When a nation's customs authority becomes dependent on external agencies for core functions, how can it regain autonomy and reclaim control of its critical operations? Cameroon Customs faced precisely this challenge. In response, the World Customs Organization (WCO) and the Cameroon Customs Administration jointly organized a Leadership and Management Development (LMD) workshop in Yaoundé in July 2015, aiming to cultivate strategic thinkers and practical managers to drive modernization reforms.
Background and Objectives
Cameroon Customs prioritized management development as a strategic imperative, particularly in technical and administrative capacities. This urgency stemmed from a pressing reality: the government had outsourced key customs functions—including cargo pre-inspection and border security—to a private pre-shipment inspection company. Regaining these core competencies became essential for national sovereignty.
With funding from the Korea Customs Cooperation Fund, WCO hosted the 10-day workshop at the Center of Excellence in Mbankomo from July 20-31, 2015. Twenty mid-to-senior level managers participated in intensive training designed to build a cadre of leaders capable of implementing the administration's ongoing reform and modernization initiatives through effective collaboration.
Workshop Structure and Methodology
The program offered participants a rare opportunity for introspection—examining personal values, belief systems, and behavioral patterns while focusing on continuous improvement. Beyond theoretical knowledge transfer, the workshop emphasized practical application through interactive discussions, experience-sharing, and collaborative problem-solving.
Curriculum modules addressed Cameroon's most pressing customs challenges:
- Strategic Management: Frameworks for analyzing, formulating, and implementing strategies in complex operational environments
- Visionary Leadership: Developing influence beyond positional authority to inspire organizational transformation
- Human Capital Development: Techniques for motivating, developing, and retaining high-performing teams
- Adaptive Management Styles: Context-appropriate approaches to operational leadership
- Ethical Governance: Promoting workplace diversity and integrity as institutional values
- Stakeholder Engagement: Advanced communication and negotiation techniques for multilateral cooperation
- Change Management: Methodologies for navigating organizational transitions
Tangible Outcomes
Workshop participants delivered two significant deliverables to the Director General of Customs:
1. Strategic Roadmap: A comprehensive plan for reintegrating outsourced customs functions, synthesizing collective insights into actionable policy recommendations.
2. Mbankomo Declaration II: A formal commitment pledging unwavering support for the Customs Administration's reform agenda, including personal development goals, enhanced collaboration commitments, and strict adherence to professional ethics.
Long-Term Institutional Impact
The workshop's ripple effects extended beyond individual skill development:
- Enhanced Management Capacity: Participants acquired contemporary techniques to address evolving customs challenges
- Strengthened Organizational Cohesion: Cross-functional collaboration improved through shared learning experiences
- Accelerated Reform Implementation: The strategic roadmap provided clear direction for policy realignment
- Elevated International Standing: WCO endorsement bolstered Cameroon's global customs reputation
Future Pathways
While challenges persist, Cameroon Customs can build on this foundation through:
- Sustained leadership development programs
- Expanded international partnerships
- Digital transformation initiatives
- Organizational restructuring
- Performance-based incentive systems
Through these measures, Cameroon Customs moves closer to achieving full operational autonomy and making greater contributions to national economic development.