A strategic partnership between the World Customs Organization (WCO) and the West and Central Africa Customs Administrations (WACAM) is revolutionizing trade facilitation and economic development across the region through modern human resource management (HRM) practices.
Strategic Collaboration for Regional Capacity Building
Funded by the Swedish government, the WCO-WACAM project focuses on developing a cadre of regional HRM experts to drive customs modernization. Since 2015, the initiative has systematically trained selected customs officers in advanced HRM theory and practical application through direct involvement in modernization projects.
Field Implementation and Expertise Transfer
Beginning in 2016, newly trained HRM specialists began working alongside WCO experts on ground-level capacity building projects across WCA member administrations. This mentorship model enables practical application of knowledge in real-world customs modernization efforts.
Case Study: Liberia's HRM Transformation
In July 2016, a WCO-WACAM expert team conducted a week-long HRM assessment for the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA), joined by a regional HRM specialist from The Gambia Revenue Authority. The mission focused on:
- Comprehensive evaluation of LRA's existing HRM systems using WCO diagnostic tools
- Development of customized HRM instruments including job descriptions, performance metrics, and training frameworks based on competency models
The competency-based approach establishes clear standards for recruitment, training, performance evaluation and career development - creating a foundation for professionalized customs operations.
Regional Impact and Future Development
The project has established December 31, 2016 as the deadline for finalizing and validating all competency tools for LRA, with ongoing technical support from WCO-WACAM. This initiative represents more than capacity building - it creates a platform for regional knowledge sharing and collaborative problem-solving among WCA customs administrations.
Key success factors include WCO's technical expertise, close collaboration with member administrations, and innovative approaches like the mentorship model and competency-based HRM development. The project serves as a blueprint for customs modernization in developing economies worldwide.