STREnGth_M Webinar: Innovation in Asia, Africa and Latin America

UEMI and UN-Habitat co-hosted the second edition of the STREnGth_M Webinar Series, titled “Transport Innovation: Needs, Priorities, and Opportunities in Asia, Africa, and Latin America”. The session explored how innovation can advance inclusive, low-carbon mobility across Asia, Africa and Latin America.

Framing the discussion

Opening remarks from Oliver Lah (UEMI) emphasised the need to link global ambition with local delivery. Daniel Munene and Mercy Edna Manyasa (UN-Habitat) outlined priorities for emerging economies and the role of research hubs in turning pilots into policy. A moderated panel with Mark Zuidgeest (University of Cape Town), Shobhakar Dhakal (Asian Institute of Technology) and José Ignacio Huertas Gadrozo (Tecnológico de Monterrey) grounded the debate in on-the-ground realities.

Regional insights: Africa

Across many African cities, innovation is shaped by affordability and context. Local start-ups are retrofitting minibuses and three-wheelers; battery-swapping for motorbikes and tuk-tuks is moving from trial to scale; and solar-powered charging hubs are reinforcing resilience while creating green jobs. Rwanda stands out for coupling e-mobility with a strong road-safety culture. Key constraints persist, unstable power supply, limited finance and policy frameworks still maturing.

Regional insights: Latin America

Latin America is gaining momentum. Established automotive hubs in Brazil and Mexico give the region a base to expand manufacturing and assembly. In Bogotá, e-buses are being added to the BRT system. Retrofit kits help reduce costs, and universities in Brazil and Chile are generating research that supports deployment. There are still obstacles. Many components are imported, and electrifying informal transport is complex. Tackling these issues will help the transition move faster and reach more people.

Regional insights: Asia

Asia presents a wide range of contexts. Global leaders such as China, India, Japan and South Korea are advancing technology and markets, while countries like Vietnam and Nepal are accelerating adoption with approaches that fit their needs. India’s battery-as-a-service models, Vietnam’s more affordable EVs and Nepal’s hydropower-driven uptake show strong progress in two- and three-wheelers. Larger fleets, including buses and trucks, are moving more slowly, which has implications for both equity and emissions.

Shared challenges

Despite different starting points, common barriers emerged: high upfront costs and limited financing for smaller operators and households; power systems that complicate charging expansion; technologies not always adapted to local climate, terrain or load conditions; and public-sector capacities that are still catching up with market change.

Collaboration pathways

• Finance that works for users: leasing, pay-as-you-go and battery-as-a-service to reduce entry costs.

• Resilient infrastructure: interoperable charging and solar-plus-storage at depots to strengthen reliability.

• Knowledge to policy: university partnerships to test solutions, train workforces and inform regulation.

• Global-local alignment: connect local pilots to Horizon Europe, the EU Global Gateway and other platforms so research, funding and policy reinforce one another.

  
  

What comes next

The STREnGth_M series is designed to amplify research and enable action. The first webinar, led by POLIS, reviewed European innovation priorities. This second session connected perspectives from Asia, Africa and Latin America. The closing webinar, hosted by Rupprecht Consult, will focus on education, training and capacity development, recognising that technology scales when people and institutions are ready.

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