Uganda and Kenya are leading the East African region in advancing career progression for freight forwarders through the completion of the regional certificate program. The Kenya School of Revenue Administration (KESRA) has started offering the Diploma in Customs and Freight Logistics, a progression from the Certificate in Customs and Freight Logistics (CCFL), also known as the East Africa Customs and Freight Forwarding Practicing Certificate (EACFFPC). This program is delivered by the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) in partnership with the Kenya International Freight and Warehousing Association (KIFWA) through KESRA.
The two-year diploma program builds on the foundation set by the CCFL program. Beyond enhancing the capacity to manage clearance operations, the diploma focuses on advancing managerial skills for freight forwarders. The program targets holders of the CCFL and equivalent qualifications.
Since the launch of the training program in 2006, over 10,000 customs and freight forwarding professionals have been certified across East Africa, contributing significantly to the regional logistics sector. Similar certifications are conducted annually among East African Community (EAC) partner states.
During a recent graduation in Uganda, Mr. Philippe Ndikumana, President of the Federation of East African Freight Forwarders Associations (FEAFFA), commended the commitment and support from the EAC Directorate of Customs, revenue authorities, and other stakeholders in enhancing the professionalism of customs agents and freight forwarders in the region.
“We always strive to put our house in order so that we do not become a weak link in the regional logistics chain,” Mr. Ndikumana emphasized. He also mentioned that South Sudan has recently joined FEAFFA and is being engaged to launch the training program.
The CCFL program was adopted by the 39th meeting of the Sectoral Council on Trade, Industry, Finance, and Investment (SCTIFI) as the regional training standard for customs agents and freight forwarders in East Africa. It is a key requirement for the licensing of customs agents by customs administrations across the region.
Cargo owners and customs authorities rely on clearing and forwarding agents to accurately assess, determine, and remit customs-related taxes on behalf of the Commissioner of Customs. The CCFL training equips customs agents with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes required to facilitate timely and error-free cargo clearance, significantly reducing transport and logistics costs along key trade corridors, which are a substantial component of trade expenses in the region.
Uganda, on its part, will implement the FIATA diploma program starting in March 2025. The program is open to all freight forwarders in East Africa. The FIATA diploma exposes freight forwarders to global-level logistics practices and is crucial for both current and aspiring industry leaders. FEAFFA is coordinating the registration of students from other EAC countries.
In response to the dynamic nature of the transport and logistics sector, FEAFFA, with the support of its partners, has developed a Continuing Professional Development (CPD) program. This program offers industry professionals a series of training opportunities through workshops, webinars, conferences, and other platforms to address their evolving needs in knowledge, skills, leadership, and networking. The CPD program is designed to meet the training needs of customs agents and freight forwarders as identified by cargo owners, customs administrations, and employers. The goal is to make CPD a requirement for membership in associations and licensing by customs authorities, thereby easing the pressure on agents when renewing their licenses.
Since its introduction two years ago, the CPD program has benefited more than 1,000 agents across the region. Professionals are required to attain a minimum number of CPD points annually to maintain good professional standing. A CPD management system was developed to track the progress of practitioners across East Africa. The CPD program is currently available in Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda, and it is seen as a key step towards transforming the industry into a fully recognized profession, with laws in the pipeline to formalize freight forwarding as a professional practice.
These initiatives are spearheaded by FEAFFA in collaboration with East African Revenue Authorities, the EAC Directorate of Customs, and national freight forwarding associations, with support from development partners like TradeMark Africa, JICA, and USAID.
The article was published by Andrew Onionga and can be reached at oniongaam@gmail.com Tel: +254733780240
