Report from the 3^rd Capacity Building Committee

(Brussels, 27 – 29 February 2012)

“The Capacity to work together is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results”

220 high-level participants from more than 80 member administrations and more than 40 stakeholder organizations met at the 3^rd Capacity Building Committee session held in Brussels from 27 to 29 February 2012. The theme for the opening panel session was “Agile and Responsive Customs in the 21^st Century through Reform and Modernization” and put Members and their organizational development right from the beginning in the focus of the Meeting. This session considered the strategic approaches, success factors and lessons learnt for reform and modernization programs. It was remarked that there is an increasing convergence across regions and administrations on the core elements of reform and modernization. This confirmed the WCO’s capacity building strategy and support services. In his opening address, the Secretary General of the WCO, Mr Kunio Mikuriya, welcomed the work accomplished thus far by the Committee and recalled the WCO strategic roadmap for Customs Capacity Building in the 21^st Century which include expanding the delivery of capacity building; strengthening the knowledge-based approach; and using existing tools and testing new ones.

The rest of the program was organised around the 3P Agenda of Political Will, People and Partnerships, that collectively constitute the key enablers for successful capacity building. Under the “Political Will” theme, the Committee focused on securing political will for Customs and adopted a new Chapter to the Capacity Building Development Compendium on performance measurement. It also welcomed the review of the Phase 3 monitoring and review mission of the Kenya Revenue Authority and the significant progress that was made by this administration. In line with its belief of “It’s all about people” when it comes to organizational development, the Committee adopted the key elements of the Customs career development framework and gave the green light for the roll-out of the new WCO leadership and management development program. On partnerships, the Committee focused on the project map database that is aimed at improving coordination between capacity building stakeholders and considered some practical steps towards donor coordination and engagement. It also discussed research and how this drives Customs innovation and improvement and enhancing the PICARD program to further contribute to Customs professionalism.

The Chairperson of the Committee, Mr Chris Henderson of the Canada Border Services Agency, commented on the high level of engagement and enthusiasm for the Committee’s activities and the WCO Capacity Building work program and welcomed the very active contribution to the Committee’s working groups that focused on donor coordination and engagement; Customs professionalism and career development; and performance measurement, respectively. Mr. Erich Kieck, the WCO Director for Capacity Building, remarked that the capacity building agenda of the WCO has evolved and the 60^th anniversary of the organization is an appropriate milestone to celebrate this and to recommit to the goal of working together to build resilient Customs in the 21^st century in all corners of the world.

Capacity Building Committee, 3^rd Session – Executive Summary here