Imagine a team of highly trained customs experts efficiently managing and enhancing human resources across West and Central Africa, driving trade facilitation and economic development. The World Customs Organization (WCO) is turning this vision into reality through its West Africa Customs Administration Modernization (WACAM) project, which aims to build a robust cadre of HR specialists capable of navigating increasingly complex international trade environments.
Capacity Building: The Core Driver
With funding from Sweden, the WCO conducted a regional support mission in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire from May 4-8, 2015, focusing on Human Resource Management (HRM). This initiative directly addressed the needs of West and Central African nations by developing regional expertise to implement HRM modernization at national and regional levels.
The workshop's primary objective was capacity building, helping participants better understand HR functions, key processes, and the importance of competency-based HRM approaches. This enhanced understanding enables more effective customs modernization across participating nations.
Tool Development: Laying the Foundation
Moving beyond theory, participants applied their new knowledge to develop draft tools essential for implementing competency-based HRM:
- Position Catalog: Clearly defining organizational roles to support staffing and career development
- Competency Framework: Establishing required knowledge, skills, and abilities for each position
- Job Descriptions: Detailing responsibilities, tasks, and qualifications for each role
These foundational tools enhance operational efficiency and employee satisfaction through modern HR practices.
Regional Collaboration Yields Results
The workshop brought together 21 participants from seven countries (Benin, Cameroon, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, and Senegal) along with the Regional Office for Capacity Building in Abidjan. Participants developed clear roadmaps for implementing HRM modernization at both national and regional levels.
Strategic Implementation of Competency Models
The WACAM project's competency-based approach represents more than technical methodology—it's a strategic transformation in how customs organizations attract, develop, and retain talent:
Precision in Talent Acquisition
Moving beyond traditional qualifications-based hiring, competency models assess candidates' actual ability to perform specific tasks. For customs officers requiring risk assessment skills, this means evaluating analytical judgment and risk evaluation capabilities during recruitment.
Targeted Professional Development
Identifying competency gaps allows for customized training programs that address specific needs. Officers requiring improved communication skills receive focused training, creating more effective public and commercial interactions.
Objective Performance Evaluation
Competency frameworks provide measurable standards for assessing employee performance, reducing subjectivity in evaluations. Exceptional performance in key competencies like risk identification can inform recognition and advancement decisions.
Sustained Impact Through Regional Expertise
By 2016, the region expects to establish a corps of regional HRM specialists capable of piloting and implementing modernization initiatives at national levels. This expertise will significantly enhance customs administration efficiency and competitiveness across West and Central Africa.
The WCO continues development of its Personnel Diagnostic Tool to help customs administrations assess HR practices, identify improvement areas, and create action plans. This instrument will become integral to WCO-WACAM project activities.
Follow-up national support missions will provide tailored assistance to participating customs administrations, helping implement tools developed during the workshop while addressing specific modernization challenges.