The Inter-governmental Action Group Against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA) has recently equipped and established a modern Computer Based Training (CBT) Centre (e-learning) at the headquarters of the Financial Intelligence Agency of Liberia (FIA) to enhance digital skills and the provision of hands-on training for competent authorities and other AML/CFT stakeholders in Liberia. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), a recognized donor, provided the technical infrastructure and gadgets to GIABA, an ECOWAS specialized body.
To kick-start the e-learning project, GIABA created a 3-day training opportunity for Liberia’s Inter-ministerial AML/CFT Steering Committee member entities to attend and participate in the Computer-Based Training (CBT) from the following institutions: Central Bank of Liberia (CBL), Financial Intelligence Agency of Liberia, Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency of Liberia (LDEA), Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) and the Liberia National Police (LNP).
The introductory training consisted of a series of interactive modules delivered during the period of three days. Participants accessed video tutorials through a user-friendly learning management system. Firstly, with four (4) general courses as introductory modules. Upon completion, each participant was assigned to a specific cohort of courses depending on his/her entity. The CBT program has equipped participants with essential Anti-Money Laundering courses necessary for the modern workforce.
Speaking at the official handover ceremony on Friday, October 4, 2024, in Monrovia, Madam Mairo Ladidi Gbalajobi, Project Coordinator and Programme Assistant at GIABA, disclosed that the ECOWAS specialized AML/CFT body- with support from UNODC, provided modern hands-on training to Liberia’s competent authorities who have acquired specialized knowledge to enhance their respective expertise in combating money laundering and other illicit financial activities.
Madam Gbalajobi disclosed that GIABA with support from UNODC established the Computer Based Training Center at the FIA headquarters to create additional learning opportunities for FIA staff and other AML/CFT stakeholders who need to make maximum utilization of the installed CBT electronic system/e-learning center that has modern equipment, such as, computers, network access point, headphones, and a server.
She urged the participants from different IMC member entities to meaningfully utilize the knowledge they have acquired during the 3-day training exercise for the benefit of their country and the collaborative fight against illicit financial flows in Liberia.
The GIABA staff noted that the e-learning database indicates that Liberia has accumulated the highest number of certificates since GIABA rolled out the CBT training, following a pre-and post-assessment that showed participants in Liberia have significant and improved knowledge in Money laundering (ML).
Madam Mairo Ladidi Gbalajobi pointed out that ‘99.9% of participants completed the introductory courses, and feedback indicated a 90% satisfaction rate. In total, ninety-nine (99) Certificates were earned in three (3) days by the entire participants who attended the GIABA sponsored CBT training.
For his part- during the closing and formal handover program of equipment (gadgets) by GIABA to the FIA, Hon. Amos Y. Boakai, FIA Deputy Director General, lauded GIABA for the establishment of Computer-Based Training (CBT) Center at the Agency and the donation of modern equipment to the Agency for the enhancement of Liberia’s competent authorities and other stakeholders AML/CFT skills, as they discharge their assigned tasks.
The FIA DDG stated that the CBT Center has provided huge AML/CFT training opportunity and impact for Liberia and as such, the FIA that serves as the Central Agency in the country- is pleading with all competent authorities comprising of law enforcement agencies, prosecutorial, regulatory and tax authorities to test the effective functionality of the computer-Based Training system installed by GIABA.
He said Liberia’s accumulation of the highest numbers of certificates in the recent GIABA’s e-learning training held in Monrovia- indicates that the country’s competent authorities are gradually getting fully equipped to robustly protect Liberia’s financial system from launderers, enablers and criminals who are noted for turning dirty money into clean currency.
Boakai added that ‘CBT is an online training that is self-paced and an interactive system that is structured electronically to deliver educational contents for effective way to retain knowledge and it provides refresher training for competent authorities, reporting entities and other interest-holders who are supportive in safeguarding Liberia’s financial system against money laundering and other financial crimes.’
Meanwhile, the participants were trained in few critical introductory modules, which include the following: understanding money laundering, laundering methods, money laundering havens and financial intelligence unit.