On the request of the Burkina Faso Customs Administration, two WCO experts supported the administration with updating its Strategic Plan from 17 to 25 August 2015.  The experts specifically focused on sensitizing the newly-established Reform and Modernization Unit (CREM) about its roles and responsibilities and reformulating the strategic priorities based on changes in Customs’ missions and the State's Economic and Financial Sectoral Policy (POSEF). 

The mission focused on relevant WCO tools, especially the Customs in the 21st Century strategy and the SAFE Framework of Standards.  The three focus areas were administration management; revenue mobilization and trade facilitation; and communication and partnership building.  These focus areas were divided into strategic projects that will feed into action plans for the implementation of the reform, following involvement by all internal and external stakeholders.  This involvement, especially from outside Customs, meets the expectations of the political authorities that have expressed a strong commitment to ensuring the Customs strategic project is a widely-supported, consensus-driven approach conducive to facilitating partnerships with the private sector and for supporting requests for technical assistance to donor agencies and public institutions.

With this in mind, the implementation of the Strategic Plan will also be in step with Burkina Faso's forthcoming accession to the Revised Kyoto Convention.  This demonstrates the very high level of political support for the reform initiated by the Burkina Faso Customs Administration.  The WCO experts observed this clear political commitment during the audience they were granted with the Minister of Economy and Finance.