Prior to the 7th Capacity Building Committee and the 15th Integrity Sub-Committee, representatives from the Regional Offices for Capacity Building (ROCBs), the Regional Training Centres (RTCs) and the Vice Chairs’ offices met on 7 and 8 April 2016 in Brussels for the 11th Global Meeting of the Heads of ROCBs, RTCs and Vice Chairs’ Offices. The main aim was to discuss how the various regional structures and the WCO Secretariat can effectively cooperate with each other to best address the capacity building needs of Members.
During the course of interactive discussion over two days, the meeting addressed a range of issues of common interest, such as WCO accreditation policy and mobilisation of experts to support Capacity Building activities, latest development of tools that support strategic human resource management and foster strong people for strong organisation, including the People Development Diagnostic Tool, the Virtual Customs Orientation Academy and CliKC! platform. The participants also exchanged views on effective means of regional training evaluation and how to ensure sustainability of Capacity Building activities.
One of the focuses of the meeting was ‘draft Best Practice Guidance for the WCO Regional Entities’ which was developed to assist ROCBs and RTCs to reassess respective framework in which they operate. The meeting welcomed and confirmed relevance of the document, and expressed the willingness of regional entities to use this document to self-assess the environment and to take suggested actions.
The participants reconfirmed their willingness to work closely with each other to ensure strategic and cohesive functioning and activities in supporting Members in their efforts in Customs reform and modernisation.