In 2021, FSVC launched a program in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to combat money laundering, financial crimes and corruption. FSVC provides technical assistance to the Financial Intelligence Unit (CENAREF) and the newly created Anti-Corruption Agency (APLC) to help them operationalize their efforts and strengthen inter-agency coordination. This program is funded by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL).
FSVC is providing technical assistance to government agencies and private sector institutions to address key weaknesses identified in the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Mutual Evaluation Report. Specific areas of support include strengthening analytic capabilities to more effectively detect and investigate suspicious activity, and to build strong cases for prosecution in instances of money laundering, terrorism financing or corruption. FSVC is also helping to strengthen inter-agency coordination.
Program Impact
· Trained over 500 government officials in AML/CFT and anticorruption best practices.
· Developed 12 methodologies, guidelines, policies and tools to support government institutions’ work to combat money laundering, financial crimes and corruption, including: functional assessments of the CENAREF and APLC; an AML/CFT action plan; an operational procedures manual for the CENAREF, a security manual for the CENAREF, a conflict of interest and confidentiality policy for the APLC, and a whistleblower and witness protection policy for the APLC.
· Trained over 30 private sector representatives in AML/CFT and anticorruption best practices, including from all commercial banks in the DRC.
· Enhanced the investigative and financial audit capabilities of APLC investigators and analysts through targeted trainings on international best practices in how to investigate suspicious financial activity and build a case.
· Built the capacity of CENAREF analysts in AML/CFT international standards, operational best practices and data security through targeted trainings for staff on key principles in these areas.
· Facilitated high-level roundtables with GDRC institutions, in Kinshasa and other cities, to facilitate inter-agency coordination on AML/CFT and anticorruption initiatives.
· Facilitated information sharing and coordination with both domestic counterparts and foreign Financial Intelligence Units by providing Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) templates to the CENAREF.