09 February, 2026
GRA Officials Complete UNCTAD Course to Boost National Trade Facilitation Reforms
Two officials from the Gambia Revenue Authority (GRA) Customs Trade Facilitation Unit, together with members of the National Trade Facilitation Secretariat under the Ministry of Trade, recently participated in an Effective Communication Course for National Trade Facilitation Committees (NTFCs) organized by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). The course was held from 4th to 6th February 2026 in Johannesburg, South Africa.
This in-person training followed a series of online courses and capacity-building sessions on the use and management of the Reform Tracker for NTFCs, previously conducted by UNCTAD. Since joining the platform in April 2025, The Gambia has remained one of the most active users of the Reform Tracker, with a current TFA implementation score of 59.57%. To ensure transparency and predictability, The Gambia continues to engage in weekly coordination meetings with UNCTAD.
The objective of the course was to strengthen the capacity of NTFC members responsible for communication by enabling them to, Enhance public speaking and presentation skills , Monitor the implementation plan using the Reform Tracker; and Design and implement change-management activities to address resistance to trade facilitation reforms.
During the programmed, The Gambia delivered presentations on, The achievements (2023 to 2025) and plans of the NTFC for 2026 and 2027 and anticipated challenges; and The NTFC communication strategy and implementation plan for 2026.
The Gambia is among the first and few countries benefiting from the UNCTAD Reform Tracker, following a formal request by the Government of The Gambia. The platform supports national-level coordination of trade facilitation reforms under the NTFC, including the implementation of outstanding Category B and C measures of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA).
The successful completion of this course, combined with the active use of the Reform Tracker, reinforces The Gambia’s commitment to transparency, predictability, and fair participation in the global trading system, while also strengthening confidence among international partners and investors.
On behalf of the Chairman of the National Trade Facilitation Committee, we extend our sincere appreciation to the Commissioner General and the entire Management of the Gambia Revenue Authority for their continued efforts in implementing trade facilitation measures in line with the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement.