The transformational power of intelligent transportation systems - though obvious in most developing economies - is not yet visible in Africa. Despite the overwhelming benefit case for it, adoption across Africa remains muted with very limited, isolated implementation across few major cities.
With the continent’s rapidly-growing urban population set to triple by 2050, a major escalation of the transportation challenges is anticipated. In this scenario, not having ITS in the mitigation toolkit will be a mistake.
Answering Africa’s slow ITS deployment question is not an exact science and there are many reasons that could be responsible - ranging from socio-economic to technical limitations and a lack of a coherent national ITS deployment strategy.
One issue addressed by this article is that traditional ITS solutions and deployment approaches are not tuned to the realities and context of most African economies.
The answer in my view lies in the need for frugal innovation - creating greater business and social value while significantly reducing resource utilisation in resource-constrained settings. This notion fits well with Africa’s capacity- and resource-limited socio-economic context.
Rather than importing expensive, feature-rich ITS solutions from developed markets, African cities can leverage existing technologies and local expertise to build contextually appropriate ITS solutions.
The African challenge
Africa faces unique barriers to ITS adoption, such as weak institutional frameworks, limited budgets competing with traditional infrastructure projects, and unreliable power supply. These create a challenging environment for conventional technology deployments to work.
There's also a persistent perception among some policymakers that “ITS cannot work here”. Such perception is driven by a wrong prevailing sentiment that ITS is an enabler of traditional transportation systems, as opposed to ITS being a viable paradigm at the heart of new transportation networks - while also enabling ones.
The African context demands a fresh approach. Instead of viewing resource constraints as obstacles, frugal innovation treats them as catalysts for innovation and creative problem-solving.
Principles of frugal ITS
Frugal innovation differs fundamentally from traditional technology transfer approaches. Whereas conventional approaches prioritise technological sophistication and advancement, frugal innovation focuses on core functionalities that deliver essential value. It emphasises affordability, simplicity, sustainability and inclusivity.
This approach can be applied across the entire ITS value chain—from data collection using mobile phones instead of expensive sensors, to battery-powered e-paper displays that operate for weeks without recharging in areas with unreliable power.
“Traditional ITS solutions and deployment approaches are not tuned to the realities and context of most African economies” Debo Shopade, Genyz Transport Solutions UK
Lagos BRT: a case study
The Lagos bus rapid transit system demonstrates frugal innovation in action. Serving a metropolitan area of 25 million people, Lagos faced severe congestion and inadequate public transportation. Traditional ITS solutions would have been prohibitively expensive and difficult to maintain.
Instead, the project adopted frugal approaches:
• Physical infrastructure adaptations: Barriers prevented other vehicles from entering BRT lanes, ensuring route discipline without sophisticated enforcement technologies
• Biometric driver management: A simple login system improved accountability with financial incentives linked to driver behaviour
• Vandal-proof design: Technologies were adapted with theft-resistant features for challenging environments
• Agent-based ticketing: Fares were collected in advance via network of agents rather than installing expensive smart ticketing solutions
• Energy-efficient tracking: Always-on vehicle monitoring despite power constraints
• Feature optimisation: Unnecessary features were eliminated to reduce costs and complexity
The result? Improved operational efficiency, enhanced service quality, and increased ridership—proving that contextually appropriate solutions can deliver significant benefits.
Innovation examples
Across Africa, frugal ITS solutions are emerging:
• Mobile phone-based traffic data collection leverages high smartphone penetration rates
• Battery-powered magnetic sensors provide alternatives to expensive inductive loop detectors
• Mobile payment systems like M-Pesa have been adapted for public transportation fare collection
• Ride-hailing applications have been modified for local conditions
These examples show how existing technologies can be combined creatively to address local transportation challenges.
Strategic framework
Successful frugal ITS implementation requires a comprehensive approach:
Policy and institutions: National ITS strategies should explicitly incorporate frugal innovation principles and create regulatory frameworks that accommodate innovative solutions while ensuring safety and interoperability.
Capacity development: Investment in education and training programmes focused on frugal approaches, combined with leveraging diaspora expertise, can build local capabilities.
Implementation: High-visibility demonstration projects can showcase benefits while phased implementation allows for learning and adaptation with minimal initial investment.
Research and innovation: Contextualised research focused on local challenges should inform technology adaptation efforts, with platforms enabling collaborative problem-solving.
The path forward
Frugal innovation offers African countries a pathway to accelerate ITS adoption without waiting for traditional infrastructure development or large capital investments. By focusing on contextually appropriate solutions that leverage local knowledge and capabilities, cities can address pressing transportation challenges while building sustainable technology ecosystems.
The key is recognising that constraints can drive innovation. When resources are limited, creativity flourishes. Africa's transportation challenges are real, but so is its potential for innovative solutions.
As urbanisation accelerates across the continent, the choice is clear: continue waiting for expensive imported solutions that may never arrive or embrace frugal innovation to build ITS deployments that work in African contexts today.
The Lagos BRT example shows this isn't just theoretical—it's happening now. Other African cities should take note and adapt these principles to their own unique circumstances.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Debo Shopade is CEO at Genyz Transport Solutions UK, specialising in ITS implementation in emerging markets
