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Newsletter N°4 - 2026

Showcasing how the WCO brings Customs together for a safer, more prosperous and sustainable world.

Edition 4 – “Empowering Customs Professionals: Learning, Development and Impact”

The WCO presents the fourth edition of our newsletter, highlighting how the WCO brings Customs together for a safer, more prosperous and sustainable world.

This edition spotlights the vital role of professional development in strengthening Customs administrations. From the Virtual Customs Orientation Academy for new officers to global Customs modernization programmes for middle managers and specialized training in areas such as data analytics, customs laboratories and public finance, the WCO supports Customs officials at every stage of their careers.

By investing in progressive skills development, the WCO helps Members build stronger, more resilient workforces equipped to protect society and respond to evolving border challenges.

In this edition, you’ll discover:

Key professional development programmes
Ukraine’s insights from a study tour on anti-corruption and integrity
Latest news articles
Coming soon – next Webinar in the “Protecting Society” series

Read on to explore these stories and more.

Virtual Customs Orientation Academy

The Virtual Customs Orientation Academy (VCOA) is a 14-week online programme delivered in English and French, training around 60 early-career Customs officials annually across two sessions. Designed for officers with less than four years of experience, the VCOA equips participants with essential knowledge in Customs procedures, compliance, enforcement, and safety through interactive e-learning, expert-led presentations, and practical assignments on the CLiKC! platform.

With over 600 officers having successfully passed the programme since its launch in 2014, its global success lies in its ability to bring global Customs knowledge to the future Customs generation offering a unique opportunity for new recruits to build worldwide professional networks amongst the Customs Community.

WCO Fellowship Programme

Since its inception in 1985, the WCO Fellowship Programme (FP) has contributed to the professional development of over 1100 Customs officers, empowering them to act as agents of change and to drive reform within their administrations. The Programme remains a cornerstone of the WCO’s commitment to building a modern, effective, and connected global Customs community.

Targeted at mid-level Customs managers, it is designed for professionals who are eager to actively support the modernization of their administrations. Delivered over seven weeks in a blended format, the FP enables participants to develop a modernization project in a selected technical domain, strengthen their leadership and change management skills, and gain first-hand insight into modern practices through a study trip to a partner administration. The FP runs three times a year, with sessions in English, French and Spanish, and is supported by the Customs Administrations of France, China and Japan, and the Ministry of Finance of South Korea.

Career Development Programme

The Career Development Programme (CDP), launched in 2009 by the WCO with the financial support of Japan Customs, supports the professional development of selected Customs officials through a 10-month assignment at the WCO Secretariat.

Since its inception, the Programme has benefited over 130 officials from across the WCO’s six regions, helping them acquire knowledge, skills and international work experience while strengthening cooperation between Member administrations and the Secretariat. Through on-the-job assignments, research activities and field study visits, the CDP enables participants to deepen their understanding of Customs modernization, gain practical exposure to the work of the Secretariat, and build networks that continue to support their administrations and regions after their return. By combining practical experience, knowledge exchange and international networking, the Programme helps equip Customs professionals to support reform and modernization within their administrations.

Click here to Read more about the Career Development Programme

Empowering Customs Through Data – The BACUDA Scholarship Programme

Launched in 2019 and now contributing to the WCO 2025–2028 Strategic Plan under Technology and Innovation, the WCO BACUDA (Band of Customs Data Analysts) Project raises awareness and builds capacity in data analytics among WCO Members. Funded by the Customs Cooperation Fund of Korea (CCF-Korea) and implemented by the WCO in partnership with the Korea Customs Service (KCS), the Project is accessible to all WCO Members, supporting administrations in developing the analytical skills, tools, and institutional foundations needed to harness data for enforcement, risk management, and trade facilitation. A key aspect of the BACUDA Project is the BACUDA Scholarship Programme.

The BACUDA Scholarship Programme, now moving into its fourth edition, aims to equip Customs officers working at the operational level to develop advanced knowledge of data analytics and practical application in a Customs context. Through partnership with a leading university in Korea, participants are guided through an intensive 12-week programme based on WCO standards, tools and e-learning, including e-learning courses on data analytics available on the WCO CLikC! Platform, and offers advanced learning on the practical tools developed under the project, including four algorithms tailored to Customs. The Scholarship also fosters strong networks of over 36 practitioners who can support data-driven decision making within Administrations and support these efforts internationally, with many alumni going on to become WCO Accredited Experts in data analytics.

To learn more about the WCO BACUDA Scholarship Programme, visit the project website: BACUDA Scholarship Programme.

Other Professional Development Programmes at the WCO

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Strengthening Integrity through International Cooperation: Ukraine’s Experience under the WCO A-CIP Programme

In April 2026, representatives of the State Customs Service (SCS) of Ukraine participated in a study visit to the anti-corruption and integrity units of the Customs administrations of Germany, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. This was organized within the framework of the World Customs Organization’s (WCO) Anti-Corruption and Integrity Promotion (A-CIP) Programme, with funding from the Government of Norway.

A key focus of the visit was professional development and modern training approaches to strengthen integrity and anti-corruption awareness among Customs personnel. During meetings with partner administrations, the Ukrainian delegation explored practical learning tools, including short training videos, interactive testing, and other distance-learning methods designed to improve staff awareness and support continuous learning.

The delegation also examined how integrity principles are integrated into daily operational activities through effective internal control, monitoring systems, and cooperation between Customs, law enforcement agencies, and private sector stakeholders. The experience highlighted the importance of combining modern technologies, practical training, and continuous professional development in building resilient and transparent Customs administrations.

The practical outcomes of the study visit are already being reflected in the ongoing work of the SCS of Ukraine. In particular, the Department for Prevention and Detection of Corruption plans to further develop distance-learning tools for Customs personnel, strengthen corruption risk management mechanisms, enhance internal monitoring systems, and introduce modern preventive approaches into the daily activities of Customs authorities. Special attention will also be devoted to the practical implementation of the SCS Integrity Code and to further strengthening the culture of integrity among Customs officials.

Participation in the WCO A-CIP Programme has also contributed to strengthening professional cooperation and international partnerships with Customs and law enforcement authorities of partner countries. The experience gained during the study visit reaffirmed the importance of international cooperation, continuous professional development, and joint efforts in building transparent, accountable, and resilient Customs administrations.