Capacity building - Programmes > Columbus programme

Since 1 January 2006 the WCO has initiated a number of Capacity Building programmes and activities. The most significant is the Columbus Programme, Aid for SAFE trade. The Columbus Programme is the largest and most comprehensive Customs Capacity Building initiative on record. The aim of the Columbus Programme is full implementation of the SAFE Framework of Standards, and other WCO conventions and instruments, as well as best practices in the area of Customs administration. It also aims to prepare member administration for the possible outcome of the WTO negotiations on trade facilitation in Geneva.

• A strategic assessment based on the WCO’s Diagnostic Framework tool that has been acknowledged by organizations like the UN, OECD, the World Bank, IMF and others.
• A diagnostic carried out by Capacity Building experts through interviews with all concerned parties including the members of the trade community.
• A diagnostic report covering the current situation, a gap analysis to full implementation and the suggested way forward through a number of recommendations.

Phase 2 – Planning and Implementation - Support for action planning, donor matchmaking, planning of pilot activities and implementation

• Support in preparation of an overall Customs modernization plan or specific project action plans;
• Support in the development of project proposal and business cases for submission to stakeholders and potential donors;
• Support in preparing and conducting pilot projects towards sustainable implementation of modernization initiatives;
• Support to identify possible sources of financial support;

Phase 3 – Monitoring and Evaluation - Monitoring progress and evaluating results

• The Capacity Building Directorate has developed a progress monitoring system that was presented to and endorsed by the WCO High-Level Strategic Group in Shanghai. Progress reporting will be made on three different levels, on a country level, on a regional level and from donors.

In terms of concrete actions and implementation, the Columbus Programme has achieved the following to date:

• 162 WCO Members have committed to the SAFE Framework of Standards (FoS)
• 120 of them have requested Capacity Building from the WCO and will receive a diagnostic mission
• 114 have either received a diagnostic or have a confirmed date for their diagnostic
• Over 75 missions have been conducted in the context of Phase 2 to support in the preparation and implementation of SAFE and other WCO conventions and best practices
• Numerous regional activities to increase awareness for the programme, WCO instruments and emerging trends in Customs development
• Numerous accreditation events to identify and assess potential experts in various areas of expertise that can support the programme

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