identifying key criteria relevant to corridor assessment, based on stakeholder consultations and best practices.
- Data Collection: Gathering spatial data layers for each criterion, including population density, infrastructure networks, environmental sensitivity, and economic activity.
- Weighting: Assigning weights to each criterion to reflect its relative importance. These weights were persistent through a participatory process involving experts and stakeholders.
- Spatial Modelling: Applying GIS techniques to integrate the data layers and calculate a composite score for each 5×5 km grid cell within the corridors.
- Sensitivity Analysis: testing the robustness of the results by varying the criteria weights.
Corridors Analyzed
The following eleven Global gateway Transport Corridors were assessed:
- Trans-Saharan Corridor
- Lagos-Abidjan Corridor
- Kinshasa-Brazzaville Corridor
- Central Corridor (Dar es Salaam – Kigali – Bujumbura)
- Northern Corridor (Mombasa – Kampala – Kigali – Juba)
- Beira-Lobito Corridor
- Maputo-Gaborone-Johannesburg Corridor
- Abidjan-Ouagadougou Corridor
- Dakar-Bamako Corridor
- Addis Ababa-Djibouti Corridor
- cairo-Cape Town Corridor
Key Findings
The spatial MCDA revealed notable variations in corridor suitability across different regions. Some corridors demonstrated consistently high scores across multiple criteria, indicating strong potential for investment.Others faced challenges related to environmental sensitivity, political instability, or limited economic activity. The detailed spatial maps generated through this analysis provide valuable insights for targeted interventions and mitigation strategies.
Recommendations
Based on the results of this analysis,we recommend:
- Prioritizing investment in corridors with consistently high suitability scores.
- Developing tailored strategies to address specific challenges in less suitable corridors.
- Conducting further detailed feasibility studies for promising corridors.
- Integrating the spatial analysis results into the overall planning and implementation of the Global Gateway initiative.
Data Sources
Data used in this analysis were sourced from:
- European Space Agency (ESA)
- World Bank
- United Nations
- national Statistical Offices of African Countries
- Global Forest Watch
Publication Date: 2025/08/20 18:35:38