Alex Proposal
Alex Proposal
Service University
Institute of Tax and Customs Administration
Department of Customs Administration
By
Alemayehu Anticho
ID. No. CAMR -0005-04
A Thesis Proposal Submitted to the Tax and Custom Administration Masters Program, Ethiopian
Civil Service University, in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Award of a Masters
Degree in Customs Administration.
Advisor:
Dr. A.S. Kanwar (Lecturer)
February, 2013
Addis Ababa,
Ethiopia
1.0 Introduction
A common characteristic of Customs work is the high volume of transactions and the
impossibility of checking all of them. Customs administrations therefore face the
challenge of facilitating the movement of legitimate passengers and cargo while applying
controls to detect Customs fraud and other offences. Customs administrations find
themselves increasingly under pressure from national governments and international
organizations to facilitate the clearance of legitimate passengers and cargo while also
responding to increase in transnational crime and terrorism. These competing interests
mean that it is necessary to find a balance between facilitation and control.
Customs controls should ensure that the movement of vessels, vehicles, aircraft, goods
and persons across international borders occurs within the framework of laws, regulations
and procedures that comprise the Customs clearance process. Given the high number of
export, import and transit transactions many Customs administrations use risk analysis to
determine which persons, goods, and means of transport should be examined and to what
extent (WCO Revised Kyoto Convention, Standard 6.4.). That is why Ethiopian
Revenues and Customs Authority has been engaged in implementing risk management
system. But it has been encountered with many challenges.
Customs administrations throughout the world have the great responsibilities in achieving
national objectives which promote economic development and wellbeing of the society
such as collecting government revenue from international trade protecting and ensuring
security of the community and facilitating legitimate trade are among the objective (Wulf
and Sokol, 2005, p, 5).
In order to improve its service delivery and administration, Ethiopian Revenue and
Customs Authority (ERCA) established under establishment proclamation no 587/2008.
After this establishment, many reform programs have been under taken .Among those
programs modernizing application of risk management system is one of them.
Before implementations of a reform program called business process reengineering
(BPR) on 2008, custom risk management was being applied manually and has no legal
ground for its effective implementation. But after the reform implementation and creation
of autonomous body called ERCA, risk management could get support by the new
customs proclamation no 622/2009 article 4(1) as customs procedures shall be applied to
effect customs control in a manner assuring transparency and accountability based on
appropriate information and the principles of risk management and thereby create
conducive condition for trade facilitation.
To achieve its objective of proper control and facilitation, ERCA has introduced risk
management strategic policy as per the proclamation and it has been implemented by
different branches of ERCA particularly Addis Ababa Airport Customs Branch office.
The proper application of risk management system requires continues effort and top
management commitment. It requires the sharing of information and intelligence through
creating and encouraging partnership with concerned government agencies and business
community. It needs overall capacity building programs for the staff of the organization
at different levels. It is not the only issue of moving from traditional environment to an
automated system but it is also an issue of effective leadership, effective communication
and the willingness to at every level of the organization (OECD, 2OO4).
Most of developing countries still inspect the flow of goods physically during their
customs clearance process. Risk based inspection prior to the release of merchandise
would minimize the burden of the process. These countries are characterized by
inefficient and ineffective inspection of goods that affects customs objective of trade
facilitation (Geourjon and Laporte, 2004).
As one of developing countries Ethiopia is not free from the challenges that any
developing countries face. By understanding the above challenges and essence of risk
management government has undertaken reform programs since2008/09. But as air port
customs branch office as one of branches of ERCA still unable to provide effective and
efficient risk management system so as to reconcile the balance between facilitation and
control; and to deliver effective and efficient service for customers due to certain
challenges like insufficient supporting infrastructure; ineffective coordination; capacity
problems; non compliance behavior and so on (ERCA’s report, 2012).
With respect to the above stated problems, this study will be aimed at finding out the
challenges of customs risk management system in ERCA (the case of Addis Ababa Bole
Airport customs branch office) and to recommend better ways and means for further
improvement.
What are the challenges that the authority in general and the airport customs
branch office in particular facing in execution of risk management system?
How the risk management process and compliance measurement are applied on
customs procedures of Addis Ababa air port customs branch office?
How is the supporting infrastructure for the proper application of risk
management?
How are risk based compliance management, collection of data and information
for effective risk management, and the level of facilitation and control?
The risk management process constitutes the basic processes such as the establishment of
the risk management context, risk identification, risk analysis, risk assessment,
addressing the risks and monitoring and reviewing the process through compliance
measurement (WCO, 2003) and (OECD, 2004).
(a) Establish the context: It is the strategic and organizational context in which risk
management will take place. In establishing the context the risk areas have to be
identified and criteria against which risk will be assessed, established and the structure of
the analysis defined. Customs risk management can be strategic, operational or tactical.
(b) Identify risks: Under this process the definition of risk takes place. For example,
‘strategic’ risks to the goals and objectives of the organization. This step needs detail
description of the current control process, to include: identifying
participants/clients/stakeholders; strengths and weaknesses; where, when, how is the risk
likely to be incurred and by whom; what are the threats and their impact in case of
circumvention; why do opportunities arise for circumvention.
