The Federation of East African Freight Forwarders Associations (FEAFFA) has hired a consultant to develop the training materials for the new curriculum for clearing agents, freight forwarders and warehouse operators in the EAC region. The new curriculum is expected to improve the skills and competencies of agents in providing competitive and high-quality end to end services. This will result to efficiency in trade and thus lower the cost of doing business in the region.
The updated curriculum has already been reviewed, validated, and adopted by the National Curriculum Implementation Committees (NCICs) in each partner state and later by the regional Curriculum Implementation Committee (CIC).
The validation meetings, which were done virtually, paved the way for development of training materials based on the approved curriculum.
NCICs are composed of representatives from the East African Revenue Authorities (EARAs) and National Associations of Clearing agents in each partner state, while CIC is composed of representatives from NCICs in each partner state and FEAFFA.
The new curriculum is a competency-based one and will offer both the certificate and Diploma programs; with additional Modules including Warehousing, Communication, Practical Experience among other areas.
The updating of the curriculum for freight forwarders is part of the larger East African Community Logistics skills enhancement program supported by Trademark East Africa (TMEA).
“We have made significant milestones and we are all set to professionalize the sector to serve the industry better,” Mr. Fred Seka, FEAFFA president said.
A baseline survey conducted by TMEA assessed the appropriateness of the East Africa Customs and Freight Forwarding Practicing Certificate (EACFFPC) in addressing the needs and requirements of modern-day customs agents, freight forwarders and warehousing operations from the perspective of the employers, customers, and principals.
Other areas of focus were on bench marking the curriculum in its current form with other professional training and capacity building initiatives in other regions.
The curriculum update is building on the existing EACFFPC program by introducing a higher level of learning.
Since 2007, when the EACFFPC training programme was started, over 6000 customs agents and freight forwarders have qualified from the program in the region.
