Enhancing Namibia's Defence Against Illicit Financial Flows: Strengthening Counter Proliferation Financing Efforts

<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #888888;"><em>Some of the participants from the Namibian Police (NAMPOL), the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC), the Namibia Revenue Agency (NAMRA), the Office of the President, the Office of the Prosecutor General (OPG), and the Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety, and Security.</em></span></div>

Some of the participants from the Namibian Police (NAMPOL), the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC), the Namibia Revenue Agency (NAMRA), the Office of the President, the Office of the Prosecutor General (OPG), and the Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety, and Security.

Windhoek, Namibia, 06 May 2024 – Strengthening Counter-Proliferation Financing Capabilities in Namibia under UNODC GPML

In partnership with the Government of Namibia, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), under its Global Programme Against Money Laundering, Proceeds of Crime, and the Financing of Terrorism (GPML), conducted a four-day in-person training workshop aimed at strengthening the capacity of Namibian authorities in combating proliferation financing.[1] The event took place in Windhoek, Namibia, from May 6th to 10th, 2024, and brought together 27 representatives from key institutions, including the Namibian Police (NAMPOL), the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC), the Namibia Revenue Agency (NAMRA), the Office of the President, the Office of the Prosecutor General (OPG), and the Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety, and Security.

In accordance with its obligations under various United Nations Conventions, and mandatory Chapter VII United Nations Security Council Resolutions (UNSCRs), Namibia, alongside other UN Member States, is legally obligated to actively and effectively prevent and combat Money Laundering, Terrorism Financing, and Proliferation Financing. These obligations are encapsulated in the Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) 40 Recommendations, which aim to safeguard the integrity and stability of the international financial system and contribute to overall international security and stability.

In February 2024, Namibia was grey-listed by FATF (‘Jurisdiction under increased monitoring’). The FATF Grey-listing has several implications for Namibia, including potential negative impacts on foreign direct investment, trade, and financial transactions.

Against this background, the recent workshop aimed at strengthening the capacity of Namibian authorities in combating proliferation financing is part of a series of capacity-building events designed to address identified shortcomings and deficiencies in Namibia’s AML/CFT/CPF framework. The outcomes of this workshop are expected to enhance Namibia's efforts in detecting, investigating, and disrupting proliferation financing, as well as aid in formulating and implementing effective strategies - contributing to national, regional, and international peace, security, and stability.

The workshop forms part of the broader UNODC GPML training programme on countering proliferation financing and aims to provide participants with essential knowledge and tools to detect, investigate, and disrupt such activities.

The training featured comprehensive sessions on the nuances of proliferation financing, utilizing real-world case studies to highlight practical challenges and solutions. Participants engaged in scenario-based exercises to develop practical skills, enhancing their ability to identify and investigate CPF activities. They also deepened their understanding of relevant UNSCRs and FATF standards, improving their implementation of international obligations. The intensive training emphasized the importance of inter-agency and international cooperation, offering practical guidance on information sharing and collaborative efforts. It also highlighted various disruption strategies and risk management techniques to effectively counter proliferation financing networks.

Participants gained valuable insights into the role of financial institutions in CPF and the impact of virtual assets, preparing them for future challenges in this evolving field. One participant noted, “The topics were very educational. I gained a great understanding of the context.” Another emphasized that the training was an excellent way to expose law enforcement officials to proliferation financing, and that the knowledge and skills shared “will really assist in [our] line of duty.”

United Nations

UNODC Regional Office for Southern Africa

Enhancing Namibia's Defence Against Illicit Financial Flows: Strengthening Counter Proliferation Financing Efforts

Further Reading