CSIR principal researcher Steven Weerts participated in the Ports and Investment Forum 2026 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. He contributed to discussions on the role of science, sustainability and innovation in shaping the next generation of African port infrastructure.
As keynote speaker and panellist in a session focusing on unlocking sustainable port and maritime investment for regional integration, Weerts shared perspectives drawn from more than two decades of research and applied science supporting port planning, environmental management and sustainable infrastructure development. This work spans South Africa and the wider Western Indian Ocean region and has been undertaken in partnership with organisations such as the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Nairobi Convention Secretariat, the Port Management Association for Eastern and Southern Africa (PMAESA), Transnet National Ports Authority and other port authorities and operators across the region.
CSIR principal researcher Steven Weerts participating as keynote speaker and panellist, unpack future-ready African ports fused with digital technology and environmental sustainability at the Ports and Investment Forum 2026, held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania from 28 to 30 October 2026 (Photos: PMAESA).
A recurring theme throughout the forum was recognition that sustainability is no longer viewed solely as an environmental consideration. Increasingly, it is being recognised as a strategic driver of resilience, competitiveness and long-term investment value. This common thread became evident across the executive presentations and discussions, reflecting a growing understanding that future-ready ports must balance economic growth with environmental stewardship, social responsibility and good governance.
A central focus of this undertaking has been the development and implementation of the Toolkit for Sustainable Port Development in a Blue Economy, commissioned through the UNEP Nairobi Convention Secretariat. The toolkit provides a practical framework for integrating sustainability throughout the port development lifecycle, from planning and design through construction and operations. It promotes a more integrated approach in which engineering, environmental management and stakeholder considerations are incorporated into decision-making from the outset, rather than being addressed after key investment decisions have already been made.
Complementing the toolkit, the CSIR has also developed a Port Sustainability Performance Index, an indicator-based assessment tool designed to help ports measure and improve sustainability performance across environmental, social, economic and governance dimensions. The Index has been piloted at the Port of Ngqura in South Africa and Port Victoria in Seychelles, demonstrating how science-based evidence can support strategic planning, performance reporting and investment decision-making.
“An important outcome of this work has been the strengthening of the relationship between the CSIR and PMAESA, with the CSIR increasingly serving as a technical partner supporting PMAESA and its member ports on sustainability-related challenges,” says Weerts.
The collaboration with PMAESA provides an important pathway for uptake of these tools, creating a bridge between science and port management. Through engagements at PMAESA conferences, technical workshops, Harbour Masters' meetings and regional sustainability initiatives, research outputs are increasingly being incorporated into policy discussions, strategic planning and operational decision-making across the region's ports.
These initiatives further strengthen the CSIR’s engagements with African port authorities and industry stakeholders through technical support programmes, regional sustainability initiatives, PMAESA collaborations and industry forums. The objective remains consistent: to ensure that port expansion and modernisation contribute not only to economic development and trade efficiency, but also to long-term resilience, environmental sustainability and societal benefit.
As ports across Africa continue to expand and adapt to changing economic, environmental and climate realities, science has an increasingly important role to play in supporting better decisions. By developing practical tools that integrate sustainability into infrastructure investment processes, improving the ability to measure and report on performance, and working alongside industry partners through organisations such as PMAESA, the CSIR continues to support African ports in becoming more resilient, investable and sustainable contributors to regional development and the blue economy.
Published 06 November 2026