Governance models and technological architecture

Governance models

Single Windows are cross-governmental platforms with multiple Participating agencies. The number of the agencies that are integrated vary depending on the regulatory scope of the Single Window.
The governance model chosen for the Single Window varies. They can be established as a government agency (e.g. the Single Window entities in Azerbaijan and Indonesia), a public enterprise (e.g. the Single Window entities in Senegal and Cameroon), or private enterprise (e.g. the Single Window entities in Malaysia and Singapore). The ownership can be private, public or private-public.

The management commonly comprises a regulatory oversight and executive management. The regulatory oversight is commonly ensured by a government committee, in which all participating agencies and the end users are represented. The day-to-day operational management commonly rests with an executive director.
The choice of the governance model is closely linked to the business model and investment needs. Single Window services can be free of charge for the economic operators or fee based, with different fee models available, such as an ad valorem fee (Ghana), document or a transaction specific fee (e.g. Malaysia, Senegal).

The technological architecture

The existing Single Windows are built on different technological architectures, either a centralized, distributed or hybrid architecture.
In a centralized architecture, agencies and stakeholders use Single Window services through the Single Window infrastructure and system. The centralized system with integrated architecture handles all data submission and data processing.
In a distributed architecture the participating agencies access Single Window services through their own IT systems and infrastructure, but ideally still use a common data layer. The Single Window functions as a gateways server and provides the information to the agencies’ operating system via interfaces. It is therefore also called the interfaced model.
Hybrid architecture offer both architectures.

Standards and tools

There are a number of standards and tools that provide the legal, managerial and technical framework of a Single Window for trade. The UNECE recommendations and guidelines have been the first comprehensive reference and they include:

• UNECE Recommendation & Guidelines on Establishing a Single Window (Recommendation No. 33)
• UNECE Recommendation on Data Simplification & Standardization for International Trade (Recommendation No. 34)
• UNECE Recommendation for Establishing a Legal Framework for an International Single Window (Recommendation No. 35)
• UNECE Recommendation on Single Window Interoperability (Recommendation No 36)

UNECE and UNESCAP have produced a number of UNNExT guides for SW implementation, including the

• UNNExT Electronic Single Window Legal Issues: A Capacity-Building Guide
• UNNExT Single Window Project Implementation Guide

The World Customs Organisation (WCO) has developed several tools that support Single Window implementation, namely

• the Compendium on How to build a Single Window Environment,
• the Single Window Data Harmonization Guide, and
• the WCO Data Model