Job Announcement for a temporary position at the Middle East and North Africa Financial Action Task Force (MENAFATF)

Title of the position

Mutual Evaluation (ME) Expert.

Nature and period of the contract

It is a temporary contract with the MENFATF Secretariat starts from the day of signing the contract until the end of the ME and/or follow up (FU) processes that the expert has been assigned for. The end date of the contract will be specified by the secretariat.

Purpose and nature of the position

The key objective of this position is to provide the MENAFATF secretariat with the necessary assistance and to assume some responsibilities in the area of ME and FU activities.

The role of this position relies on working remotely and does not require the expert to relocate to Bahrain (the host country of MENFATF Secretariat). However, expert will be required to travel to attend onsite visits regarding ME process that he/she will be involved in. Costs of such travels will be covered by the MENAFATF Secretariat.

Tasks and Responsibilities

1. Provide the technical assistance to the assessors, other experts and MENFATF members subject to the ME and/or FU processes and particularly on explaining and elaborating the Financial Action Tasks Force’s (FATF) international standards and methodology.
2. Evaluate the extent of member countries’ compliance with international standards for AML/CFT. The role on ME includes the participation in:
   • Prepare an action plan for the ME.
   • Prepare the Technical Compliance Annex, the scoping note and circulating the international cooperation questionnaire, as well as the primary analysis of the Effectiveness.
   • Prepare the onsite visit and its program in coordination with the country subject to evaluation and the assessment team.
   • Coordinate meetings with officials from relevant government bodies regarding the onsite visits, as well as meetings hosting representatives from the financial sector and government bodies.
   • Prepare ME Report drafts based on the information provided by the country subject to the ME process, as well as the Key Findings reached out to by the Assessment Team during the onsite visit.
   • Participate with the assessment team and the secretariat in the related ME discussions during the ME working Group Meeting and MENAFATF Plenary.
3. Analyze the country’s efforts in amending its deficiencies to increase its level of compliance through the FU process. The role on FU includes the participation in:
   • Prepare an action plan for the FU process.
   • Reassess the FATF recommendations subject to the re-rating review in the FU report.
   • Prepare a Recommendation Analysis Matrix.
   • Prepare the Secretarial Report based on what was reached out to in the Analysis Tool (Matrix).
   • Take all quality and consistency measures and circulate the Report on the international network and publish it after having met all requirements contained in the MENAFATF procedures.

Qualifications required:

1. The Expert needs to be from one of the MENAFATF country members.
2. Has participated in one of the previous AML/CTF ME assessors training.
3. Has successfully participated in one of the MENAFATF second round’s ME processes with the MENAFATF, FATF or other partner international organizations. If this is not available, then he/she has to be participated as a reviewer for one or more of MENAFATF FU reports. If this also is not available, then he/she has to be one of those with a remarkable experience in the financial and/or legal, or/and law enforcement areas on AML/CTF.
4. A minimum of a bachelor’s degree in an equivalent major issued by an internationally recognized university.
5. At least five years of field experience in AML/CFT, preferably in the government sector.

Skills required:

1. Full proficiency in the Arabic language, and English to a large extent or commitment to master it during the first year of work (knowledge and mastery of the French language is preferred.
2. The ability to build effective communication with the widest group of contacts.
3. Strong writing skills and having the effective ability to work on various tasks while paying special attention to details, as well as the ability to follow-up with projects and their implementation thereof.
4. Independence in work and cooperation with the Executive Officer of the ME team through the daily directives to achieve the desired goals.
5. The ability to collaborate, coordinate effectively with employees of all levels to maximize performance, innovation, problem-solving and results.
6. Broad knowledge of computer skills with experience in computer applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, and presentations.

Applications

Applications are sent attached with curriculum vitae of the candidate to the MENAFATF on: hr@menafatf.org.

Job announcement for a position at the Technical Assistance and Typologies (“TAT”) Department

Purpose of the Job

The key objective of this position is to assist the Executive Officer and carry out some of the responsibilities in the typologies projects and to coordinate technical assistance provided to MENAFATF member countries including training programs and workshops, and to participate in the mutual evaluation processes carried out by the MENAFATF.

Tasks and Responsibilities

Carry out the tasks and duties listed below and coordinate with the Executive Officer in their implementation:

1. Prepare plans and policies regarding typologies and technical assistance projects.
2. Cooperate with MENAFATF’s international and regional organizations, and observers for the purposes of coordinating AML/CFT efforts through joint typologies and technical assistance projects, and work to continuously strengthen those relations, and to represent the secretariat in relevant international forums.
3. Organize and coordinate typologies projects and workshops in the MENA region.
4. Assist the specialized work groups in preparing drafts of typologies reports and conducting continuous studies on the AML/CFT typologies, in order to keep pace with criminal activities and the risks to which the countries of the MENAFATF are exposed.
5. Facilitate the sharing of expertise and experiences by organizing workshops, holding typologies workshops, and coordinate typologies practices in the MENA region, as required by the requirements and plans in place.
6. Coordinate with member countries on regional training needs and arriving at appropriate plans by establishing the necessary work program and associated budget.
7. Work to secure continuous training for the public and private sectors, including examples of supervisory measures taken against financial institutions, allowing participants to understand the challenges and complexities that may encounter them during the implementation of an effective system for AML/CFT.
8. Participate in the implementation of the mutual evaluation processes according to the assigned schedule, in cooperation with the Mutual Evaluation Department, lead the assessment teams upon request, and provide the necessary technical support to implement the requirements of the evaluation process.
9. Staying up to date with new legislation and regulations related to the work of MENAFATF members.
10. Prepare and process technical assistance and typologies working group meeting papers and participate in organizing the Plenary and related working group meetings.
11. Draft, edit and revise the Plenary documents including the draft meeting agenda.
12. To perform any other task assigned thereto by the executive officer.
13. To act on behalf of the executive officer, upon request

