Leadership development: The road to successful capacity building

Abstract

This paper elucidates the increasing need to focus customs capacity building on sustainability, to reconsider our present knowledge and practices regarding the sequencing of reform and modernisation efforts, and to shift our emphasis towards a model that offers an ability to adopt, utilise, optimise and further develop the outcomes and results of development projects. Some parameters are central to the development process, particularly strengthening the ability of key individuals to lead, drive, manage, monitor and follow up the efforts to reform and modernise. Leadership is the crown jewel in this respect, since without strong leadership, there will be no development, and without development, no reform, no modernisation and no capacity will be built.