WCO Combatting Illegal Wildlife Trade in Southern and East Africa(IWT) 2021-2023 WCO Combatting Illegal Wildlife Trade in Southern and East Africa(IWT) 2021-2023 The World Customs Organisation (WCO) has applied to Sida for funding of SEK5m to carry out the "Environment Programme, Combatting Illegal Wildlife Trade in Southern and East Africa" in six countries in southern and east Africa, Botswana, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa during two years, 2021-2023.

The overall objective of the project is to "strengthen the enforcement capacities of selected Customs administrations in sub-Saharan Africa to conduct more effective Illegal Wildlife Trade enforcement operations as a starting point for criminal investigations". This will lead to comprehensive prosecution cases, significantly increasing the chances of conviction and appropriate sentencing of the defendants and their criminal organizations. The Project will target in particular Customs administrations as the key agency responsible for enforcing the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and preventing illicit transboundary movements of wildlife. 

Sida's support to the budget of EUR490 094 amounts to a maximum SEK5m, and the WCO will contribute the services of the Programme Officer, Illegal Wildlife Trade, Environment Programme, as well as overall supervision and strategic direction by the head of the Environment Programme. Världstullorganisationen (WCO) har ansökt Sida om finansiering om 5 mkr för att genomföra "Environment Programme: Combatting Illegal Wildlife Trade in Southern and East Africa" i sex länder i södra och östra Afrika, Botswana, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe och Sydafrika under två år, 2021-2023.

Det övergripande målet för projektet är att "stärka efterlevnadskapaciteten hos utvalda tullförvaltningar i Afrika söder om Sahara för att genomföra effektivare brottsutredningar av olaglig handel med vilda djur och växter". Detta kommer att leda till omfattande åtal, vilket avsevärt ökar chanserna för fällande domar och lämplig straffsats för de åtalade och deras kriminella organisationer. Projektet kommer särskilt att rikta sig till tullförvaltningarna som den viktigaste myndighet som ansvarar för att genomföra konventionen om internationell handel med utrotningshotade arter (CITES) och förhindra olagliga gränsöverskridande förflyttning av vilda djur.

Sidas stöd uppgår till max 5 miljoner kronor av en budget på EUR490 094 och WCO kommer att bidra med personal, främst Programme Officer, Illegal Wildlife Trade, Environment Programme,  samt övergripande tillsyn och strategisk ledning av chefen för miljöprogrammet. The World Customs Organization (WCO) has applied to Sida for funding of SEK5m to carry out the "Environment Programme, Combatting Illegal Wildlife Trade in Southern and East Africa" in six countries in southern and east Africa, Botswana, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa during two years, 2021-2023.

The overall objective of the project is to "strengthen the enforcement capacities of selected Customs administrations in sub-Saharan Africa to conduct more effective Illegal Wildlife Trade enforcement operations as a starting point for criminal investigations". This will lead to comprehensive prosecution cases, significantly increasing the chances of conviction and appropriate sentencing of the defendants and their criminal organizations. The Project will target in particular Customs administrations as the key agency responsible for enforcing the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and preventing illicit transboundary movements of wildlife. 

Sida's support to the budget of EUR490 094 amounts to a maximum SEK5m, and the WCO will contribute the services of the Programme Officer, Illegal Wildlife Trade, Environment Programme, as well as overall supervision and strategic direction by the head of the Environment Programme.