Skills transfer helps rail sector achieve operational efficiency

With a population greater than that of any other continent, Africa has a considerable asset and a solid competitive advantage, according to the African Development Bank. 

Equipped with education, skills and jobs, its youth is set to become the main driver of economic growth. Inclusive economic growth enables Africans to realise their full potential and embark on the road to prosperity. Harnessing the individual potential of Africa’s human capital is the most sustainable key to economic transformation and social progress.

A country’s stock of human capital is predetermined when new technologies become available at the global frontier. Human capital reduces the adoption lags of new technologies and increases the intensity of their use. 

According to the World Bank, transportation is quickly evolving, adapting, shaping, and being shaped by global megatrends, promoting energy efficiency and environmental quality. Transportation systems enable access to essential services and job opportunities and facilitate the production, trade, and distribution of goods.

The transportation infrastructure and services that utilise it are vital to economic prosperity and social well-being, and sustainable and smart mobility is an essential enabler of poverty reduction and shared prosperity.

As technology adoption takes centre stage, the railways transport sector has not been left behind. The changing landscape of the industry poses significant human resource challenges. For this reason, operators must develop knowledge transfer best practices to ensure that vital information and skills are retained within the industry.

Operations of Kenya’s Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) exemplify the role of human capital in transforming infrastructure development. Afristar, the SGR operator, has invested a lot of capital and human resources through training of local talent and skills transfer to make the operations efficient and successful.

To ensure seamless operations of the SGR, the workforce comprises technical, administrative, and operational roles. The company has employed thousands of Kenyans working in various departments, ranging from locomotive operations, signalling, telecommunications, and track maintenance. This diverse workforce is a reflection of Afristar’s commitment to local capacity building.

Notably, all areas of SGR functions, both technical and operational, require specialised training. For instance, the locomotive driving, and the train or station dispatcher roles that require efficient planning, monitoring, and control of SGR operations are key areas that call for sharp minds and critical thinkers who can interpret different situations and make accurate judgments and decisions.

For employees to obtain such skills, specialised training and certification are mandatory. Both Kenyan staff and Chinese expatriates conduct specialised training under the supervision of the training centre, the overall department in charge of training. These trainers are professionals with years of experience in technical work, operations, and staff management and have been chosen as excellent staff and mentors in their areas of work.

To learn from best practices, Afristar has partnered with institutions such as Beijing Jiaotong and Southwest Jiaotong Universities. Currently, Afristar is partnering with Guangzhou Railway Polytechnic to offer online training for SGR staff. From the partnership, staff members have adequately been equipped with knowledge and skills in railway traffic planning, operation, and management since the systems used in Kenya are similar to the ones in China.

Afristar also prides itself in having produced the best and most disciplined workforce that has safely operated Kenya’s SGR for over 2807 days. The company is proud of the local workforce who are dedicated and committed to their duties by providing quality services in various departments.

With these skills transfer initiatives, the railways transport sector is poised for great transformation.

- The author is a communication and brand specialist