UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) will hold a technical workshop in Cotonou, Benin, on 8 September 2026 to advance work on the establishment of a Single Customs Transit Guarantee (Garantie Unique de Transit Douanier – GUTD) for regional transit operations.
The workshop is organized under the Global Gateway Support Programme – Cotonou–Niamey (GGSP-COTONI), funded by the European Union and implemented by ENABEL, TradeMark Africa and UNCTAD.
The event builds on technical assistance provided by UNCTAD since 2022 to Benin, Burkina Faso, Niger and Togo and on the Quadrilateral Declaration of Niamey of 25 May 2023, which set out a roadmap for closer cooperation on transit and road transport among the four countries.
Why it matters
Efficient transit is essential for regional trade, particularly for landlocked countries and for economies that depend heavily on regional transport corridors.
While progress has been made in the interconnection of customs systems, transit operators may still be required to complete guarantee-related formalities when crossing borders. This can increase administrative procedures, costs and delays.
A single customs transit guarantee seeks to allow a guarantee issued at the point of departure to remain valid throughout the transit operation, subject to an agreed legal, institutional and operational framework among the countries concerned.
The objective is to contribute to a more efficient and predictable transit system while safeguarding the interests of customs administrations and ensuring that national guarantors have the information and mechanisms required to manage their respective responsibilities.
Focus of the workshop
The workshop will bring together relevant public and private stakeholders to review the work undertaken to date and examine options for the effective implementation of the GUTD.
Discussions will focus on:
the historical development of the single transit guarantee initiative and the roadmap stemming from the Niamey Declaration;
the existing legal and institutional framework for customs transit and guarantees;
the principles and operational requirements of a single guarantee mechanism;
the respective roles and responsibilities of customs administrations and national guarantors;
the arrangements required for cooperation between guarantors in participating countries;
the digitalization of the guarantee mechanism and its interaction with customs transit systems; and
the next steps towards developing the legal, practical and digital arrangements needed for implementation.
Particular attention will be given to the relationship between the guarantee mechanism and the digital management of transit operations. For a regional guarantee chain to function effectively, guarantors need adequate visibility over the operations they cover, while appropriate mechanisms are required for the collection, allocation and management of guarantee payments.
From regional commitments to operational solutions
The workshop forms part of UNCTAD's support for implementing the Niamey roadmap and strengthening the conditions for an effective Single Customs Transit Guarantee in Benin and, progressively, within the broader quadrilateral framework.
The approach emphasizes national ownership, regional cooperation and interoperability of systems. The objective is not only to develop an appropriate legal framework, but also to ensure that the proposed mechanism can function effectively in practice and respond to the needs of customs administrations, guarantors, transport operators and other stakeholders.
The workshop will bring together representatives of the Beninese customs administration, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Benin, institutions involved in transit, transport and trade facilitation, national guarantee and private-sector actors, digital and single-window operators, as well as representatives of UNCTAD, ENABEL and TradeMark Africa.
