International Development Grant
Improving Border Management to Reduce Trade Costs in East Africa
Project Number: CA-3-A035577001
Status: Closed
Country/Region: Unknown
Regional Focus:
Maximum Contribution: $12,000,000.00
Start Date: December 23, 2013
End Date: September 30, 2019
Duration: 5.8 years
Project Description
This project aims to contribute to sustainable economic growth by reducing trade costs in East Africa. The project seeks to reduce trade costs by speeding up and modernizing border and customs management systems within the East African Community (EAC). The project provides expertise training and funding to help the EAC member states and the EAC Secretariat speed up integrate streamline and improve the gender sensitivity of their border management systems. The project also works to streamline customs clearance and revenue-sharing procedures within and between countries. Some project activities include: (1) equipping and setting up 14 one-stop border posts (whereby traders only need to stop at one border stop that is jointly managed by both border countries using a single set of shared procedures) to help streamline joint customs clearance procedures; (2) using information technology and web-based procedures to fight corruption by reducing interaction between border officials and traders and by ensuring transparency in how customs duties are determined; and (3) supporting the EAC Customs Directorate to negotiate and establish a legal framework to share customs revenue regionally allowing customs revenue to be collected at the first port of entry and transferred to the ultimate destination country.
Expected Results
The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) integrated border management processes used at selected border posts in tandem with targeted gender activities; and (2) one-stop border policy and procedures agreed.
Progress & Results Achieved
Results achieved up to the end of the project (December 2019) include: (1) an average reduction of 70% in border crossing times at select EAC borders; (2) an 80% reduction in documentary requirements for the release of exports/imports; (3) a reduction in turnaround times from 21 days to 4 days along the Northern Corridor (Mombasa to Kigali) and 25 days to 5 days along the Central Corridor (Dar es Salaam to Bujumbura); (4) a reduction in cargo clearance times from 2 days to 8 hours for fuel and 3 days to 12 hours for other products; (5) a 47% increase in traffic volume thus increasing government revenues at select borders; and (6) inter-state cooperation was strengthened between multiple government agencies and private sector players operating at the 14 border posts. Gender equality oriented results include: (1) institutionalization of structured dialogue between women traders and border officials through the Joint Border Committees (JBCs); (2) launch of cross-border charters which define the rights and responsibilities of all traders and border officials and provide accountability mechanisms towards improving the trading environment especially for women; and (3) provision of space for information centers and warehouses which meet the specific needs of women traders.
Key Information
Executing Agency:
TradeMark East Africa
Reporting Organization:
Global Affairs Canada
Program:
WGM Africa
Last Modified:
September 19, 2025
Development Classifications
DAC Sector:
Aid Type: Project-type interventions
Collaboration: Bilateral
Finance Type: Aid grant excluding debt reorganisation
Selection Mechanism:
Pre-APP