1. ERITREA
ETHIOPIA
UGANDA
KENYA
TANZANIA
MALAWI
Information Technology – Challenges and Opportunities for Customs
Management in a Computerized Environment
IMF Workshop: Nairobi, 3-7 August 2009
BACKGROUND
Customs administrations currently face a variety of political and administrative challenges, including:
fluctuating workloads with diminishing operational resources -“do more with less”; greater
expectations from stakeholders; and pressure to meet often-conflicting government political, revenue,
trade facilitation, social protection, and national security objectives. Moreover, customs administrations
are increasingly required to integrate their systems and procedures with each other and the
sophisticated global logistics networks used by international trade and transport operators. To cope with
these pressures and challenges, customs administrations worldwide are seeking fresh methods,
including better ways of using IT, to improve their efficiency and effectiveness. As a result, many
customs modernization programs have, over the last decade, included significant computerization
components.
The revised Kyoto Convention proposes that countries reform existing customs practices to further
facilitate the international movement of goods. The adoption of simplified business processes, modern
risk management approaches, post-clearance audit controls, and the use of information technology tools
by managers are all strongly recommended. As a result, and as part of their reform modernization
strategies, East AFRITAC member countries have (to varying degrees) automated their customs
processes.
Kenya has implemented the Gainde 2000 system developed by Senegal. The other regional agencies
rely mainly on the ASYCUDA customs management system developed by UNCTAD and implemented
in over 80 countries worldwide.
However, it is perceived that in all the countries, the automated systems are largely being used for
transactions processing, and their full potential is yet to be exploited. In addition, there are concerns
that the regional systems are not responsive to the emerging business needs of modern customs
administration, especially in enhancing risk management approaches.
The situation has been blamed, partly, on the lack of capacity in the regional customs administrations to
East AFRITAC regional workshop on “Challenges and Opportunities for Customs Management in a Computerized Environment”
August 3‐7, 2009, Kenya School of Monetary Studies, Nairobi, Kenya Page 1

2. ERITREA
ETHIOPIA
UGANDA
KENYA
TANZANIA
MALAWI
fully understand, manipulate and effectively utilize available IT capabilities. However it has also been
argued that the existing regional systems are deficient, especially with regard to their data-mining
capabilities and ability to support the ever-increasing demands of modern customs operations.
As a result of the above concerns, regional customs agencies have recently invested considerable
resources developing internal capacity, developing workarounds to support key functions such as
valuation and risk management, and explored available options to enhance critical functionalities.
WORKSHOP OBJECTIVES
The main objectives of the workshop will be to review regional cross-cutting customs administration
issues, benchmark regional IT systems against best practice, and develop a way forward for the region.
The one-week workshop will discuss, amongst others, the following topics:
Customs administration management issues and challenges in the region
The gap between the current and desired end-state of customs administration in the region
The role of IT in customs administration
International and regional trends and developments in computerizing customs operations
Options and design of appropriate computerization strategies for customs administration
Within the above context, specific issues to be addressed are:
What is the desired end-state of customs administration whilst balancing trade facilitation and
enforcement?
What compliance risks need to be addressed and how?
How can IT be used more effectively to improve customs efficiency and effectiveness?
Following the workshop it is expected that the participants will -
Have a clear understanding of the important functions in the Gainde 2000 and Asycuda ++
systems and how they apply to modern day Customs management
Have a clear perception of the key elements of Risk Management in Customs
Agree a workshop report outlining the workshop proceedings and focus, issues and findings,
and evaluation
Agree an Action Plan for enhancing the effective management use of their IT systems
Assist with implementation of Action Plan and organization of any necessary training in the
relevant country
Provide feedback to IMF on progress of implementation of agreed Action Plan
East AFRITAC regional workshop on “Challenges and Opportunities for Customs Management in a Computerized Environment”
August 3‐7, 2009, Kenya School of Monetary Studies, Nairobi, Kenya Page 2

