Strengthening Negotiation Skills for Sustainable Infrastructure Development: NCTTCA, GIZ, and CONNEX Host a Regional Workshop

News / June 04, 2025

Nairobi, Kenya, 4-6 June 2025 – The Northern Corridor Transit and Transport Coordination Authority (NCTTCA), in collaboration with GIZ, German International Cooperation, and the CONNEX Initiative, hosted a regional workshop focused on enhancing negotiation and contract management skills for infrastructure megaprojects in the transport and energy sectors. This transformative event, titled “Negotiating in the 21st Century: Getting a Better Infrastructure Deal for the Northern Corridor Transit and Transport Coordination Authority and its Member States,” brought together policymakers, industry experts, and private sector representatives from Northern Corridor Member States of Burundi, DRCongo, Kenya, Rwanda, SouthSudan, Uganda to tackle the challenges and opportunities involved in negotiating fair and sustainable infrastructure contracts.

The preparation and execution of infrastructure megaprojects often presented unique challenges, particularly at the negotiation stage between governments and private investors. Governments frequently faced a disparity in resources and expertise compared to private sector counterparts. The workshop aimed to bridge this gap by fostering peer learning and knowledge exchange on best practices for negotiating fairer and more effective contracts.

The workshop sought to equip participants with:

Improved understanding of negotiation strategies and contract terms for infrastructure megaprojects.
Enhanced skills in inter-ministerial coordination and stakeholder engagement.
Insights into leveraging private sector expertise to attract sustainable investments.

"This initiative aligned with our mission to empower governments in the Northern Corridor to achieve equitable outcomes in infrastructure negotiations, ensuring sustainable and impactful development," said Mr. Denis Muganga, NCTTCA Director for Private Sector Investment Promotion Program, during the opening of the workshop.

The workshop involved:

Peer Learning and Best Practices: Discussions revolved around lessons learned from notable megaprojects such as the Mombasa-Naivasha SGR, Konza Technology City, and other significant regional projects.
Expert-Led Training: Participants gained insights from the CONNEX Secretariat, GIZ experts, and private sector advisors on strategies for successful negotiation and contract management.
Interactive Engagement: Activities included peer-to-peer discussions, "speed dating" sessions with CONNEX advisors to discuss potential negotiation support needs, and site visits to prominent infrastructure projects.