Monthly Report for the month of May 2012

The organization is headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, and has affiliate national associations in Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda. FEAFFA's main purpose is to enhance the freight logistics profession in East Africa through advocacy, training, and capacity building. The organization has been implementing various activities under a grant from a donor agency, with the aim of strengthening its internal systems and processes. One of the key activities undertaken by FEAFFA was the training of a new accountant in the management of grant funds. The accountant underwent training at COMPETE, a regional organization that provides technical assistance to the private sector. FEAFFA also procured and installed an automated accounting software, Quick Books, which is now in use. FEAFFA has also been working on the development of organizational policy manuals, which include policies and procedures on human resource management, procurement, accounting, communications, data back-up, and code of ethics. The draft manuals were reviewed and enhanced by the FEAFFA Secretariat, and the final drafts are expected to be completed by the first week of June. A training session for FEAFFA staff on the usage of the manual is also scheduled for the first week of June. The organization held its first meeting of the Board for the year 2012 on May 17, 2012, at Hotel Club Du Lac Tanganyika in Bujumbura, Burundi. The meeting reviewed and approved the audited accounts for the years 2010 and 2011, reviewed the annual report, and recommended strategies for addressing internal wrangling in some of the national associations. FEAFFA also held its general assembly for the year 2012 on May 18, 2012, at the same venue. The meeting was attended by representatives of all the national associations affiliated to FEAFFA, and a new Executive Board was elected. The new Board includes Mathew Bizimana as President, Merian Sebunya as 1st Vice President, Hezron Awiti as 2nd Vice President, and Stephen Ngatunga as Secretary General. In addition to these activities, FEAFFA has also been working on developing position papers on customs warehouse rent, mutual recognition of customs agent licenses, and self-regulation of customs agents. The scope of work for these activities has been finalized, and procurement of consultancy services is expected to commence in mid-June 2012. FEAFFA has also been involved in training and certifying freight forwarders. On May 18, 2012, 21 students graduated from the East Africa Customs and Freight Forwarding Practicing Certificate program in a colorful ceremony at Hotel Club du Lac Tanganyika in Bujumbura. The graduation marked the rollout of the training program in the entire region. Finally, FEAFFA has finalized drafting a concept note to assess the impact of the proposed East African Community (EAC) Single Customs Territory on clearing and forwarding agents. The draft concept note has been submitted to the COMPETE Transit team for review and consideration.