Transcript Communication and cooperation: Intra

TRAINING WORKSHOP
ON ENVIRONMENTALLY
REGULATED SUBSTANCES
LECTURE 7: COMMUNICATION
AND COOPERATION:
INTRA- AND INTERNATIONAL
NEED FOR COMMUNICATION AND
COLLABORATION
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Customs and environmental agencies are responsible
for protecting seaports with regards to environmental
risks, yet they often work in isolation
Numerous reasons may exist that impede this
cooperation, for example:
Different agency missions
 Different agency cultures
 Lack of inter-agency interaction process / protocol
 Lack of awareness
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More effective enforcement can be achieved through
communication and cooperation among national
agencies, as well as internationally
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2014: WCO YEAR OF COMMUNICATION
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COMMUNICATION: SHARING INFORMATION
FOR BETTER COOPERATION
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“Communication is a sharing process which fosters
cooperation, and as Customs is at the centre of a
network of relations, developing a sound internal and
external communication strategy promotes transparency,
facilitates dialogue, builds trust and ensures mutual
understanding.”
“In fact, communication is a two-way process by which
information and knowledge are exchanged and shared
between individuals – it is not only about sending a message
or passing on information, it is also about exploring,
discovering, researching and generating knowledge.”
Kunio Mikuriya, WCO Secretary General
Jan. 26, 2014
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VARIOUS PATHWAYS
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Inter-agency communication and cooperation can take
many forms:
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Informal
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Formal
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Verbal agreement
Personal relationships
Collaborative networks
Periodic coordination meetings
Legal mandate to cooperate
Somewhere in-between
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Written, signed, non-legal agreement
 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
 Inter-Agency Agreements (IAA)
 Inter-Ministerial Agreements (IMA)
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DIFFERENT APPROACHES
TO REACH THE SAME END-POINT
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VERBAL AGREEMENTS AND PERSONAL
RELATIONSHIPS
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First and foremost, effective communication and
cooperation is built on trust
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If one party makes the effort to share information, the
receiving party will do something with it, for example,
take enforcement action
AND
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The other party will reciprocate by sharing their
information
These agreements may not be sustainable over time
since they are dependent on individuals
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COLLABORATIVE NETWORKS
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Collaboration can start at the ground-level, with officers
directly contacting their counterparts in other agencies
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Example: Customs and environmental ministry inspectors
Regional networks can facilitate this collaboration
Example: East African Network for Environmental
Compliance and Enforcement (EANECE)
 West African Network for Environmental Compliance and
Enforcement (WANECE) is in initial stage of formation
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Multi-agency committees,
that meet regularly to
discuss enforcement challenges,
can lead to development of
best practices and
collaborative activities
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MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING (MOU)
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MOUs define the relationships among different
agencies, roles of each member organization.
Mission success depends on joint or shared effort.
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Document states policy and assigns official duties,
but is generally not a legally binding instrument
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More formal than a verbal agreement
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Multiple agencies can participate
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Can be more durable than more informal
agreements, as document can apply even after
changes of administration
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THINGS TO THINK ABOUT
Issues, challenges and frustrations you currently face
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Things that could go better in your own agency
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What you expect of the other agency
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What are some ideas for reform that will lead to a
more effective working relationship between
ministries?
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KEY ELEMENTS OF MOUS
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Implementation: how agencies will work together to:
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Planning: how agencies will work together to:
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Share information
Conduct inspections / joint operations
Control import/export (approve shipments, review declarations)
Handle non-compliance (investigation and legal action)
Set priorities
Develop an enforcement plan
Evaluate joint efforts
Evaluate need for capacity building
Plan how to handle dispute resolution
Annexes, attached to MOU framework, to address:
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Individualized needs
Specific topics
Difficult issues
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MULTI-AGENCY IMPLEMENTATION
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Import/Export Controls & Inspections
Labeling/licensing/shipment approvals
 Targeting, pre-screening, intelligence-gathering & data
analysis
 Compliance monitoring using document and physical
inspections & laboratory analysis
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Non-Compliance investigation
Administrative and criminal enforcement
 Case development for prosecutor
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BRIDGING THE GAP: A SUCCESS STORY
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Using INECE’s 5-day “Negotiating Customs and
Environmental Cooperation – Designing an Effective
National Program, El Salvador produced a multi-agency
MOU
 1 day instruction
 4 days structured
facilitated negotiation
7 governmental entities signed document at end of week
 Customs, Environmental ministry, Health, Agriculture,
Army, Navy and Public Health Council
Outlined roles and responsibilities for better control at
seaports
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COMMUNICATION TOOLS
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SECURE COMMUNICATION TOOLS
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CEN website (WCO)
Supports intelligence-based targeting of shipments,
including hazardous materials
 Contains database of seizures, alerts, concealment
and x-ray picture sharing
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CENcomm (WCO): Customs Enforcement
Network
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Secure messaging system to facilitate sharing of
information and intelligence during cross-border
operations
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SECURE COMMUNICATION TOOLS (CONTINUED)
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ContainerComm (WCO and UNODC)
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Facilitates encrypted exchange of sensitive information
relating to suspected high risk containers
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Uses pre-formatted message types:
WARNING, FEEDBACK and SEIZURE
Port of Tema PCU started intercepting illegal imports as early
as during their UNODC/WCO training exercises
Connects Port Control Units (PCUs) and other authorized
users
Ecomessage (Interpol)
Secure, uniform intelligence data reporting system
 Intelligence from one agency is transmitted through
Interpol National Central Bureaus (NCBs) to other
relevant agencies
 Data is stored in Interpol databases and can be crossreferenced to allow better understanding of criminal
activities
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ADDITIONAL COMMUNICATION TOOL
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Basel Convention Competent authorities in countries
of import and export
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Communication relating to:
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Basel Convention Notice and Consent compliance
and
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Potential or detected illegal trade (information transferred to
law enforcement officials)
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EXAMPLE NETWORKS
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Regional
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EANECE: East African Network for Environmental
Compliance and Enforcement (2010)
Informal network of environmental enforcement officials
 Member countries: Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi
 Also open to connecting with academia, private sector, civil
society
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Country specific
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National Toxic Dump Watch Program: Nigeria
Environmental communication platform
 Members include 9 federal agencies
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Specific task or specific agencies
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Task forces: agency or sector specific
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