Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Counter-Terrorism Financing Course

Introduction

Money laundering and terrorism financing continue to pose significant threats to the stability and integrity of financial systems worldwide. Criminals exploit legal loopholes, technological advancements, and complex financial instruments to hide the origins of illicit funds or fund terrorist activities. Governments, regulators, financial institutions, and compliance professionals must collaborate to combat these practices through robust frameworks and proactive intervention.

The global regulatory landscape is increasingly demanding, with institutions required to comply with frameworks such as the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Recommendations, EU Directives, the USA PATRIOT Act, and various national AML/CTF laws. Failure to comply with these standards can result in severe financial penalties, reputational damage, and even criminal liability for organizations and their executives. This underscores the importance of structured, up-to-date training for professionals who oversee compliance, risk, finance, legal, and governance functions.

This course is designed to provide a deep understanding of AML and CTF principles, techniques, and regulations. Participants will explore key concepts such as risk-based approaches, customer due diligence (CDD), know your customer (KYC), enhanced due diligence (EDD), beneficial ownership, suspicious transaction reporting (STR), and the role of financial intelligence units (FIUs). Special attention will be paid to identifying red flags and conducting internal investigations.

With the rise of digital banking, virtual assets, cryptocurrencies, and fintech innovation, AML/CTF efforts face new and sophisticated challenges. This course integrates contemporary case studies and real-world scenarios, exploring emerging threats such as crypto laundering, trade-based money laundering, and the abuse of non-profit organizations and shell companies in terrorism financing.

By the end of this training, participants will be equipped with practical skills to build, strengthen, and evaluate AML/CTF programs, respond to audits, and align with international best practices. The course combines legal insight, compliance strategy, investigative skills, and ethical considerations to foster a well-rounded understanding of the global fight against financial crime.

Target Participants:

Compliance officers and AML professionals

Law enforcement and regulatory officers

Internal auditors and legal advisors

Risk managers and forensic accountants

Financial institution staff (banks, SACCOs, microfinance, mobile money)

Professionals in digital finance, fintech, and cryptocurrency sectors

Duration:

5 Days

Course Objectives:

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

Understand the legal, regulatory, and institutional frameworks for AML and CTF.

Apply risk-based approaches to detect and prevent financial crimes.

Conduct effective customer due diligence, KYC, and enhanced due diligence.

Identify suspicious activities and follow proper reporting procedures.

Respond to emerging risks such as crypto-assets and fintech-related laundering.

Build and evaluate AML/CTF compliance programs aligned with global standards.

Course Outline:

Module 1: Introduction to AML and CTF

Definitions, concepts, and typologies

The impact of money laundering and terrorism financing

The global fight against financial crime: Key players and stakeholders

Module 2: International and Regional AML/CTF Frameworks

FATF Recommendations and Mutual Evaluations

UN Conventions and regional initiatives (EU, EAC, AU, etc.)

National laws and regulatory bodies

Institutional obligations and penalties for non-compliance

Module 3: Customer Due Diligence (CDD) and KYC Procedures

Principles of CDD and KYC

Beneficial ownership and politically exposed persons (PEPs)

Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD)

Ongoing monitoring and transaction analysis

Module 4: Reporting Suspicious Activities and Internal Controls

Recognizing red flags and suspicious transaction indicators

Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) and Financial Intelligence Units (FIUs)

Recordkeeping, confidentiality, and legal protection

Internal AML/CTF controls and compliance culture

Module 5: Risk-Based Approach to AML/CTF

Risk assessment methodologies

Risk profiling for customers, countries, and products

Tailoring AML/CTF controls to risk levels

Monitoring high-risk clients and transactions

Module 6: Investigations, Audits, and Enforcement

Internal investigations and audit techniques

Sanctions compliance and enforcement actions

Role of law enforcement, judiciary, and regulators

Coordination across agencies and international cooperation

Module 7: Emerging Issues in AML and CTF

Crypto-assets and decentralized finance (DeFi)

Digital identity, mobile money, and fintech platforms

Trade-based money laundering (TBML) and complex schemes

Abuse of non-profits, charities, and crowdfunding for terrorism

Module 8: Designing and Evaluating an AML/CTF Compliance Program

Elements of an effective AML/CTF framework

Staff training and awareness creation

Independent reviews and internal audits

Case study reviews: Compliance failures and lessons learned

Training Methodology:

Interactive presentations and expert lectures

Real-world case studies and scenarios

Group work and simulations

Practical exercises and quizzes

Regulatory reviews and compliance toolkits

Post-course evaluation and resources

Tailor-Made Course

This course can also be tailor-made to meet organization requirement. For further inquiries, please contact us on: Email: training@upskilldevelopment.com Tel: +254 721 331 808

Training Venue

The training will be held at our Upskill Training Centre. We also offer training for a group at requested location all over the world. The course fee covers the course tuition, training materials, two break refreshments, and buffet lunch.

Visa application, travel expenses, airport transfers, dinners, accommodation, insurance, and other personal expenses are catered by the participant

Certification

Participants will be issued with Upskill certificate upon completion of this course.

Airport Pickup and Accommodation

Airport pickup and accommodation is arranged upon request. For booking contact our Training Coordinator through Email: training@upskilldevelopment.com, +254 721 331 808

Terms of Payment

Unless otherwise agreed between the two parties’ payment of the course fee should be done 3 working days before commencement of the training so as to enable us to prepare better.