(c) Analyses risks: This step helps to analyze how likely the risk event to happen
(probability and frequency) is. It also used to analyze the impact, cost or consequences of
that event occurring. Customs should apply compliance measurement to support this
function. If the estimated levels are low, then risks may fall into an acceptable category
and action may not be needed.
(d) Assess and priorities risks: Compare estimated levels of risk against the pre-
established criteria. Rank the risks to identify management priorities. There are different
types of ranking systems. The assessment into HIGH, MEDIUM, and LOW is
widespread.
(e) Address risks: Accept and monitor low-priority risks. For other risks, develop and
implement a specific management plan which includes consideration of resources
(human, financial and technical).
(f) Monitor and review Compliance measurement: In identifying, prioritizing and
treating risks, organizations make decisions based on circumstances that are subject to
change. Risk management policies and decisions must be regularly reviewed. To remain
effective any system of risk management has to test the assessment of previously
identified risks and be flexible enough to reflect newly identified risks.
(g) Documentation/Recording: There should be a risk register which gives the rationale
behind selecting the risks, and records the assumptions on which assessments have been
made, to establish an audit trail that ensures important information is not lost.
Modern risk-based compliance management builds on several key foundations. These can
be broadly grouped into four main categories – a country’s legislative framework, and the
administrative, risk management and technological frameworks adopted by Customs
administrations. Collectively these four categories represent the key determinants of the
manner in which cross-border flows may be expedited and the way Customs control may
be exercised over such flows (Wulf and Sokol, 2005) and (OECD,2004).
Deloitte and Touche (2003) have indicated that broad level of accountability and
stakeholder involvement along with transparent communication are considered as integral
parts of modern risk management programs.
According to Harrison (2007), “risk management has always been at the
core of customs administration and is a fundamental discipline enshrined
within the WCO’s revised Kyoto convention on the simplification and
Harmonization of customs procedures. It has proven to be the most effective
means of managing the huge volumes of cargo that enter the country
everyday of the week because it allows an administration to concentrate
resources on areas of high-risk while allowing low-risk cargo to flow
unimpeded into the commerce of the country. In short, risk management
coupled good intelligence and effective data analysis allows the profiling and
targeting of cargo prior to arrival at a port so that low- risk cargo can be
released immediately and high-risk cargo can be diverted for physical
examination.”
Fraser and Simkins (2007) have proposed that risk management comprises a set of basic
activities, such as initial identification and assessment of risks followed by prioritization
and coordinated allocation of resources. According to them, the objective is to minimize
the probability and/or impact of undesired events and seize auspicious opportunities.
Stomski M. (2007) have explained the fulfillment of the determinant factors such as:
political will, historical records; benchmarks; adequate IT systems; cooperation with
trade; goals and training and awareness for effective execution of risk based approach in
compliance management.
3.0 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.1. Introduction
The research methodology is used to determine the quality of data. It is away to
systematically solve the research problem; and it also incorporates the research methods
and the logic behind the methods used in the context of a given research study (Kothari,
2004). Under this section, the researcher will use relevant research design and approach
to pass through research procedures for data collection and analysis that help to find out
the main challenges and problems of risk management system in ERCA (the case of
Addis Ababa Airport customs branch office) and to suggest possible solutions. In this
regard, this section provides an explanation of research approach, research methods,
research techniques, sampling design, sources of data, methods of data analysis and
interpretation, data presentation and limitations.
The researcher will use both the qualitative and quantitative research approaches. This
study will be based on descriptive analysis and the methodology will be combined
qualitative types of data for those qualitative data collected via interview, over all
researcher’s observation, and quantitative method for those quantitative data via
questionnaire and secondary data.
Relevant data and information for the research will be collected through the use of
instruments such as questionnaire, interview, and observation. These survey techniques
are use for obtaining information related with opinion and attitudes of participants.
The target population or universe of the study constitutes two target sets of units from
which the sample unit will be selected. The first set of sampling unit extended from
clearing agents who are actively functioning in Addis Ababa Airport customs branch
office about 100 and the second set of sampling unit extend from employees who are
purposively selected in the branch’ cargo section about 83 in number.
The sample frame that will be used for the research is the clearing agents of the branch
and employees of the branch. In this regard, the researcher will collect data from both the
clearing agents and employees. This is because the researcher is supposed to describe the
challenges risk management in the branch. This will help to make the data collected more
reliable and accurate.
Sampling unit will include the branch’s clearing gents that are going to be selected and
the branch’s staff that is going to be selected.
The other element of sample design is determination of sample size, given the limitation
of availability of time and other resources sample size will be determined. Therefore, the
sample size is based on calculation formula in the case of finite population (Kothari,
2004) as shown below.
2
Z . p.q. N
2 2
n = e (N −1)+Z . p . q
N=population n = sample size e=sampling error (5%) z=confidence level (95%)
P= the proportion of defective q=1-p
To calculate the sample size by using the above formula:
The total population of the branch in the cargo section is 385
The population under purposively selected teams is 83
The sample size will be calculated from the 83 staff.
