Enhancing Integrity through Lifestyle Audits

From July 29 to August 2, 2024, the WCO conducted a training workshop on Lifestyle Audits for the Eswatini Revenue Service (ERS), aimed at strengthening the capacity of ERS staff in this critical area. This initiative aligns with the organization's strategy to enhance integrity and combat corruption, building on the prior commitment made in July 2023 to the WCO-supported integrity action plan. This effort is part of the Sida-WCO Trade Facilitation and Customs Modernization Programme, funded by the Government of Sweden.

The five-day training brought together a diverse group of participants from various ERS divisions, including Internal Affairs, Legal, and Tax Audit. Led by experts from the Mauritius and Malawi Revenue Authorities, the mission focused on addressing identified competency gaps, particularly in analytical skills and practical exercises critical to conducting effective lifestyle audits. Participants gained valuable insights into best practices and challenges associated with these audits, which are essential for detecting discrepancies in staff income and asset declarations.

This initiative was vital for embedding an ethical culture within ERS. The staff income and asset declaration program is one of the key strategies the ERS employs to mitigate the risks of fraud, bribery, and corruption. This program requires the annual declaration of income earned, assets acquired, and expenditures incurred. By enhancing the Internal Affairs Division's capacity to identify and address potential fraud and corruption, the training is expected to lead to increased compliance and integrity across all operations. The anticipated outcome is the development of a robust Lifestyle Audit Framework that will not only support ERS's integrity strategy but also encourage voluntary compliance among staff, thereby strengthening overall revenue collection efforts.

As the mission progressed, it marked a significant step toward fostering transparency and accountability within Eswatini's customs and tax administration.

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