Analysis of the implementation of one stop border post strategy in Facilitating Trade in East Africa:

Abstract

This study sought to analyse the implementation of One stop border post strategy in facilitating trade at Namanga border Tanzania. Specifically, this study sought to determine the extent of implementation of One stop border post strategy in facilitating trade, to examine the factors leading to the success of the implementation of One stop border post strategy in facilitating trade, and to investigate the challenges facing the implementation of One stop border post strategy in facilitating trade at Namanga border. The researcher used a descriptive research design. This study employed quantitative approach in the collection of relevant information. The researcher targeted employees from all departments of Namanga Border office and purposive sampling method was used to select 167 respondents from the total of 250 from various stake holder offices operating at Namanga border. Primary was collected by using a questionnaire and observation while documentary review was used to secondary data. The researcher analyzed data collected from questionnaires using both descriptive and inferential statistics with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Sciences. This study found that to the large the extent of implementation of One stop border post strategy in facilitating trade at Namanga border is satisfactory regardless of the existing challenges. The study findings showed that sufficient technological infrastructure, creative and innovative employees and good governance influences the implementation of One stop border post strategy. Also, findings depicted that that inadequate involvement of crucial stakeholders and inadequate resources hinders the implementation sufficient technological infrastructure hinders the implementation of One stop border post strategy. Although the current process of implementing the One stop border post strategy at the Namanga border appears to be effective, since some of the anticipated advantages of the strategy have begun to be seen, the research suggests a mid-stream review of the plan. This will establish whether the problems revealed in this study are still present. The study also recommends that further studies should be done on the excellence and challenges of One stop border post strategy in facilitating trade.