Nairobi, Kenya – 18 th November 2005

The World Customs Organization (WCO) Fellowship Programme is a unique model of international cooperation for capacity building that gives an opportunity for middle level customs managers to expand their knowledge and experience in global customs issues and management skills.

From 26 th September to 21 st October 2005, the programme exposed Fellows to the workings of the 169-member WCO, an intergovernmental organisation established in 1952 to represent the interests of customs administrations by standardising procedures and creating predictability in international trade. At its Brussels, Belgium headquarters, the Fellows mingled freely with the staff of the Secretariat.

“The WCO staff are very receptive and supportive; they provide information willingly and are always ready to engage in open and frank discussions in spite of their busy schedules,” says Mr. George Aduwi, an officer in Kenya Revenue Authority’s Research & Corporate Planning Division, who returned recently from the Fellowship Programme.

George had previous contact with the WCO during fieldwork on the Time Release Study (TRS) in Kenya (July to October 2004) and the workshop to develop the Integrity Development Guide for Revenue Authorities (May 2005). The TRS Project Team greatly appreciated the professional manner in which Mr. Ray McDonagh (Deputy Director, Facilitation Sub-Directorate, WCO) guided them in conducting the study. George brought his knowledge of statistics and research to bear on the study, without knowing that he would later be nominated for the WCO Fellowship Programme.

“The management course showed the importance of teamwork, creativity and goal-setting in enhancing work performance,” says George, “Having the right attitude is critical in making the best use of knowledge and skills.”

Diane May (Canada Border Services Agency) and Steve Stanley (HM Customs and Revenue) facilitated the management course. Fellows were struck by the synergy with which Diane and Steve conducted the management component of the programme, although the two had not met before. According to George, the management course provided “a subtle mix between theory and practical application,” no doubt because it was conducted by practising managers, not management theorists!

A visit to the port of Antwerp opened the eyes of George to the changes taking place in the customs world due to supply chain security concerns – such as use of non-intrusive inspection technology.

“I didn’t know that the use of container scanners is new even for customs administrations in the developed world – the human challenges we face with use of this technology are very much the same, although inadequate supporting infrastructures such as telecommunications make our situation worse,” says George.

Following the initial training at the WCO headquarters, the Fellows moved to the UK, where they had a chance to experience the workings of a modern customs administration. At Marlborough House, London, the Fellows met with officials of the Commonwealth Secretariat. The Commonwealth Secretariat has over the years consistently provided scholarships for nominees to the Programme as one way of supporting trade-related capacity building in developing countries.

“We are always happy to support relevant WCO programmes especially those targeted at developing countries,” says Ms. Angela Strachan of the Special Advisory Services Division.

The Commonwealth Secretariat supported both the TRS Study and the Integrity Development Strategy. George intends to use the knowledge gained from the Fellowship Programme in the conduct of a follow-up TRS in Kenya. Such a TRS would be useful to Customs in a number of ways such as:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of the Simba 2005 system with regard to improvements in clearance times;
• To request other government agencies (OGA’s) and other parties to re-engineer their business processes;
• To communicate the positive aspects of the new customs system to the public with a view to getting their support for other customs reforms;
• To improve the transparency of customs by reviewing the Taxpayers’ Charter to indicate the average time taken to complete any particular process after the implementation of the Simba 2005 system;
• To further reallocate staff and resources for optimal utilisation.

The TRS tool is one of the instruments recommended by the World Trade Organization for enhancing trade facilitation, and its use is in line with the Revised Kyoto Convention on the Simplification and Harmonisation of Customs Procedures (Revised Kyoto Convention - RKC). RKC has now come into force, after receiving the mandatory 40 signatures.

Contacts

George Aduwi can be reached by e-mail: George.Aduwi@kra.go.ke

Fellows undertake a practical exercise at the Grand Place.

George with Mr. Kunio Mikuriya, Deputy Secretary General WCO.

Mr. Yoshiro Baba of the WCO inspects a rollercoaster constructed by Fellows as part of a team building activity.

At the port of Antwerp (Belgium).

Fellows during a cocktaill hosted by WCO in their honour.