NCTTCA E-NEWSLETTER
Issue No 1, December 2007


The Regional Cargo Tracking System (RCTS) along the Northern and Central Corridors

The third Technical Committee meeting on the establishment of the Regional Cargo Tracking System (RCTS), sponsored by the UNECA Kigali Sub Regional Office, was held at the Nairobi Hilton Hotel on the 22nd and 23rd of June 2006. In attendance were representatives from various countries of the sub-region.

The purpose of the Technical Committee meeting was to receive outputs of the pilot phase from the consultants and to define the way forward for the implementation phase of the RCTS project.

Resolutions of the Technical Committee on RCTS
The Committee observed that the pilot project was successful and has proven that the concept works. In this regard, the Comittee has resolved to map the way forward for its implementation. The financial proposal for the full implementation will be reviewed and the actual up-to date costs for the implementation considered.

With regards to data donation and formats, the Committee resolved that:
  • The ongoing data donation by the stakeholders to the NCTTCA should continue flowing.
  • Minimum data required for tracking and the formats should be agreed upon and the stakeholders to provide this data in the agreed formats.
  • Training of project teams involved in the data entry should be completed.
  • The Central Corridor Facilitation Authority should provide useful data for tracking on that corridor and also enhance their participation.
  • The system should be implemented using direct and automatic data interfaces to stakeholder systems and other data-sharing initiatives like RADDEx being undertaken by the Revenue Authorities in the region.

The Committee further resolved that full mandate should be given to the designated focal points within the stakeholders to facilitate the implementation of the system.

The Committee also passed a resolution to include the COMESA, EAC and the Central Corridor Management Authority as part of the steering committee for the RCTS project and that the system should be marketed at regional forums such as the EAC Commissioner Generals' meetings and COMESA Forums.

A work plan with timelines will be suggested and adopted for the implementation phase of 2 years as suggested by the consultants. The strategy for raising funds for the development, implementation and eventual operation of the system will also be identified.

In addition, a Project Document has been prepared to be used for seeking funding from the UN-ECA and other potential donors for the implementation of the RCTS along the Northern Corridor.