The WCO organized a Post-Clearance Audit (PCA) Operational and Technical Advisers’ Accreditation Workshop at WCO Headquarters from 2 to 6 March 2015. 12 Customs officers were called upon to demonstrate their abilities and expertise in the domain of PCA.
The WCO has developed a two-step approach to the accreditation process for the pre-selected candidates: (1) participation at a WCO accreditation workshop and (2) final evaluation during the delivery of a mission on the field accompanied by another qualified Expert. Participants who demonstrated a thorough understanding of training and policy advice would proceed with the field mission phase. Successful participants are registered in the Accredited Customs Experts (ACE) Database and can be called upon to perform Capacity Building activities on behalf of the WCO.
Taking into consideration the growing needs of Capacity Building activities on PCA, the identification and development of experts who can perform these tasks on behalf of the WCO is crucial. This workshop is the first of its kind solely focused on PCA, and experts who meet the criteria and are successful are expected to be called upon to fulfill their duties in the near future in response to demand for PCA training from Member countries.
The workshop is a mutually beneficial exercise; it assists the WCO in choosing qualified candidates and also enables the participants to improve their knowledge and techniques for future use in their respective Administrations. During the five day intensive workshop, participants demonstrated their excellent knowledge and advisory skills through presentations, case studies and role-playing sessions. Upon the conclusion of the workshop participants pledged to remain connected to ensure future cooperation.