A groundbreaking collaboration between the World Customs Organization (WCO) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is set to revolutionize trade facilitation across East Africa through the Master Trainer Programme (MTP). This strategic initiative aims to strengthen customs administration by developing regional expertise in post-clearance audit (PCA) procedures.
East Africa's Economic Ascent
The East African region, comprising Burundi, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, and Tanzania, has demonstrated remarkable economic potential with its abundant natural resources and dynamic workforce. However, persistent trade barriers and inefficient customs procedures have historically constrained regional growth.
The MTP directly addresses these challenges by cultivating a cadre of 18 PCA specialists who will serve as master trainers within their respective national customs administrations. These experts underwent rigorous selection and comprehensive training to establish East Africa's first regional pool of PCA professionals.
Programme Architecture
At the core of the initiative lies the WCO's regional strategy for Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA), which emphasizes creating sustainable capacity through a "regional expert pool" mechanism. The MTP adopted a phased approach:
- Establishment of working groups to enhance participants' training competencies
- Development of standardized regional training materials
- Implementation of virtual training sessions during pandemic restrictions
Between September 2018 and April 2021, designated officers from five East African customs administrations participated in five working group sessions, culminating in a four-day virtual PCA training demonstration that served as the program's capstone assessment.
Capacity Building Outcomes
The 18 newly certified master trainers received WCO competency certificates recognizing their expertise in:
- PCA methodology and risk assessment
- Adult education techniques
- Regional training material development
This achievement builds upon previous WCO-JICA collaborations in the region that have produced approximately 90 master trainers specializing in Harmonized System classification, customs valuation, and intelligence analysis since 2018.
Strategic Impact
The programme's implementation is expected to yield significant benefits for regional trade:
- Enhanced trade facilitation: Streamlined customs procedures reducing clearance times and operational costs
- Improved compliance: Strengthened capacity to detect and prevent customs violations
- Regional integration: Standardized approaches supporting East African Community objectives
Post-clearance audit mechanisms enable customs administrations to verify trade declarations after goods release while maintaining efficient border flows. This balanced approach supports revenue protection, trade facilitation, and economic security objectives.
Institutional Context
The WCO, representing 183 member customs administrations governing 98% of global trade, provides technical assistance and international standards for customs modernization. JICA, as Japan's official development cooperation agency, supports capacity building initiatives in developing economies.
This partnership demonstrates the growing international commitment to East Africa's economic development through targeted technical cooperation in trade-related infrastructure.