Qualifications and skills required:

1. A minimum of a bachelor’s degree in an equivalent major issued by an internationally recognized university.
2. At least five years of experience in the area of AML/CFT.
3. The availability of experience in the area of financial institution's supervision is a plus.
4. Mastery of at least two languages of the MENAFATF approved languages (i.e., Arabic, English, and French). The ability to speak and write clearly in one or more languages ​​and translate concepts and ideas in the form of accurate reports, correspondence, and presentations.
5. Knowledge of FATF and MENAFATF international standards and mutual evaluation methodology, procedures, relevant UN resolutions, and other relevant technical issues required by the position.
6. Effective communication skills with the widest range of contacts, and the ability to cooperate and coordinate with member countries and external parties on the one hand, and with management and staff at all levels on the other, in order to maximize performance, innovation, problem-solving and results.
7. Independence in work and behavior without the need for the daily directives of the Executive Officer to achieve the desired goals.
8. Ability to anticipate, understand and properly address requirements of member countries and observers.
9. The ability to deal professionally with computers, especially programs and applications related to the field of work, such as word processing, spreadsheets, and presentations.

Applications

Applications are sent attached with curriculum vitae of the candidate to the MENAFATF on: hr@menafatf.org.

Job announcement for a position in the Policies Development and Quality Assurance (PDQA”) Department 

Purpose of the Job

The key objective of this position is to contribute to the work aimed at planning, facilitating, and coordinating policy development and quality assurance work on the topics covered by the MENAFATF and related topics to the FATF.

Tasks and Responsibilities

Carry out the tasks and duties listed below and coordinate with the Executive Officer in their implementation:

1. Contribute to the work related to the development and review of AML/CFT policies.
2. Contribute to ensuring the quality and consistency of Mutual Evaluation Reports, documents, technical and public publications, documents on best practices, etc.
3. Contribute to research related to AML/CFT and keep abreast of developments in this area.
4. Participate in the review process of mutual evaluation programs.
5. Participate with the FATF in work related to the responsibilities and objectives of the MENAFATF, including work on FATF's International Network Coordination Working Group; the Policy Development Working Group and the International Cooperation Review Working Group, as well as the Mutual Evaluation process.
6. Communicate and coordinate with the concerned authorities on related issues.
7. Participate in and coordinate the work of the pool of national experts.
8. Participate in organizing the Plenary and the relevant working groups’ meetings and event.
9. Participate in drafting, editing, and finalizing the preparation of relevant documents and presenting these documents and their discussions during meetings.
10. Cooperate with the Secretariat's employees in carrying out professional tasks in a manner that guarantees MENAFATF’s best interests and harmony.
11. Representing MENAFATF as needed.
12. Carry out any other tasks assigned thereto by the Executive Officer in the PDQA Department or by the MENAFATF's Executive Secretary.

Qualifications and skills required:

1. It is preferable to have experience in the area of institutions’ legal or financial supervision.
2. A minimum of a bachelor’s degree in an equivalent major issued by an internationally recognized university.
3. At least five years of field experience in the area of AML/CFT.
4.  Mastery of at least two languages of the MENAFATF approved languages (i.e., Arabic, English, and French).
5. The ability to build effective communication with the widest group of contacts. 
6. Written and oral communication abilities, in addition to prove-based skills in working with international and government entities, having the effective ability to handle different tasks whilst giving special care to details, as well as the ability to follow-up with projects until the date of their completion
7. Independence in work and behavior without the need for the daily directives of the Executive Officer to achieve the desired goals, at least, to the minimum.
8. Broad knowledge of computer skills with experience in computer applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, and presentations.
9. The ability to collaborate and coordinate effectively with external bodies, management, and employees of all levels to maximize performance, innovation, problem-solving and results.

Applications

Applications are sent attached with curriculum vitae of the candidate to the MENAFATF on: hr@menafatf.org  .

It has been recently noticed that the name of MENAFATF or persons related to the MENAFATF are being used for fraudulent purposes; some people are asked, allegedly by MENAFATF, to pay fees for fictitious services relating to the verification of the origin of funds they wish to transfer. They are told that if the customer fails to pay such fees, the funds will be frozen. In fact, MENAFATF does not provide any such services, nor does it request fees or have by any means the capacity to freeze any funds or accounts. In addition, any approach using the name of MENAFATF in relation to de-freezing funds or payment of fees is a fraud and should be immediately reported to the local competent authorities.