Democracy & Governance

Democratic & Governance, Stability, and Civil Society Strengthening democratic institutions and an informed and participatory civil society, and promoting peaceful conflict resolution. CAMRIS works to promote transparency, accountability, and efficiency among public sector institutions. Services Financial management systems and accountability Regulatory reform Customs administration and reform Taxation Transparent budgeting and implementation E-Government reform Audits and internal control regimes Justice sector reform Decentralization and transparency in local government Procurement reform Civil society development Public administration reform Making Customs Administration Work for Our Clients CAMRIS has extensive experience successfully performing work in the field of customs re organization, operations and modernization. Our experience improving public sector management of customs includes: Customs Administration Modernization Public Sector Revenue Management Land Taxation and Cadastral Systems Managerial and organizational development Human resources administration Procurement and logistics Finance and economics Public administration Information systems and information technology Planning, monitoring, and evaluation Project preparation and project management Training CAMRIS assists host country Customs Departments to increase revenue, facilitate trade and development, and balance the needs for control and for service to the import/export community. We accomplish this by working with our clients to enhance their staff's professionalism, morale, and integrity, and developing excellent management systems for improved performance in customs as well as tax administration. Our consultants excel in customs modernization, systems development, organizational development, and information technology including expertise in training, programming and working with specialized applications such as ASYCUDA++. In recent assignments we provided technical assistance in a wide range of areas, including: policy; revenue enhancement; automation; valuation; risk management; post audit systems; training; duty exemption & drawback controls; bonded warehouse management systems; ASYCUDA++ configuration & deployment; management information systems and information technology (MIS/IT); and monitoring and evaluation. In Bangladesh for the National Board of Revenue and the World Bank, CAMRIS provided technical assistance to support customs organization, operations, and modernization in both management practices and computerization. This large-scale, 4-year program developed anti-corruption interventions through improvements in legislation, regulations, systems, procedures and training. The project included major improvements in computerized systems to reduce opportunities for corruption as well as to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the customs administration process.

In the Solomon Islands, widespread corruption is a major issue impeding public confidence in the government and undermining efforts to strengthen core governmental functions. Under a contract with AusAid, for the Regional Assistance Mission for the Solomon Islands (RAMSI), CAMRIS provides technical assistance for annual performance assessments and related monitoring and assessment tasks for a major $350 million+ program to restore peace and order, revitalize the public sector, and improve economic governance. The project is supporting RAMSI through development and implementation of performance management systems that will enable a high level of transparency and accountability for all aspects of the program. Link to RAMSI Fact Sheet In Bulgaria, funded by the U.S. Trade and Development Agency, CAMRIS applied expertise in tax administration, information technology, and procurement to improve the operational capacity of the revenue collection administration. The project supported the Unified Revenue Agency in modernizing its tax administration system and integrating it with the National Social Security System. Anti-corruption strategies and internal investigation efforts included risk analysis, preparation of anti-corruption plans, design and audit of automated systems, design of audit trails and other control and corruption detection mechanisms, and training in investigation In Guatemala, CAMRIS set up a financial system to enable secure handling of USAID funds, following the discovery of financial mismanagement of funds intended for the Ministry of Health. The project established financial systems that would be reliable and avoid corruption in both international and local procurements for a decentralized purchasing program. The financial system developed conformed to all the requirements of USAID procurements, as well as the requirements of the government of Guatemala. The system enabled USAID to resume major funding activities and facilitated a rapid transition from dependence on USAID contractor staff to responsible local staffing and management. For the Customs, Taxation and Revenue Administration of the Government of Colombia, CAMRIS carried out a reconnaissance study of customs administration including recommendations for improvement.