USAID ASEAN Policy Implementation (API) Quarterly Report (October - December 2020)

This involved working closely with officials from the Philippines Bureau of Customs (BOC) to explore the implementation of the Business Process Analysis (BPA) and the exchange of the ASEAN Customs Declaration Document (ACDD). The API team introduced the project to the Philippines Customs Commissioner and the Philippines National Single Window Technical Working Group, leading to the development of a cooperative relationship with the BOC to undergo a BPA exercise. The BPA aimed to identify and develop the technical specifications for the exchange of the ACDD and the implementation of the ACDD management system. The project also conducted research activities in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar (Burma), and the Philippines on the implementation status of the National Single Window (NSW) and Digital Data Governance (DDG). The research activities were conducted by locally hired STAs (national consultants) and were winding down during Q1 FY2021. The final reports from Cambodia and the Philippines were submitted, while Laos and Myanmar (Burma) were expected to submit their drafts in January 2021. The project began expanding its research to all 10 ASEAN Member States (AMS) by recruiting national consultants from the remaining AMS. The API project team conducted knowledge sharing sessions on October 28th and November 6th, 2020, to share challenges and opportunities in conducting research during the COVID-19 pandemic and to better manage national consultants in the future. The project team learned that providing tools, such as research guides, reporting templates, and lists of stakeholders, was helpful for the national researchers. Weekly check-ins between the API team and national researchers were also useful to obtain updates and understand the circumstances the national researchers faced. The project will focus on completing the remaining activities outlined in the semiannual workplan in Q2 FY2021, including working with the Philippines BOC to develop its technical specifications for the ACDD management system and completing research activities on DDG for the remaining six AMS. The API project continued to work closely with the Philippines BOC to explore the implementation of the BPA and the exchange of the ACDD. The project also conducted research activities in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar (Burma), and the Philippines on the implementation status of the NSW and DDG. The research activities were conducted by locally hired STAs (national consultants) and were winding down during Q1 FY2021. The API project team conducted knowledge sharing sessions on October 28th and November 6th, 2020, to share challenges and opportunities in conducting research during the COVID-19 pandemic and