Burundi Takes Step Towards Enhancing Customs Compliance and Risk Management

A National Framework for Risk Management in Burundi Customs

A workshop was held in Bujumbura, Burundi from October 23 to 26, 2017 under the auspices of the World Customs Organization’s (WCO) East African Community (EAC) CREATe Project, financed by Sweden. The event aimed to develop a national framework for risk management in Burundi Customs, a crucial step towards implementing the regional Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) program.

Implementation of AEO Program Requires Robust Risk Management

The implementation of the AEO program requires a robust risk management function, and as the EAC has completed its regional risk management framework, Burundi needed to develop its own national framework to align with the regional one. This move is expected to enhance the country’s capacity to manage the AEO program effectively.

Workshop Outcomes

During the workshop, experts supported the Burundian Customs administration in developing:

• A Risk Management Policy
• Strategy
• Risk Register
• Action Plan

The event was attended by eight participants, including three female delegates, and featured a regional risk management expert from Uganda, promoting south-south cooperation.

Next Steps

With the policy, strategy, and register in place, the next step will involve:

• Risk profiling
• Refining of selectivity criteria in ASYCUDA, a customs management system

This initiative is also aligned with Burundi’s efforts to implement Article 7.7 of the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) Agreement on Trade Facilitation, which the country has committed to under the Category “A” notification.

Contact Information

For more information about this activity or the project, please contact WCO-Sweden Programme Director Richard Chopra at richard.chopra@wcoomd.org.