Monthly Report: July 2012

FEAFFA is headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, and has a secretariat that is responsible for implementing the organization's activities. In July 2012, FEAFFA continued its efforts to professionalize the freight logistics sector through training and capacity building. The organization's training subcommittee held its first meeting at Sarova Whitesands Hotel in Mombasa, where it made vital recommendations for establishing a registration board of freight forwarders in the region. The committee also discussed the East Africa Customs and Freight Forwarding Practicing Certificate (EACFFPC) training program and the roadmap for the Certificate of Competence. FEAFFA continued to coordinate the EACFFPC program across the region, with expanded classes starting in July 2012. A total of 208 students in Kenya and 55 in Rwanda were enrolled in the program, bringing the total number of students to 595. The students are expected to complete the course in December 2012. The organization also held a meeting of the Curriculum Implementation Committee (CIC) to validate the revised EACFFPC curriculum. The meeting adopted the curriculum with recommendations for improvement in some areas. The CIC also reviewed the EACFFPC implementation plan and sustainability strategy, with the EAC Directorate of Customs participating in the meeting. FEAFFA is also developing handbooks for its organizational policy manuals, with drafts being presented in staff meetings for consolidation into one handbook. The secretariat has received and set up new furniture, and a purchase order has been submitted for health cover for new staff members. The organization is also procuring office equipment and services, including a laptop, external hard drive, accounting software, and Microsoft Windows software. In addition, FEAFFA is in the final stages of engaging Efman Communications to publish the first East African freight forwarders directory. A draft contract has been shared with the company, and work is expected to commence in August 2012. The organization also organized a half-day seminar to raise awareness on its Code of Conduct among clearing agents, with over 60 participants attending the seminar. FEAFFA is also involved in several other activities, including developing position papers on customs warehouse rent, mutual recognition of customs agent licenses, and self-regulation of customs agents. The organization has contracted consultants to conduct the studies, and would appreciate accompanying the consultants as understudy to strengthen ownership of the final products. FEAFFA is also developing border clearance manuals for key borders in the EAC region, with a consultant already visiting the borders to collect data. The organization has also contracted a consultant to review the existing draft of standard trading conditions for freight forwarders. Finally, FEAFFA has started a regional audit of its e-regulations portal, with a visit to Mombasa to identify challenges that clearing and forwarding agents are facing in using the portal. The exercise aims to improve the portal and add priority products to it. FEAFFA has also participated in several partner-organized events relevant to its mission, including the needs training assessment meeting for transporters by Trademark East Africa, the launch of the East African logistics performance index by the Kenya Shippers Council, and the workshop on the assessment of the impact of the proposed establishment of a Tripartite Free Trade Area between COMESA, EAC, and SADC.