The proceedings of the 14th Meeting of Human Resources Training Managers officially opened on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, at the Hôtel Le Vaisseau, located in Cocody-Angré, around the theme: “Developing an engaged, ethical and vigilant human capital for a Customs administration that protects society.” 

Organized under the auspices of the Vice-Presidency of the West and Central Africa Region of the World Customs Organization (WCO-WCA), this meeting was initiated by the Regional Office for Capacity Building for West and Central Africa (ROCB-WCA), in collaboration with the Ivorian Customs Administration. It aims to provide a forum for reflection and the sharing of best practices in training and skills development, with a view to building a human capital capable of effectively addressing contemporary challenges. 

At the opening of the meeting, Ms. Elsie Nina LEMAMI, Director of the ROCB-WCA, highlighted the importance of human capital in the transformation and modernization of Customs administrations. In an environment characterized by evolving trade patterns, digital transformation and the diversification of threats faced by Customs administrations, training, in her view, is an essential lever for enabling officers to acquire and maintain the skills required to carry out their duties. 

The theme of the meeting therefore focuses on three complementary dimensions: commitment, integrity and vigilance. These values help strengthen confidence in Customs operations and enhance the ability of Customs administrations to effectively fulfill their missions of protecting society and facilitating trade. 

For his part, Mr. Sidoine YEREMI, Chief of Staff to the Vice-President of the World Customs Organization for West and Central Africa (WCO-WCA), reaffirmed the importance of regional cooperation in skills development and capacity building within Customs administrations. In his view, sharing experiences, best practices and approaches to human resources management and training is an important factor in supporting administrations throughout their modernization processes. This regional dynamic also helps ensure that training systems are better adapted to the new requirements of the Customs profession, while promoting a professional culture based on ethics, responsibility and vigilance. 

Speaking at the meeting, General DA Pierre Alphonse, Director General of the Ivorian Customs Administration, emphasized the importance attached to human resources development within Customs administrations across the region. He further stated that strengthening competencies is a key factor in supporting changes in the Customs environment and enabling officers to effectively meet the demands of their duties. 

The theme of the meeting invites participants to view human resources management not merely as a support function, but as a strategic component of Customs performance. Thus, beyond the simple transmission of knowledge, training must prepare officers to respond effectively and responsibly to changes in their professional environment and to risk assessment. It also contributes to building a professional culture based on integrity, a sense of duty, commitment and vigilance, values that are essential to the exercise of Customs responsibilities. 

The 14th Meeting of Human Resources Training Managers therefore provides participants with an opportunity to compare their experiences, identify common challenges and reflect on approaches suited to the realities of Customs administrations in the West and Central Africa region. 

Beyond the technical discussions, this meeting reflects a shared conviction: the sustainable performance of a Customs administration also depends on the quality of its human capital. 

By placing commitment, integrity and vigilance at the heart of the discussions, participants seek to contribute to the emergence of a Customs administration that is better prepared to address contemporary challenges and to pursue its fundamental mission of protecting society, securing trade and contributing to economic development. 

The proceedings of this 14th Meeting will continue through various sessions dedicated to issues related to training, skills development and human resources management within Customs administrations across the region.