From 25th to 28th July 2023, the National Programme Coordinators (NPCs) for Sida-WCO TFCM Programme beneficiary Customs administrations and the East African Community (EAC) convened in Blantyre, Malawi to further share national practices, emerging needs and challenges in the process of implementation of the Programme support.
The workshop was hosted by the Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) and conducted within the framework Sida-WCO TFCM Programme support to the beneficiary countries of Botswana, Burundi, Eswatini, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
At the opening, Ms. Agnes M. Katsonga Phiri, Executive Director – Corporate Services, and representative of the Commissioner General, MRA, acknowledged the immense gains in customs reforms made by MRA through WCO capacity building assistance. She underscored the relevance of the workshop objective to enhance the coordination role of the NPCs to contribute to effective implementation of WCO assisted reforms in the various beneficiary administrations.
Through establishing an evidence-based performance measurement system in line with the WCO Performance Measurement Mechanism (PMM), the Workshop participants were invited to reflect on the methodology to develop the indicators for measuring the effectiveness and efficiency of Customs operations and ensure good governance and sustainability. The discussions tied the lessons learned to specific expected outcomes and indicators aligned with the Sida-WCO TFCM Programme deliverables, and developed through the Group Exercises. The high level of interaction and immersive participation of the Workshop participants reflects the Members’ commitment to further develop and enhance the capacity of monitoring and evaluation to ensure effective and efficient implementation of the Sida-WCO TFCM.
At the end of the Workshop, the NPCs agreed to work more closely together and share their implementation and monitoring experiences for mutual benefits and ensure that the respective beneficiary administrations have gained added value from their coordination role.
For more information on this activity you may contact capacity.building@wcoomd.org.