Recognizing the critical importance of Customs Human Capital in organizational performance and resilience, Members’ requests for Capacity Building and Technical Assistance in the HRMD area have increased. To effectively address this increased need, the World Customs Organization (WCO) organized a Pre-Accreditation Workshop of Customs Modernization Advisors specialized in Human Resources Management and Development (HRMD). The workshop was held from 27 February to 3 March 2023 in Lusaka, Zambia, with the financial support of the Accelerate Trade Facilitation Programme and the Sida-WCO Trade Facilitation and Customs Modernization Programme.
Mr. Dingani Banda, Commissioner General of the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA), opened the workshop with welcome remarks. In his remarks, Mr. Banda stressed that a well-equipped Customs HRMD is vital for driving higher and achieving better productivity since it enables employees to develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes required for achieving goals in the Customs and Revenue authorities. He said that the workshop comes at the right time as it will equip HRMD experts with the competencies needed to manage change and mentor Customs administrations in human capital management and development. He added that this pool of HRMD experts in Customs modernization will, among others, play an essential role in ensuring that African countries are ready to enhance trade amongst themselves as we advance the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area.
The Pre-Accreditation Workshop aimed at developing a pool of highly competent experts capable of organizing and delivering HRMD capacity building activities on behalf of the WCO to support Members in improving their human capital management based on WCO standards and international best practices.
During the five-day intensive programme, experts from 12 countries, namely, Angola, Botswana, Cameron, Ethiopia, Lesotho, Liberia, Mauritius, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe, demonstrated their knowledge, skills and attitudes as experts in the area of HRMD and organizational development.
At the end of the workshop, candidates who successfully completed this phase were designated as WCO pre-accredited experts. As part of the second phase of the accreditation process, they will be invited to an in-country mission as co-facilitators to demonstrate their technical, behavioural and leadership skills. Pre-accredited candidates who successfully complete the second phase will become WCO Customs Modernization Advisors for Human Resource Management and Development (CMA-HRMD).
For more information about this activity and the WCO People Development Programme, please contact: capacity.building@wcoomd.org