Part one of this article describes the transport situation in africa. the article reviews the problems facing the various modes and considers them on a mode by mode basis. The problems are monumental:they include inadequate infrastructure, inadequate maintenance which leads to premature deterioration of infrastructure, managerial problems of transport enterprises, non-physical barriers and issues related to the institutional framework and training. The paper concludes that the transport situation is the best mirror of the macro-economic setting and that all the economic indicators are as grim as the transport situation itself. The gross domestic product (gdp) growth rate has been falling steadily since 1970, and agricultural production and per capita food output has also been falling, making a numberof countries net importers of food. Meanwhile terms of trade and prices of primary commodities have continued to deteriorate while population growth remains the highest in the world. Part two looks at the human resource dimension and training. Again these are treated on a mode by mode basis. Training is presently carried out at four levels; in-house, at national level, at regional level and overseas. thearticle notes that there is a substantial need for middle and senior level training, for which there is at present inadequate capacity at national level. For reasons of economies of scale, the benefits of cross-fertilisation of experiences and relevance, the article advocates that the strengthening of capacity should be performed at subregional level. The eastern and southern african management institute(esami) based in arusha is the only sub-regional level institute with capacity and capability for transport management training and is the obvious first choice for strengthening in order better to meet these training needs. finally the article notes that training must beseen as part of the broader human resource development policy and that an adequate institutional framework for manpower development forministries, parastatals and enterprises involved in transport should be developed. (a).
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