Nairobi, Kenya
11th -13th November 2025
The WCO ESA ROCB is participating in a multi-stakeholder engagement forum organized by IMPACCT project, WFP, WHO, Africa CDC, UNICEF and MSF currently taking place in Nairobi, Kenya. The forum brings together representatives from Customs administrations within the World Customs Organization East and Southern Africa (WCO ESA) region, supply chain management and the health sector and seeks to establish bottlenecks, best practices and ways of boosting coordination and operational efficiency-optimizing Customs Procedures and Strengthening Inter-Agency Collaboration.
The forum further envisages shaping regional guidelines to achieve joint Development of Solutions and Continental Framework to streamline Customs clearance of humanitarian supplies. Some of the key operational challenges highlighted and opportunities to enhance cross-border clearance of humanitarian supplies are complex documentation, inconsistency among customs practices across the ESA region. Mitigation measures proposed include simplification and harmonization of Customs clearance processes across borders, regulatory requirements, improved communication and coordination among agencies & member states, and promotion of joint collaboration with authorities for efficient clearance of the humanitarian goods.
The Director WCO ESA ROCB Mrs Josephine Manyasi in her opening remarks stated that the humanitarian situation globally requires the combined effort of Customs, key stakeholders and partners in the supply chain to ensure sustained coordination, preparedness, and cross-border support for movement and faster clearance of humanitarian goods. The Director informed the forum that the World Customs Organization, East and Southern Africa Region had developed a Regional Strategic Plan 2025-2028, being implemented through the Regional Office for Capacity Building. The strategy focuses on efficient trade facilitation, integration and protection of society and environment among other objectives. The ROCB is also collaborating with development partners and the regional private sector group to simplify and harmonize Customs procedures in the importation and Customs clearance of humanitarian health supplies.
The Director appealed to participants to candidly engage during this multi-stakeholder forum with the ultimate goal of identifying actionable solutions to challenges that hinder faster clearance and movement of goods meant for humanitarian aid and foster a shared commitment to improving customs processes during health emergencies.
