The Strategic Trade Control Enforcement (STCE) Programme delivered its first virtual French language training from 31 January to 3 February 2022, involving four Countries in North and West Africa, nominally Algeria, Burkina Faso, Mauritania and Senegal.

In preparation for the event, the STCE Programme translated its curriculum for online delivery in French in order to be able to properly engage the audience. The eighteen participants were guided through the Definition and Importance of strategic goods and their Components together with an explanation of the different kinds of strategic goods and their characteristics. They were also introduced to the Strategic Trade Atlas and its valuable data for Customs Authorities, in particular in the design of their Risk Management system.

The STCE team involved three French speaking pre-accredited Expert Trainers in this event, from the administrations of Canada, Algeria and Burkina Faso, who attended the Train the Trainer event in March 2020 and had not had the opportunity to test their STCE knowledge and training skills in a national training yet due to the disruptions caused by the pandemic. They could also present to the audience their different national STC systems and answer their questions. In addition, a representative of the UN1540 Committee was invited by the WCO to introduce the attendees to the United National Security Council Resolution 1540, the main international legal framework governing strategic goods.

The WCO plans to follow-up with an in-person training for Francophone Customs Administrations in the second quarter of 2022, hoping that travel will be possible for all participants involved.