Renthia Kaimbi
Namibia has stepped up efforts to fight illicit finance, as the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC), in partnership with the European Union (EU), launched a week-long national risk assessment workshop in Windhoek on Monday.
The workshop runs until 6 March 2026. It focuses on strengthening how Namibia identifies and responds to money laundering, terrorism financing and proliferation financing risks.
Illicit financial flows remain a concern across Africa. According to background information shared at the event, these flows are estimated at about USD 88.6 billion a year on the continent.
They stem from tax evasion, corruption, organised crime and human trafficking. The losses rival foreign aid and investment inflows and affect service delivery.
For Namibia, the assessment forms part of efforts to exit the Financial Action Task Force grey list and prepare for evaluation by the Eastern and Southern African Anti-Money Laundering Group.
The workshop brings together regulators, law enforcement, private sector bodies and civil society. Participants include the Bank of Namibia, the prosecutor general’s office, Nampol, the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners and the Council of Churches.
Zenobia Barry, speaking on behalf of FIC director Bryan Eiseb, said broad participation is essential.
“A National Risk Assessment can only be truly national if it reflects the experience, data and insights of all stakeholders,” she said.
Barry said the training will help participants understand how to conduct the assessment and prepare for the full process when it begins. The aim is to identify vulnerabilities and allocate resources based on shared information.
Ian Dupont, the EU Deputy Head of Mission, said no single institution can tackle financial crime alone.
“Combating financial crime cannot be achieved by one institution alone,” Dupont said. “It requires coordinated action across government agencies, financial institutions, designated non-financial businesses and professions, and international partners.”
He said the impact must go beyond producing a report.
“The real success of this exercise will not be measured solely by the completion of the report but by the reforms, institutional improvements and operational outcomes that follow,” he added.
The workshop receives technical support from the EU-funded SecFin Africa project, implemented by a European consortium. The project provides tools and expertise to support a structured and credible assessment process.
The FIC and the EU said the initiative aims to strengthen cooperation and build a coordinated response to financial crime risks facing the country.
