Imagine if West and Central African customs operations functioned like a well-oiled machine—goods clearing faster, trade barriers lowering, and regional economic potential flourishing. This vision took a significant step toward reality during the West and Central Africa (WCA) Customs Capacity Building Contact Points Meeting held in Dakar, Senegal in October 2015.
Jointly organized by the Regional Office for Capacity Building (ROCB) and Senegal Customs, the high-level gathering brought together representatives from 14 customs administrations, the WCA Vice-Chair, all regional institutions of the World Customs Organization (WCO) WCA region, and WCO Secretariat officials. The central focus: how capacity building initiatives could drive customs modernization and ultimately stimulate regional trade growth.
Strategic Review: Assessing Progress, Charting Future
The meeting commenced with a comprehensive review of capacity building progress across WCA customs administrations. Participants examined national reform experiences and challenges, with particular attention to implementation of the 2013-2017 Regional Strategic Plan. The ROCB's meticulously designed annual roadmap and member administrations' self-assessment exercises provided crucial mechanisms for tracking strategic execution.
Needs Identification: Targeted Support for Measurable Impact
To ensure precision in capacity building efforts, the conference launched the annual assistance needs identification process. This systematic approach enables customs administrations to clearly articulate their developmental requirements and submit formal assistance requests to ROCB. The regional office then coordinates with WCO and partners to deliver customized capacity building solutions.
Regional Cooperation: Building Synergies Through Shared Expertise
A landmark achievement of the meeting was the inauguration of the Regional Capacity Building Marketplace—an innovative platform facilitating mutual assistance among WCA customs administrations. This mechanism allows members to exchange best practices, share specialized knowledge, and provide peer-to-peer support in capability development.
The marketplace operates on a "teach-to-fish" philosophy where one WCA administration can request or offer assistance to another within the region. For instance, a customs service with advanced risk management systems might provide training to neighboring administrations seeking to enhance their capabilities. This collaborative model optimizes resource allocation while ensuring solutions address local operational realities.
Priority Projects: Targeted Interventions for Maximum Impact
Participants conducted in-depth discussions on strategic regional projects, identifying key focus areas including:
Trade Facilitation: Implementing advanced information technologies and management methodologies to accelerate cargo clearance and reduce trade costs.
Intellectual Property Protection: Combating counterfeit goods to maintain market integrity and consumer safety.
Risk Management Enhancement: Leveraging data analytics to improve targeting of high-risk shipments and optimize inspection resources.
International Collaboration: Strengthening information sharing and joint operations with global customs networks to combat transnational crime.
Field Observation: Learning Through Practical Exposure
Attendees gained firsthand insights during a study visit to Senegal Customs' new headquarters, observing modernization achievements in areas like digital transformation and risk assessment frameworks. The tour provided valuable benchmarks for administrations pursuing similar reform agendas.
The successful convening of the WCA Capacity Building Contact Points Meeting injected renewed momentum into regional customs cooperation. Through strategic alignment, needs-based programming, peer learning, and focused project implementation, West and Central African customs administrations are collectively advancing toward more efficient, secure, and trade-friendly border management systems.