On 30 March 2021, the World Customs Organization (WCO) announced that under the auspices of the WCO/JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) Joint Project, five (5) Southern African Customs administrations had been making collective efforts in building a pool of experts and developing training materials to be used for more sustainable capacity building in Southern Africa. Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe have participated in the “Master Trainers Programme (MTP)” and are making continued efforts to build their training capacity on Customs valuation.
The fifteen (15) participants took part in a “Fourth WCO/JICA Joint Workshop on Customs Valuation under the MTP” held virtually on 17-19 March 2021. In this workshop, building upon the steady progress made through a series of progressive activities conducted under the MTP, the participants finalised the regional Customs valuation training materials they had developed, paying due attention to the regional valuation issues and challenges they face in Southern Africa. Supported by the invited Customs valuation and training experts from the WCO, JICA and Japan Customs, the participants made step-by-step progress under the MTP to develop their training materials in addition to the improvement of their knowledge and expertise on Customs valuation as well as training techniques and competencies to be Master Trainers. Even COVID-19 could not stop their enthusiasm as they met virtually during the period of the pandemic. Through intensive 3-day work at the 4th Workshop, the participants agreed on the full set of training materials, including handbook, presentations, pre/post-test, model training program and course guide.
They are expected to meet once again at the end of April to complete the MTP where they will test their training skills, competencies, and relevance of the course materials through practical delivery of Customs valuation training for the invited trainees.
Story by: Riaan de Lange