Markup - Summary of Integrated Risk Management Training Programme

Integrated Risk Management Training Programme

This training programme, developed under the EU-funded Market Access Upgrade Programme (MARKUP II) and tailored to the priorities of the East African Community (EAC) countries, is designed to strengthen border management capacities that safeguard compliance while facilitating trade.

The programme takes participants on a journey through Integrated Risk Management (IRM), from understanding its principles to designing effective systems and applying best practices at the border.

The curriculum is organized into three interconnected courses:

Course 1: Vision - Understanding Risk Management and Strategy
Module 1 – 3

This course introduces the why of Integrated Risk Management (IRM). It builds a common foundation by unpacking the principles, objectives, and value of IRM as a tool to safeguard compliance while facilitating trade. Participants will explore how IRM strengthens regulatory systems, reduces duplication of controls, and supports national and regional policy objectives.

By the end of this course, participants will:

Grasp the fundamentals of IRM and its role in border management.

Understand the strategic importance of aligning risk management with policy goals.

Be prepared to engage in reforms and capacity-building initiatives with a clear vision.

Modules:

M1 Introduction to Integrated Risk Management
M2 Risk Management Fundamentals
M3 Integrated Risk Management as a National Strategy

Course 2: Design - Building Systems and Preparing for Implementation
Module 4 – 6

This course moves from vision to design. It equips participants with practical methods and tools to develop risk-based systems, enforce compliance, and apply profiling and targeting.

By the end of this course, participants will:

Be able to translate principles into operational systems and procedures.

Apply enforcement strategies that are proportionate, efficient, and data-driven.

Use profiling and targeting techniques to strengthen risk-based controls at the border.

Modules:

M4 Risk Management in Regulatory Systems and Border Control
M5 Risk-based enforcement and the Management of Non-Compliance Risk
M6 The Basic of Profiling and Targeting. Identifying Dangerous Non-Compliance at the Border

Course 3: Action - Applying Best Practices in Customs and SPS
Module 7 – 8

This course brings IRM into action, focusing on how it is applied in real operational contexts. It explores best practices in customs and SPS, highlighting how agencies design, coordinate, and refine risk management at the border.

By the end of this course, participants will:

Understand how customs and SPS agencies apply risk management in practice.

Be equipped to implement IRM approaches that balance facilitation and control.

Modules:

M7 Customs Risk Management

Overall outcome

By embarking on this journey, participants will be better equipped to support institutional reforms, apply proportionate risk-based controls, and strengthen inter-agency coordination. In turn, this will not only improve trade efficiency within the EAC but also enhance the region’s ability to access and compete in demanding international markets.

Who will benefit?

This training will benefit a wide community of actors across the East African Community. It is designed for policymakers and national coordinators who shape trade and regulatory strategies, for customs administrations and non-customs border agencies that apply controls at the frontier, and for regulators and standards bodies working to align testing and certification with risk-based approaches. It will also support border posts, ports, and airports in improving inter-agency cooperation.