Under the auspices of the WCO-EAC CREATe Project financed by Sweden, a workshop was successfully held from 23 to 26 October 2017 in Bujumbura to develop a national framework for risk management in Burundi Customs (OBR). The development of the national risk management framework follows the recommendation of a diagnostic study conducted by the WCO on the preparedness of the East African Community (EAC) countries to implement a Regional AEO programme.

The implementation of the AEO programme requires a robust risk management (RM) function.  As the EAC completed the development of its regional (RM) framework, Burundi needed to develop their own national risk management framework and align to the regional one. This was necessary in order for Burundi to enhance its capacity to manage the AEO programme. 

The mission supported OBR with the development of a Risk Management Policy, Risk Management Strategy, a Risk Register and a Risk Management Action Plan.

The workshop, which was attended by 8 participants, including 3 female delegates, was supported by a regional risk management expert from Uganda, thus providing an opportunity to strengthen regional and south-south cooperation.

With the policy, strategy and the register in place, the next step of the support will involve risk profiling and refining of the selectivity criteria in ASYCUDA.

Since Burundi is one of the countries that have submitted Category “A” notification on the implementation of the WTO Agreement on Trade Facilitation (TFA), this mission also supported Burundi’s efforts towards the implementation of article 7.7 of the TFA.

For more information about this activity or the project, please contact the WCO-Sweden Programme Director, Mr. Richard Chopra (richard.chopra@wcoomd.org)