WCO ESA Regional Office for Capacity Building - ROCB

WCO ESA Region Equips Customs Officers with Research Skills for Efficient Trade Facilitation

The World Customs Organization East and Southern Africa Regional Office for Capacity Building (WCO ESA ROCB), in collaboration with the Regional Training Centre (RTC) Kenya, hosted a Research Methodology Webinar on 11th August 2026, bringing together 113 participants from 19 Member Administrations across the region. The webinar focused on strengthening the research capabilities of Customs officers and exploring how research, data and emerging technologies can contribute to efficient trade facilitation, operational effectiveness and evidence-based decision-making.

In her opening remarks, the ROCB Director, Josephine Manyasi ‘ndc’(K), emphasized the importance of building research capacity within Member Administrations and encouraged participants to view research as a practical tool for addressing Customs challenges. She underscored the need to move beyond research as an academic exercise and translate findings and evidence into meaningful and measurable improvements in Customs operations. She also called for greater regional collaboration through the sharing of research, methodologies, findings and good practices, noting that many Customs challenges are common across the ESA region. Such collaboration would enable Member Administrations to learn from one another, exchange knowledge and develop practical solutions to shared challenges.

Dr. Emma Omwenga, Deputy Commissioner, RTC Kenya echoed the importance of utilizing research and emerging areas of Customs to strengthen decision-making and predictive analysis. She emphasized the value of embracing innovative approaches that can support Customs administrations in responding effectively to emerging challenges while continuously improving their operations.

The webinar provided participants with insights into how research and emerging technologies, particularly Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML), can support modern Customs administration. Discussions explored their potential application in areas such as trade facilitation and operational efficiency, governance and transparency, decision-making, intelligent document processing and interpretation, risk management, pattern identification and compliance.

The facilitator, Dr. Benard Baimwera, encouraged participants to further explore the WCO Report on the Adoption of AI/ML in Customs (March 2025) as a useful resource for deepening their understanding of the application and potential of these technologies within Customs administrations.

A key message from the discussions was that research should be an everyday tool for Customs administrations, enabling officers to translate evidence and knowledge into practical solutions for operational challenges. Participants also shared experiences on the use of research within their administrations and explored twinning arrangements, through which Member Administrations with advanced expertise could support others in building research capacity and promoting regional knowledge exchange.

Participants also explored establishing a regional Customs research platform, including an ESA Regional Customs Research Conference, to share research and good practices, promote collaboration and leverage research, data and emerging technologies to inform Customs policies and strengthen trade facilitation and decision-making.

The webinar marked an important step towards building a stronger research culture in ESA Customs administrations, equipping officers to translate research and evidence into practical solutions that support efficient, responsive and evidence-driven Customs services.
Read more: https://www.wcoesarocb.org/wco-esa-region-equips-customs.../

Kenya School of Revenue Administration

L’OMD vient de publier l’Étude sur la détermination de l’origine des produits remanufacturés et recyclés. Elle y analyse les dispositions des accords de libre-échange (ALE) relatives aux produits recyclés et remanufacturés et apporte un éclairage essentiel sur les difficultés rencontrées par les administrations douanières lorsqu’elles appliquent à ces catégories de produits des règles d’origine initialement conçues pour des produits neufs. Tout en mettant en évidence d’importantes lacunes dans les dispositions des ALE relatives à l’origine, l’étude formule des recommandations visant à faciliter l’accès à des droits de douane réduits pour ces types de produits dans le cadre des accords de libre-échange.

En savoir + 👉 https://www.wcoomd.org/fr/media/newsroom/2026/july/origin-determination-of-remanufactured-and-recycled-goods-wco-publishes-new-study.aspx

The WCO has published the Study on the Origin Determination of Remanufactured and Recycled Goods which analyses free trade agreements (FTAs) provisions related to recycled and remanufactured goods and provides key insights into the challenges met by Customs administrations in applying rules of origin, which are primarily designed for new products, to these categories of goods. While revealing significant gaps in FTAs origin-related provisions, the Study formulates recommendations for unlocking lower tariffs in free trade agreements for these types of goods.