2
(1. 96 ) (0 . 05 )(1−0 . 05)(83 )
2 2
n = (0 .05 ) (83−1)+(1. 96 ) (0 . 05)(1−0 .05 )
Sample size = 39
Based on the above sample size the researcher will use the method of proportional
allocation under which the sizes of samples from the different strata are kept proportional
as shown below.
Import goods team = 39(62/83) =29
Intelligence team =39(6/83) = 3
Post clearance audit team =39(15/83) =7
Since the number of staff at central risk management unit and at branch (11 and 3
respectively) is manageable and very convenient for the study purpose, the researcher
will use a complete census of the whole population. And also six relevant officials those
who have expertise knowledge with issue in the authority will be interviewed.
3.5.6. Sample
Since the time will be allowed to collect data is very short and the budget is going to be
allowed is very small and the distance to reach each clearing agent is difficult; it will not
possible to collect data from the whole population of the study. Therefore, a sample will
be drawn from Addis Ababa Airport customs branch office’ staff and agents.
Being the main base for the study, primary data will be collected via field work survey in
order to get information on the main challenges of risk management system in the branch
office trough questionnaire, interview and observation of the researcher. The structured
questionnaire consists of both open-ended and close- ended questions to collect
quantitative and qualitative data from the respondents.
After collecting all the necessary data; data will be edited, coded, tabulated and the
process of analysis begins. The data will be analyzed according to parts presented in
questionnaire classification. Both qualitative as well as quantitative data will be collected
and analyzed to full fill the objective of the study .Qualitative data will be analyzed,
described and interpreted through conceptualization and explanations. In the case of
quantitative data, the analysis will use descriptive statistical tools (tables, percentages, bar
chart, line chart and pie chart).
3.7. Limitations
Due to lack of published materials with related subject in the ECSU library as well as
ERCA’s library the research will be limited to review the documents that are on the
websites. This may limit the reliability and validity of the study. During data collection
some respondents may also not be willing to respond to questions.
3.9. Conclusion
In Addis Ababa Bole Airport customs branch office there are the challenges of risk
management system. To tackle this challenge it is vital to conduct a research on
challenges of risk management system. In this case this study will be undertaken. The
research is going to be designed using descriptive research design, probability and non
probability sampling technique, primary and secondary data sources. To collect primary
data questionnaires, interview and observation tools are going to be employed. To collect
secondary data proclamation, journals, internet and other related published and
unpublished documents and reports are used. The data will be presented, analyzed, and
interpreted in frequencies and percentages by using tables, figures, charts, and graphs.
Annex I
collection of data
4 Submission of chapter one, two and three
5 Submission of chapter four data analysis
6 Submission of chapter five conclusions and
recommendations
7 Submission of 1st draft
8 Submission of final draft to department
9 Defense
10 Submission of approved thesis
Annex II
No. Description of activities and materials to be needed and Measurement Quantity Unit price Total cost
consumed in the research process
1 Proposal Preparation
Printing of materials from internet Number of pages 450 1 450
Proposal writing » 20 3 60
Printing the 1st draft of proposal » 20 1 20
Editing and printing of proposal » 20 0.75 15
Photocopy of proposal, questionnaires, » 210 0.50 105
interview(2x20+150+20)
2 Data Collection
Mobile card/telephone Birr 3 100 300
Interview accommodation cost » 120 7 840
Researcher per diem and travel cost Day 20 220 4,400
Purposive meeting with some relevant people » 4 150 600
Researcher’s representatives » 6 250 1,350
Stationary materials (flash-disc, pen, paper etc.) Birr - - 700
Miscellaneous cost » - - 200
3 Thesis Preparation
Writing and printing of final thesis Number of pages 70 4 280
Photocopy of final thesis (5x70) » 1 350 350
Biding corrected copy of thesis » 5 8 40
Preparation of power point » 45 2 90
Photocopy of PPT » 45 0.50 22.50
Total cost 9,822.50
Contingency cost (3% of total cost) 294,70
Grand total 10,117.20
References
Books:
De Wulf, L. and Sokol, J.B. (2005). Customs Modernization Handbook: Managing Risk
in Customs Context the World Bank, Washington D.C.
Kothari, C.R. (2004). Research Methodology: Methods and Techniques. 2nd. ed. New Age
International, India.
Documents:
Ethiopian Revenues and Customs Authority. (2010). Risk Management Strategic Policy:
Addis Ababa.
Electronic Sources:
Baker, S.W. (2002). Customs Risk Management Program Responds to Security Needs.
Braga, S. et al., (2001). U.S. Customs Trade compliance and Risk Management Process:
a Model for Brazilian Customs Modernization. Washington D.C.
Geouurjon, A. and Laporte, B. (2004). Risk Management for Targeting Customs Control
in Developing Countries: A Risk Venture for Revenue.
Grainger, A. (2007). Customs and Trade Facilitation: From Concepts to Implementation.
WCO.
World Bank, (2006). Reforming the Regular Procedure for Import and Export: Guideline
for Practitioners. Washington. D.C.