Angola: Strengthening Civil Society Engagement
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The civil society space has been shrinking in Angola, with fewer opportunities to speak out and engage with the government. To help Angolan civil society organizations (CSOs) proactively influence public policy, FSVC, with funding from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), conducted a webinar on CSO engagement in budget policy and advocacy. FSVC presented the legal framework for policymaking and the budget cycle, as well as items in the budget that are of interest to CSOs.
FSVC also invited Mozambican CSOs to this webinar, as they have over a decade a of experience in community organizing and coordination. Their participation and sharing of experiences made Angolan representatives aware of tangible steps they can take to be better coordinated in the future. It also promoted regional civil society dialogue, which is critical to bridging information gaps, achieving better mutual knowledge, and enhancing civil society’s effectiveness and influence.
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FSVC/KAS Webinar: U.S., Germany and Indo-Pacific Cooperation
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From left to right: Ambassador Petra Sigmund, Director General for Asia and the Pacific, German Federal Foreign Office; Harry Harding, Professor of Public Policy, University of Virginia; and John Thornton, Executive Chairman, Barrick Gold Corporation, and Co-Chair, Asia Society.
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On March 4, FSVC and the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) Foundation co-hosted a webinar focused on Germany’s new policy guidelines for the Indo-Pacific, and how they may impact transatlantic relations and serve as a possible basis for cooperation. These new guidelines represent a milestone for Germany as it has long focused its foreign policy on its immediate neighborhood. Ambassador Petra Sigmund, Director General for Asia and the Pacific in the German Federal Foreign Office, presented the guidelines at the webinar. The main responses from a U.S. perspective were provided by John Thornton and Harry Harding, two leading American experts on China and Asia and longstanding partners in FSVC’s work.
A key component of the new strategy is strengthening Germany’s relationships with other promising actors in the region (e.g., ASEAN, Japan, South Korea, Australia). This diversification will help Germany avoid over-dependence on China in economic, political and other terms. To Germany and to Europe, China is not only a partner but also a competitor, and a systemic rival in several areas. This makes the relationship very challenging as Germany must balance all three aspects of the relationship at the same time. Germany will need to place substantial emphasis on setting the right tone when implementing actions based on these new guidelines, ensuring those actions are perceived by China the way Germany would like them understood. This outcome is by no means guaranteed, and achieving it will require careful attention on the German side.
Germany’s new pivot toward Asia may offer more opportunities for collaboration between the U.S. and Germany (and the European Union), as they share similar goals in the region such as balancing the influence of China and strengthening trade relationships with other valued partners in Asia.
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Somalia: Combating Terrorist Financing via Money Transfer Businesses
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A recent report published by the Global Initiative for Transactional Organized Crime alleged that three money transfer businesses (MTBs) in the Somali city of Bosaso had been used to move funds to Yemen in exchange for arms trafficked to Somalia. To raise awareness of private sector responsibilities and requirements in anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT), FSVC and the Central Bank of Somalia conducted a training for MTB managers, tellers and compliance officers in Bosaso.
The training focused on the importance of the independence of compliance officers when reporting suspicious transactions to the Financial Reporting Center. It stressed the confidentiality required by law when reporting and analyzing suspicious transactions. Furthermore, the trainers emphasized that compliance officers cannot be guilty of reporting suspicious transactions in good faith but can be liable for not reporting suspicious transactions. Finally, the trainers provided in-depth information about relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions (UNSCR) and the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) recommendations.
This training helped strengthen the relationship between the Central Bank of Somalia and MTBs by addressing compliance officers’ and tellers’ AML/CFT questions and concerns. It also allayed fears about the confidentiality of the suspicious transaction reporting process. This training was part of a program funded by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Counterterrorism.
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Morocco: Supporting Inclusive Socio-Economic Development
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Beni Mellal-Khenifra region, Morocco
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FSVC has launched an important new program in partnership with FHI 360 and LixCap entitled “Inclusive Socio-Economic Development (ISED)” in the region of Beni Mellal-Khenifra (BMK) in Morocco. The ISED program will help improve governance for increased regional growth and enhance livelihoods and business opportunities in the region of BMK.
Specifically, FSVC’s work will focus on increasing the efficiency, effectiveness and transparency of sub-government institutions, improving access to information, and strengthening the business environment of BMK. FSVC will also focus on improving local businesses’ access to markets, business development skills and finance.
This program is funded by USAID.
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About Us
The Financial Services Volunteer Corps (FSVC) is a not-for-profit organization that helps strengthen financial sectors in developing and emerging market countries. It does so with the ultimate aim of promoting job creation, economic growth and a better quality of life. FSVC structures practical, results-oriented technical assistance and training missions staffed by senior financial sector professionals who serve as unpaid volunteer experts. Over the past 30 years, more than 10,000 volunteer experts from the international financial, legal and regulatory communities have taken part in 3,200 missions, impacting millions of people in 65 countries.
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