The World Customs Organization (WCO) Monday began a week-long technical training for customs staff of the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) in project management.
The training will strengthen staff capacities in carrying out project management activities, donor coordination, change management and stakeholder’s engagement. It is also part of efforts in supporting the effective delivery of customs reform and modernization programs at the tax authority.
The LRA in 2017 established the Customs Modernization Unit (CMU) to oversee and coordinate all customs-related project activities, including donor collaboration.
LRA Assistant Commissioner for Customs Policy and Technical Operations, William L. Buku, thanked the WCO for the level of cooperation and technical support to the LRA.
He encouraged the 12 participating customs staff to take advantage of the workshop and tap into the wealth of knowledge that the experts will provide to enhance the LRA customs reform and modernization programs.
WCO’s Program Assistant for Trade Facilitation Program, Hannah Fautsch, hailed the partnership with the LRA Customs Department and underscored the importance of the knowledge enhancement for the participants.
The training is a result of a recommendation from a WCO 2022 diagnostic assessment under the Mercator Program, which highlighted the need for the capacity building of the Customs Modernization Unit.
The Mercator Program is funded by the UK government, aimed at assisting customs administrations worldwide to implement trade facilitation measures expeditiously in a harmonized manner by using trade instruments like the WCO Revised Kyoto Convention and the World Trade Organization (WTO) Trade Facilitation Agreement.