Imagine a nation's customs authority as the vital core of its trade infrastructure. When this critical function is outsourced and then reclaimed, the process presents both challenges and opportunities. Burkina Faso's Directorate General of Customs (DGD) currently navigates this pivotal transformation, with the World Customs Organization (WCO) providing technical assistance to rebuild its customs valuation capabilities.
Strategic Reclamation of Customs Sovereignty
For years, Burkina Faso's government delegated key customs functions—including essential valuation processes—to private inspection companies. The DGD's current decision to resume these core responsibilities represents not just an operational shift but a strategic reassertion of national economic sovereignty. To ensure a smooth transition, the DGD sought WCO's technical support for comprehensive assessment and enhancement of its import goods valuation controls.
WCO's Technical Assistance Framework
The WCO's multi-phase assistance program commenced successfully in Ouagadougou from November 22-25, 2016. This initial phase focused on diagnostic evaluation of existing valuation systems and capacity building, facilitated by DGD's efficient coordination.
Phase One: Comprehensive Diagnostic Assessment
The evaluation process examined multiple dimensions of Burkina Faso's customs valuation system:
- Working Sessions: In-depth meetings with DGD's valuation policy administrators and supervisors
- Field Observations: Site visits to operational units documenting clearance and valuation procedures
- Stakeholder Consultations: Productive dialogues with private sector trade participants
This thorough assessment identified institutional strengths and weaknesses, establishing foundations for subsequent capacity development.
Key Findings and Recommendations
The WCO evaluation team emphasized several critical areas for improvement:
- Enhanced application of WTO Valuation Agreement standards
- Implementation of modern risk management and post-clearance audit tools
- Strengthened public-private sector communication channels
Assessment Report and Improvement Framework
The WCO team presented detailed findings to Burkina Faso's Deputy Customs Director, including:
- Current system capabilities and limitations
- Process optimization strategies
- Risk management framework enhancements
- Technology upgrade pathways
- Personnel training requirements
Future Collaboration Pathways
The WCO's ongoing support commitment includes:
- Specialized technical advisory services
- Customized training programs
- International benchmarking opportunities
Valuation Systems as Trade Facilitators
Effective customs valuation frameworks serve dual purposes—ensuring proper revenue collection while promoting trade efficiency. Burkina Faso's capacity rebuilding initiative aims to achieve these complementary objectives through transparent, rules-based procedures.
WCO's Global Standardization Role
As the leading international customs cooperation body, the WCO facilitates trade security and efficiency worldwide through technical assistance, standardization, and knowledge sharing. The Burkina Faso partnership exemplifies this global capacity-building mission.
Through systematic diagnostic evaluation, targeted capacity development, and sustained technical cooperation, Burkina Faso's DGD progresses toward autonomous customs administration—a model with potential relevance for other developing economies.