Under the auspices of the WCO-EAC CREATe Project funded by Sweden, the East African Community (EAC) finalized its Regional Customs Risk Management Strategy during a regional workshop which took place from 11 to 15 September 2017 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. 

Customs Risk Management experts from Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda worked determinedly to complete this key strategic document, with the valuable support of the EAC Secretariat and the WCO. During the workshop, the experts underscored the importance of harmonizing Customs Risk Management practices in the region as well implementing the strategy at the national level once endorsed by the EAC Committee on Customs

The Regional Risk Management Strategy Pack (2018-2022) provides an operational framework within the EAC region through critical tools as such as the regional risk register and the regional risk selectivity criteria. It does not only provide the step-by-step process to elevate a national risk at the regional level, but it also describes the procedures to collectively treat a regional risk as a region.

The regional risk management strategy is, of course, aligned with the EAC Customs Union strategy and organizational frameworks. The multi-year strategy, which details 32 steps and 57 actions that focus on harmonization, capacity building, processes and governance, will enable Customs Administrations in the EAC region to increase their performance and cooperation in the area of Risk Management, hence providing better services to the private sector and citizens of the region.  

To further ensure a successful achievement of the set objectives and implementation of the agreed measures, Customs Administrations of the EAC region have committed to provide monthly progress reports on the implementation of the strategy to the EAC regional Risk Management Working Group and to evaluate its impact in 2020.

The implementation of this strategy also contributes to the EAC Partner States’ efforts in applying the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement measure related to Customs Risk Management (7.4).

For more information about this activity or the WCO-EAC CREATe Project, please contact the WCO-Sweden Programme Director, Mr. Richard Chopra (Richard.Chopra@wcoomd.org )