From 2 to 5 December, representatives of the State Customs Service of Ukraine (SCS) participated in a specialised online training course delivered with support of the EU4IBM-Resilience project. The four-day programme focused on combating fraud and managing risks related to information systems and technology. Designed specifically for the Internal Audit Department and the Corruption Prevention and Detection Department, the training aimed to build practical skills essential for modern customs operations.
The training sessions addressed the specific challenges that were identified through the SCS internal needs assessment, with a particular focus on fraud prevention. As fraudulent schemes become more complex, the ability to identify vulnerabilities and apply risk assessment tools has become essential. Participants gained practical knowledge to proactively identify and address potential fraud and ensure the integrity of customs processes.
Managing the risks associated with digital operations was another critical component of the programme. As customs operations become increasingly reliant on technology, understanding and mitigating IT-related threats, such as cyber-attacks and data breaches, is essential. The training provided practical insights into assessing these risks and implementing effective safeguards.
The programme also covered internal audit techniques and anti-corruption strategies. Participants explored ways to create targeted audit plans, use analytical tools to monitor compliance and address unethical practices. These sessions reinforced the importance of maintaining high ethical standards in public service.
“At the previous phase of our project, we supported the State Customs Service in some key activities related to internal auditing and corruption prevention and started developing a full-scale capacity building programme for relevant departments. The full-scale war interrupted this work. Now we are picking up to possibly expand this work again”, commented Vyacheslav Toporov, EU4IBM-Resilience Project Manager.
By providing this course, the EU4IBM-Resilience project reaffirms its commitment to supporting Ukraine in aligning its border management practices with the EU standards and norms. The project undertakes a wide range of soft activities aimed at improving processes and procedures, human resources management, corruption prevention, strategic planning and legal approximation on the way to Ukraine’s EU membership.