Read more 👉 https://www.wcoomd.org/en/media/newsroom/2026/july/origin-determination-of-remanufactured-and-recycled-goods-wco-publishes-new-study.aspx

What is customs valuation of goods?

The WCO has published a Study on the Origin Determination of Remanufactured and Recycled Goods following approval by the 147th/148th Sessions of the Council.

Read more ▶ https://www.wcoomd.org/en/media/newsroom/2026/july/origin-determination-of-remanufactured-and-recycled-goods-wco-publishes-new-study

World Customs Organization - Organisation Mondiale des Douanes

WCO builds freight forwarders’ capacity to manage rules of origin, ensuring enhanced compliance and increased preferential tariff treatment use

In March 2026, a full training cycle on rules of origin started for 149 employees of freight forwarding companies from the WCO East and Southern Africa region. Established through the European Union-WCO Rules of Origin Africa Programme, these experts will be able to independently transfer knowledge to their peers or clients.

Read more 👉 https://www.wcoomd.org/en/media/newsroom/2026/july/wco-builds-freight-forwarders-capacity-to-manage-rules-of-origin-ensuring-enhanced-compliance.aspx

Federation of East African Freight Forwarders Associations - Feaffa

L'OMD renforce la capacité des transitaires en matière de règles d'origine, favorisant une meilleure conformité et un recours accru aux régimes tarifaires préférentiels

En mars 2026, un cycle de formation complet sur les règles d'origine a débuté pour 149 employés d’entreprises de transits de la région Afrique orientale et australe de l’OMD. Établis dans le cadre du Programme UE-OMD sur les règles d’origine en Afrique, ces d'experts seront capables de former de manière autonome leurs pairs à la gestion et à l'application des règles d'origine préférentielles.

En savoir + 👉 https://www.wcoomd.org/fr/media/newsroom/2026/july/wco-builds-freight-forwarders-capacity-to-manage-rules-of-origin-ensuring-enhanced-compliance.aspx

Federation of East African Freight Forwarders Associations - Feaffa

WCO ESA Region Strengthens Trade Facilitation Through the Establishment of a Regional Customs Laboratory in Uganda

20th July 2026

The World Customs Organization East and Southern Africa Region (WCO ESA) has achieved another significant milestone in its efforts to facilitate regional trade. Following the approval by the WCO ESA Governing Council to establish the Regional Customs Laboratory (RCL), to be hosted by the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA), the initiative continues to gather momentum.

This progress was further advanced today through a productive engagement coordinated by the WCO East and Southern Africa Regional Office for Capacity Building (WCO ESA ROCB), with the participation of the World Customs Organization - Organisation Mondiale des Douanes(WCO) Secretariat and the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA).

The meeting reviewed the progress made towards establishing the Regional Customs Laboratory, discussed the remaining legal and technical processes, and reaffirmed the commitment to successfully conclude the initiative.

Members noted that the RCL will serve as a regional knowledge hub that enhance Customs laboratory services, promote technical expertise, facilitate capacity building, and support scientific collaboration among Customs administrations across the East and Southern Africa region.

The WCO expressed its appreciation to the Uganda Revenue Authority for its professionalism, commitment and proactive engagement throughout the establishment process and expressed confidence that the MOU would be finalized to the highest standards and pave the way for a successful Regional Customs Laboratory.

In her closing remarks, the Director of the WCO ESA Regional Office for Capacity Building (WCO ESA ROCB) expressed her appreciation to the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) for its continued partnership and to the World Customs Organization (WCO) for its unwavering support. She reaffirmed the WCO ESA ROCB's enthusiasm for welcoming Uganda as the host of the WCO ESA RCL.

She emphasized that the establishment of the RCL marks a significant milestone in strengthening trade facilitation efforts, not only within the East and Southern Africa region but across the African continent.



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