The 9th Meeting of Customs Human Resource Management and Training Directors for West and Central Africa, held in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, marked a significant milestone in the modernization of customs administration across the region. This gathering represented more than just a conference—it was a strategic initiative, an exchange of ideas, and a decisive step toward enhancing customs operational efficiency.
Strategic Collaboration: WCO and WCA Join Forces
The event was jointly organized by the World Customs Organization (WCO) and the West and Central Africa (WCA) region, combining global expertise with local knowledge. This partnership brought together international best practices with region-specific insights to address the unique challenges facing customs administrations in West and Central Africa.
Investing in Human Capital: The Key to Enhanced Performance
Centered on the theme "Investing in Human Capital as a Key Lever for Enhancing Customs Administrative Efficiency in West and Central Africa," the conference emphasized that human resources represent the most critical asset for customs administrations. Discussions focused on developing professional, highly skilled customs personnel through effective human resource management and training programs.
Regional Participation and Expertise
The meeting brought together 32 participants (including 10 women) from 11 countries: Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gambia, Guinea, Mali, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and Togo. Representatives from the African Union, French expert organizations, regional training centers, and WCO secretariat also contributed to the discussions.
Critical Discussions on Human Resource Challenges
Participants engaged in substantive dialogue on several key areas:
- Strategic HR Planning: Aligning human resource strategies with customs development objectives
- Talent Acquisition: Developing fair and effective recruitment systems
- Performance Management: Implementing objective evaluation and incentive mechanisms
- Professional Development: Designing targeted training programs to enhance skills
- Leadership Development: Strengthening management capabilities at all levels
- Employee Relations: Fostering positive work environments and engagement
- Digital Transformation: Leveraging technology to improve HR processes
The Ouagadougou Declaration: A Framework for Progress
The conference culminated in the drafting of the Ouagadougou Declaration, which outlines concrete recommendations for implementing human resource management reforms. This document establishes clear responsibilities for all stakeholders in driving modernization efforts and emphasizes the need for committed leadership at all administrative levels.
Strengthening Regional Cooperation
The meeting served as a platform for enhanced regional collaboration, with WCO and the Regional Office for Capacity Building in West and Central Africa (ROCB-WCA) playing coordinating roles. Regional training centers contributed specialized expertise to support capacity development initiatives.
Moving Forward: Sustained Support for Reform
Participants expressed appreciation for WCO's ongoing technical assistance and requested continued support for implementing reforms. Follow-up actions will include sustained cooperation between WCO, regional bodies, and national customs administrations to ensure the conference outcomes translate into tangible improvements.
This gathering represents a significant step toward building more efficient, professional customs administrations across West and Central Africa—systems capable of supporting economic growth and regional development through enhanced trade facilitation and border security.