Codatu

What Codatu does

Codatu (legal name: Coopération pour le Développement et l'Amélioration des Transports Urbains et périurbains) is a French non-profit association (loi 1901) founded in 1980 and headquartered in Villeurbanne, near Lyon. It is dedicated to promoting sustainable urban mobility in developing and emerging countries through technical cooperation, capacity building, conferences, training programs, and publications. The association operates as a membership-based network of local authorities, transport authorities, academic institutions, and experts, with active projects documented across Africa, Latin America, Asia, the Middle East, and the Mediterranean.

Codatu's core offerings are organized around four pillars: (1) the international CODATU conference series held every 2-3 years since 1980, with the most recent edition (CODATU XVIII) held in Dakar in 2021 and CIMDC2026 scheduled for Abidjan in October 2026; (2) technical cooperation programs delivered directly to government counterparties (e.g., AMUGA Abidjan, CETUD Dakar, NAMATA Nairobi, MTC Peru, KMRL India), funded primarily through institutional donors led by AFD; (3) educational products including MOOCs (Mobilités Urbaines en Afrique, Électrification du transport artisanal), in-person Master's programs (Lomé, Rabat), and hybrid short courses (road safety management); and (4) the MobiliseYourCity Partnership, a multi-stakeholder initiative for low-carbon mobility planning in developing countries, for which Codatu hosts the secretariat alongside AFD, GIZ, and ADEME. Codatu does not develop proprietary software or technology products; its value proposition rests on knowledge dissemination, peer-learning networks, and field-based technical advisory services.

The business model is that of a non-profit association: revenue is generated from membership dues, institutional grants and technical cooperation funding (primarily AFD, European Union, and bilateral cooperation agreements), and training/conference fees (many of which are subsidized). Go-to-market is sales-led and partnership-driven, with direct relationships established with government ministries and metropolitan transport authorities rather than commercial distribution channels. The organization maintains a deliberately small core team (1-10 employees) supplemented by a broad expert network, scientific committee, and institutional partners including CEREMA, Ile-de-France Mobilités, Egis Rail, UrbaLyon, AUF, Université Senghor, LAET, and SITRASS.

Name

Codatu

Legal name

Coopération pour le Développement et l'Amélioration des Transports Urbains et périurbains (CODATU)

Website

https://codatu.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Codatu is a French non-profit association founded in 1980 that delivers technical cooperation, training programs, and international conferences to promote sustainable urban mobility in developing and emerging countries, serving government ministries and transport authorities across Africa, Latin America, Asia, and the Mediterranean.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sustainable Urban Mobility Consulting

NAICS

Regulation and Administration of Transportation Programs (926120), Support Activities for Transportation (488)

SIC

Transportation Services (4700)

akta.pro primary industry

Infrastructure Planning, Capital Programs & Project Delivery Offices (PMOs) (BPAIALAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Transport Safety & Infrastructure Standards Cooperation (BPADANAK), Active Transportation & Micromobility Infrastructure (Bike/Ped Networks, Shared Mobility Programs) (BPAIALAI)

Keywords

• Sustainable urban mobility
• Transport technical cooperation
• Urban mobility training
• Mobility policy advisory
• Capacity building transport

Headquarters

HQ city

Villeurbanne

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Membership dues: Codatu operates as an association (loi 1901) with members including local authorities, transport authorities, and organizations. Members pay dues and gain access to the network, resources, and participation in activities.
2. Grants and technical cooperation funding: Primary funding comes from institutional donors and development finance institutions including AFD (Agence Française de Développement), European Union, and bilateral cooperation agreements. Funding supports specific technical cooperation projects in partner countries.
3. Training and conference fees: Revenue generated from training programs (MOOCs, Master programs, workshops) and conference registrations, though many services are subsidized or provided at low cost.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Codatu delivers technical cooperation, capacity-building, training programs, and international conferences that help governments and transport authorities in developing and emerging countries design and implement sustainable urban mobility policies. Its portfolio includes master-level professional programs, MOOCs, expert missions, and policy advisory services coordinated through partnerships such as MobiliseYourCity.

Product overview

Codatu is a non-profit association (loi 1901) founded in 1980, dedicated to promoting sustainable urban mobility policies in developing countries. The organization operates as a network offering conferences, professional training programs (MOOCs and Master's degrees), technical cooperation with transport authorities, and publications. Core offerings include the CODATU International Conferences, the MobiliseYourCity partnership, and various educational programs including MOOCs on African urban mobility and electrification. The association does not develop or sell software products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Codatu Conference A recurring international conference that brings together transport authorities, researchers, and practitioners to debate and advance sustainable urban mobility agendas in developing and emerging countries.
• MOOCs on Sustainable Urban Mobility Open-access online courses (MOOCs) developed for transport professionals and public-sector stakeholders seeking foundational training in sustainable urban mobility.
• Master in Urban Mobility Governance A professional master's-level program providing advanced training in urban mobility governance, aimed at practitioners and decision-makers in transport authorities.
• Technical Cooperation Missions Project-based expert missions delivered with transport authorities, ministries, and donor agencies to support sustainable mobility planning, policy design, and implementation.
• MobiliseYourCity Partnership Program A flagship partnership program in which Codatu contributes technical expertise to help cities and countries develop National Urban Mobility Policies and Investment Plans.