3. ERITREA
ETHIOPIA
UGANDA
KENYA
TANZANIA
MALAWI
OUTPUTS
The workshop is validated by the successful agreement between the workshop participants and the IMF
resource persons of an Action Plan to enhance the effective use of current IT systems and communicate
any vital system change requests to their IT system providers. The participants will be expected to
subsequently apply what the agreed workshop findings in their home countries. The IMF will make the
necessary follow-ups during ensuing country mission visits.
TARGET POPULATION
The workshop is designed for to senior-level customs administration managers and IT officials in the
East AFRITAC region. Participants are expected to have a sound working knowledge of their national
Customs import and export procedures and the various problem areas.
WORKSHOP FORMAT
The workshop is based on an informal lecture and training workshop structure. The event is
participative and structured around a series of inter-related topics. It is designed to illustrate the
advantages of IT systems as a tool to assist Customs managers in meeting organizational objectives.
This will involve:
Facilitators presenting and discussing a wide range of customs administration and
computerization issues;
Country representatives presenting case studies on customs administration reforms and IT;
Group discussions to assess and highlight the realities, benefits, issues and challenges of
implementing sound reform and well-aligned computerization strategies in the region;
Visiting a Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) customs office to provide participants a practical
case study, experience and exposure to customs management and computerization issues and
practices; and
Presentation of group reports on the Kenya case study, highlighting the current situation, issues
and recommendations for sound management of customs operations, including a pragmatic
computerization strategy.
DURATION
The duration of the workshop is 5 Days.
East AFRITAC regional workshop on “Challenges and Opportunities for Customs Management in a Computerized Environment”
August 3‐7, 2009, Kenya School of Monetary Studies, Nairobi, Kenya Page 3

4. ERITREA
ETHIOPIA
UGANDA
KENYA
TANZANIA
MALAWI
FACILITATORS
The workshop facilitators are Andrew Okello and Brian Fulton. Andrew has over 16 years experience
in revenue policy and administration in Kenya. He is currently the Revenue Policy and Administration
Advisor at the IMF regional technical assistance center (East AFRITAC). Brian has 40 years Customs
experience. This includes experience as a manager in UK Customs using various computer systems and
15 years practical experience of ASYCUDA project implementation management, risk management
training and a detailed functional knowledge of the ASYCUDA++ system.
The workshop is to be hosted at – The Kenya School of Monetary Studies (KSMS) in Nairobi, Kenya
TIMETABLE
The following timetable is intended as a guide to the topics to be covered and the order in which the
topics will be addressed. The amount of time allocated to each subject may vary, according to the
relevance of particular topics to the countries as the course develops. The sessions and topics are
modified where possible to better suit the needs of the Customs administration and regional priorities.
Workshop hours are planned to be 08:30 to 17:00, with a lunch break between 12:30 and 13:30 and tea
breaks between 10:30 -11:00 and 15:00 -15:30.
Please note however, that as the workshop covers several issues, the hours may be subject to change,
depending on the rate of progress through the subjects.
East AFRITAC regional workshop on “Challenges and Opportunities for Customs Management in a Computerized Environment”
August 3‐7, 2009, Kenya School of Monetary Studies, Nairobi, Kenya Page 4

5.
Day Date Session 1 Session 2 Session 3 Session 4
Case studies:
Introduction & domestics, The Setting: The Setting [Cont’d] Initiatives to modernize
1 including photo session Overview of trade policy & Regional customs procedures, practices &
3rd August
Monday customs operations. administration trends. The role systems. Efforts to improve
International customs of IT in customs administration. trade facilitation.
administration trends Ethiopia & Malawi
Brief Recap of Day 1.
Customs strategies in the Using IT to support risk Using IT to support risk
2 th modern world. Perception of Comprehensive audit of IT
4 August management management
Tuesday positive & negative features of implementation – The case of in customs. in customs. [Cont’d]
current IT systems. Uganda.
Information needs.
Brief Recap of Day 2. Case Studies: How can IT enhance common Presentation on proposed
3 community based system
Risk management practices in border management [JICA].
Wednesday 5th August Using IT to support risk Rwanda & Tanzania Regional interconnectivity – A linking domestic stakeholders
management presentation on RADDEX. [Kenya].
in customs. [Cont’d]
4 Explanation & Group Visit to KRA - Fieldwork Visit to KRA - Fieldwork
6th August Preparations for field work in
Thursday
KRA
Presentations & plenary Findings & best practices
5 sessions
7th August Workshop Event Review &
Friday Agree Way Forward Closure
Agree key Action Plan points
East AFRITAC regional workshop on “Challenges and Opportunities for Customs Management in a Computerized Environment”
August 3‐7, 2009, Kenya School of Monetary Studies, Nairobi, Kenya Page 5