The
Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA)
will organize a 3-day Regional Sensitization Workshop for Civil Society
Organizations (CSOs) on Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Financing of
Terrorism (AML/CFT) Requirements for ECOWAS member States in Banjul, The Gambia
from 24 to 26 July, 2017.
The
objectives of the workshop are to educate CSOs to carry out awareness campaigns
to influence an effective implementation of AML/CFT measures; to utilize CSOs’
platform for the dissemination, publication and sharing of GIABA information to
the citizens of West Africa; and to effectively engage the civil society
organisations in the fight against money laundering and terrorist financing.
The
workshop, which is the fifth in a series, is one of the flagship programmes of
GIABA to involve the citizens of West Africa in efforts aimed at fighting money
laundering and terrorist financing.
Particularly,
GIABA recognizes the immense potential of CSOs as advocates of good governance,
anti-corruption and human rights; and as collaborators in the advancement of
AML/CFT regimes in the region.
Therefore,
one of GIABA’s core Strategic Goals since 2011 has been the promotion of
strategic partnerships with the private sector, civil society and other key
stakeholders. Increasing ML/TF awareness among civil society is crucial to
empowering citizens to take appropriate action against ML/TF.
Topics
at the workshop will cover “The Role of Civil Society Organisations in AML/CFT
Advocacy in the Context of GIABA 2016-2020 Strategic Plan”.
The
training will be delivered by GIABA faculty and regional experts with extensive
working experience in the private sector and governmental institutions.
A
variety of teaching methods will be used, involving lectures, presentation of
case studies, group work and sharing sessions.
It
is expected that at the end of the workshop, there will emerge improved
collaboration between GIABA and the civil society organisations on one hand,
and among CSOs, on the other hand.
Expectedly,
there would be increased of awareness of AML/CFT efforts to the grassroots, as
well as increase in the comprehension on the mandate of GIABA and the magnitude
and practical effects of money laundering.
