The WCO Secretariat organized two back to back workshops to support the Gambia Revenue Authority (GRA) in developing its risk management strategy and framework for intelligence-led risk management.  The workshops are part of a larger capacity building programme sponsored by the German Government, represented by the Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).  The main objective of this programme is to support the Gambian authorities with implementing certain provisions of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Trade Facilitation Agreement (WTO TFA) and the African Union’s African Continental Free Trade (AfCFTA) Agreement.

The Commissioner General of the GRA, Mr. Yankuba Darboe, officially opened the first workshop on 21 June 2019 and thanked the WCO and GIZ for their continued assistance in support of his Authority’s reform and modernization initiatives.

This first workshop, held from 21 to 24 June 2019, was attended by some 20 high-ranking GRA officials and focused primarily on the development of a strategy and framework for efficient and effective application of risk management functions, with special emphasis on Customs.  During the five-day workshop, intense discussions among the participants and facilitators helped give rise to proposals in this domain.

The following week, another 22 GRA officers of various grades, including field officers, met to discuss the development and application of risk assessment and the use of intelligence.  The participants learned about the key elements of the WCO Risk Management Compendium as well as existing tools and instruments for the adoption of an intelligence-led approach to risk management.  Presentations, interactive work sessions with practical exercises and case studies afforded participants a greater understanding of the different principles and elements of modern and holistic risk management.  This, in turn, will enable them to develop tailor-made solutions in line with the GRA’s ambitious reform programme.

During the closing ceremony, the GRA highlighted the importance for Gambia of taking ownership of the assistance provided, adopting a strategic and holistic approach to risk management and using it as a tool to facilitate trade while simultaneously ensuring effective Customs controls.