Solomon Islands Strengthens Anti-Corruption Efforts with Cook Islands through Financial Intelligence Unit Partnership
A two-week knowledge exchange program has taken place between the Solomon Islands and Cook Islands, aimed at strengthening their anti-corruption efforts and partnerships at national and regional levels.
Program Overview
The program was organized by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in partnership with the governments of Solomon Islands, Japan, and the UK. The goal was to enhance the institutional capabilities of the two countries’ Financial Intelligence Units (FIUs), focusing on combating corruption and money laundering.
Peer-to-Peer Exchange Program
The program saw three analysts from the Solomon Islands FIU (SIFIU) attached to the Cook Islands FIU (CIFIU) for a week-long peer-pear exchange program. The participants gained valuable insights into each other’s financial analysis and supervision practices, sharing knowledge and expertise on combating corruption and money laundering.
Training Provided by APG
The program also included training provided by the Asia-Pacific Group on Money Laundering (APG) on financial crime, money laundering, and criminal asset confiscation. This training aimed to enhance the capabilities of both FIUs in identifying and investigating financial crimes.
Objectives and Outcomes
The program aimed to reinforce the institutional capabilities of both FIUs in areas such as:
- Financial analysis and supervision
- Combating corruption and money laundering
According to Raymond Ngele, leader of the SIFIU attachment delegation, the exchange program will enhance the institutional process improvement at SIFIU, including better case analysis, case management, and improved knowledge and capability for conducting anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing compliance examinations.
Walter Henry, head of Cook Islands FIU (CIFIU), welcomed the counterpart from SIFIU and expressed hope that the exchange will lead to enhanced mutual collaboration and identification of more opportunities for cooperation between both FIUs. He added that the exchange of knowledge and expertise among staff will add value to regional anti-corruption efforts.
UNDP’s Support
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has been working with FIUs in Pacific Island Countries to support their anti-corruption and anti-money laundering efforts through mutually reinforcing and complementary regional and national activities. The agency’s Regional Anti-Corruption Adviser, Sonja Stefanovska-Trajanoska, emphasized that the focus is on the impact of corruption on sustainable development in the Pacific, including weakened institutions, inequitable service delivery, distorted markets, and eroded quality of life.
Funding Support
The FIU attachment program was supported by the Government of the United Kingdom through the Pacific Anti-Corruption Project and the Governments of Japan and Solomon Islands through the Transparency and Accountability for the People of Solomon Islands - the Project for Strengthening the Capacities to Combat Corruption (TAPSCCC), both implemented by UNDP.
Conclusion
The partnership between Solomon Islands and Cook Islands has demonstrated a commitment to strengthening anti-corruption efforts in the Pacific region. The knowledge exchange program has enhanced the institutional capabilities of both FIUs, and the partnership will continue to support regional anti-corruption initiatives in the years to come.