Multinational - Streamlining Tax, Revenue Management and Digitization of Customs Admin in 5 ECOWAS Countries

The proposed operation is a technical assistance and institutional capacity support project to be financed by a grant of UA 2.00 million under the Transition Support Facility (TSF), Pillar III. The project is justified on the grounds that the technical assistance and capacity building targeted at Customs Administrations of Liberia, Mali Niger, Sierra Leone, and the Gambia will lead to significant skills upgrading while also supporting digitisation and automation of customs services through electronic activities thus streamlining targeted customs services. It generally involves acquisition of technical skills, extensive training of Customs Administrations staff and modernization of the automated systems for customs data. The project focuses on four key areas: (i) technical assistance; (ii) upgrading and modernization of customs information technology infrastructure; (iii) migration to modern customs conventions; (iv) transit management and adherence to established trade liberalization protocols. The proposed reforms will spur regional trade through the implementation of the ETLS by the respective countries. Ultimately, improved customs revenues will greatly enhance resource mobilization efforts by the respective governments and potenitally enhance revenues available for allocation to public expenditures thus reducing poverty and socio-economic and political fragility. The implementation timeframe covers January 2020 to December 2021.