Kazakhstan-Thailand-United Kingdom introduces innovative approaches for developing and accreditation the Anti-Money Laundering/Combating the Financing of Terrorism practitioners

On March 16-17, 2023, UNODC, in coordination with the Law Enforcement Academy under the General Prosecutor's Office of the Republic of Kazakhstan (Academy) and the Financial Monitoring Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan (Agency), held a training to promote the pilot project of the National Information System for Professional Development and Accreditation of Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing Professionals (Professional Development System).

Some 16 participants of the working group members from the Academy and the Agency, leading international experts and national trainers attended the Professional Development System training. Mr Graham Miller, international expert from the United Kingdom, and Mr Fabrizio Fioroni, the UNODC Regional Advisor on AML/CFT in Thailand, shared their experiences in implementing similar AML/CFT professional development and accreditation systems in their countries.

During the event, UNODC experts proposed updating business processes and introducing a work plan for participants. They discussed how to improve the IT infrastructure of the platform, how to structure the e-library and how to develop mentoring. Participants made recommendations and identified the next steps for implementing the Professional Development System.

Professional Development System

In 2020, a working group was formed in the Republic of Kazakhstan based on the Academy and the Agency, with the support of UNODC, to establish a Professional Development System. In 2021, the IT platform was launched. In September 2022, the Professional Development System was launched in test mode, and the first participants were registered. Currently, 25 practitioners from Financial Intelligence Unit, Financial Investigation Service and Prosecution units are registered in the system.

Establishment purposeof the Professional Development System

The Professional Development System will allow the project beneficiaries (competent authorities) to maintain a high level of training, development and accreditation of Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing (AML/CFT) practitioners at minimum cost.

Objectives of the Professional Development System

  •  developing AML/CFT standards for competent authorities;
  • the adoption of continuing professional development for AML/CFT practitioners;
  • increasing the effectiveness of investigations into money laundering, terrorist financing and predicate offences;
  •  detection and recovery of criminal assets.

The training was organised with expert support from the UNODC Global Programme against Money Laundering, Proceeds of Crime and the financing of Terrorism (GPML) and financial support from the US Department of State's Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL).

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For more information, contact Vasilina Brazhko

Communication and PR Specialist

UNODC  Regional Office for Central Asia

+996775987817 WhatsApp

vasilina.brazhko [at] un.org