Quantifiable outcome

• 3,800+ professionals trained through MOOCs
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and supporting.

• CEREMAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench public establishment specializing in transport, mobility, and urban planning expertise. Provides technical expertise for capacity building and project implementation in partner countries.
• Ile-de-France MobilitésmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTransport authority for the Paris region contributing expertise and knowledge sharing to technical cooperation projects, particularly in Brazil cooperation.
• Egis RailmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerFrench engineering firm specializing in urban and rail transport. Conducts feasibility studies and provides technical expertise in transport projects.
• UrbaLyonsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerUrban planning expertise partner contributing to technical cooperation activities in partner countries.
• ADEMEcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench Environment and Energy Management Agency. Partner in MobiliseYourCity initiative for sustainable urban mobility planning in developing countries.
• GIZcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman development agency. Key partner in MobiliseYourCity partnership for carbon-conscious urban mobility planning.
• MobiliseYourCity PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-stakeholder partnership aimed at supporting cities in developing and emerging countries toward sustainable urban mobility planning. CODATU hosts the secretariat.
• LAET (Laboratoire Aménagement Economie Transports)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch laboratory specializing in transport economics and urban planning. Co-organizes summer university in transport economics and contributes to knowledge development.
• SITRASSsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational solidarity network on transport and research in Sub-Saharan Africa. Co-organizes summer university in transport economics and shares research expertise.
• AUF (Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal university network. Joint partner in MOOC Mobilités Urbaines en Afrique project.
• Université SenghormajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrancophone university specializing in professional training. Joint partner in MOOC Mobilités Urbaines en Afrique project.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• International Transport Forum (ITF / OECD): Intergovernmental think tank on transport policy that convenes ministers, publishes research, and runs knowledge-exchange programs. Comparable thought-leadership and convening role in sustainable mobility, though OECD-anchored rather than focused exclusively on developing countries.
• AFD (Agence Française de Développement): Codatu's primary funder and also a direct implementer of urban mobility technical cooperation through its own teams and subsidiaries (e.g., Expertise France). Functions as both parent-financier and a comparable developer of sustainable mobility expertise in developing countries.

Emerging players

• Wuppertal Institute: German research institute conducting applied research and advisory on sustainable mobility and climate, with growing engagement in developing-country mobility transitions. Comparable research-to-policy pipeline and training/advisory orientation, though primarily research-led rather than field-implementation.

Broad incumbents

• UITP (International Association of Public Transport): Global network for public transport authorities, operators, and suppliers, organizing knowledge exchange, training, and conferences on sustainable urban mobility. Overlaps with Codatu's convening/training role but operates as a broader membership-based industry association.
• UN-Habitat: United Nations agency for sustainable urban development, including urban mobility and transport policy work in developing countries. Larger mandate and budget but overlapping focus on sustainable urban mobility capacity building for municipal and national governments.
• GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit): Germany's federal development agency runs parallel sustainable urban mobility technical cooperation programs in developing and emerging countries (including via TUMI), and is Codatu's co-partner in MobiliseYourCity. Comparable mission, donor-driven funding model, and city-level advisory scope, though at much larger scale.
• World Bank Transport Global Practice: Provides large-scale transport policy advice, lending, and technical assistance to developing-country governments. Frequently partners with or hires intermediaries like Codatu to deliver capacity-building components on World Bank-funded projects.

Direct peers

• SLoCaT (Partnership on Sustainable, Low Carbon Transport): Multi-stakeholder partnership promoting sustainable low-carbon transport in developing countries, with a similar member-based governance structure, knowledge dissemination mandate, and global developing-country focus as Codatu.
• WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities: WRI's sustainable cities program delivers technical assistance, research, and toolkits on transit-oriented development and urban mobility to cities in developing countries. Comparable target clients (municipal authorities), knowledge-product model, and Global South focus.
• ITDP (Institute for Transportation and Development Policy): International non-profit focused on sustainable and equitable urban transport, particularly in the Global South. ITDP operates similar technical advisory, training, and BRT/mobility advocacy programs targeting the same municipal and national government clients as Codatu.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/CODATU
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/codatu
• Xx.com/codatu_org

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Codatu