Under the auspices of the WCO/JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) Joint Project, the WCO visited Kigali, Rwanda from 25-27 November 2019 to conduct a joint training workshop with the Programme Global Shield (PGS) national trainers of the Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA).  The workshop was held for Customs and investigation officials working at the various border stations.  This is a part of the ongoing efforts of RRA to further enhance its border control capacity to improve the safety and security of the people of Rwanda. 

PGS is a multilateral WCO initiative, aimed at building the capacity of customs administrations to counter illicit trafficking and diversion of chemicals and other components used by terrorists to manufacture Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).  In East Africa, the five countries of Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda are supported by the WCO/JICA Joint Project and have become PGS members.  In addition, RRA, together with the other four Revenue Authorities, participated in the sub-regional Training-of-Trainer Workshop in East Africa on PGS jointly organized by the WCO and JICA earlier this year.  The worked resulted in a pool of PGS trainers capable of delivering sustainable PGS training in Rwanda.

Following the Training-of-Trainer workshop, PGS trainers of the RRA trained more than 100 RRA officials to secure its borders.  Witnessing the great ownership and leadership demonstrated by the RRA on PGS, the WCO and JICA agreed to support them further and to work with PGS trainers at Kigali.  There, the RRA organized an additional national PGS workshop for managers and staff at various border stations.   

Together with the WCO experts, the PGS trainers of RRA trained 48 RRA officials and police officers from the Revenue Protection Unit at the borders on precursor chemicals, IEDs, detection methods as well as on handling, labelling and storage regulations.  The participants of the workshop appreciated the information shared.  Both the WCO and JICA will continue to support RRA and other revenue authorities in East Africa to further enhance their border control capacity. An operational exercise for all five East African countries supported by the WCO/JICA Joint Project is planned for early next year.