Countering the Financing of Terrorism Expert – FATF Recommendation 8

The United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), through its Global Coordinated Programme on Detecting, Preventing and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (CFT Programme), supports Member States in strengthening their capacities to prevent and counter the financing of terrorism in line with relevant United Nations resolutions, international obligations and applicable international standards. Within this framework, UNOCT provides specialized technical assistance, policy support and capacity-building to strengthen legal, regulatory, institutional and operational frameworks relevant to countering the financing of terrorism, including support for the effective implementation of Financial Action Task Force (FATF) standards.

In Turkmenistan, UNOCT is supporting national efforts to strengthen implementation of the revised FATF Recommendation 8 concerning the protection of non-profit organizations (NPOs) from potential abuse for terrorist financing purposes. The initiative responds to identified gaps related to the assessment of terrorist financing risks affecting the NPO sector, the application of targeted, proportionate and risk-based approaches to supervision and oversight, the adequacy of relevant legal and regulatory frameworks, inter-agency coordination, and practical engagement with the NPO sector.

The project will support a targeted review of relevant legal, regulatory and institutional frameworks and provide technical assistance to a sector-specific assessment of terrorist financing risks affecting NPOs. This will include support to the development and application of risk criteria and analytical approaches, review and analysis of relevant information and data, identification of key vulnerabilities and risk factors, and preparation of substantive findings and recommendations for national consideration.

The initiative will further support the development of practical guidance on risk-based and proportionate supervision of the NPO sector, including approaches to identifying different levels of risk, applying proportionate supervisory measures and periodically reviewing the adequacy of relevant measures. It will also include targeted consultations, capacity-building activities and technical workshops with competent national authorities and other relevant stakeholders, with a view to strengthening national understanding, coordination and practical implementation of the revised Recommendation 8.

The UN Volunteer will serve as a substantive Expert within the project and will be expected to provide high-level technical and analytical expertise across these workstreams. The assignment will require strong professional knowledge of FATF Recommendation 8 and terrorist financing risks affecting the NPO sector, demonstrated experience with risk-based regulatory and supervisory approaches, strong analytical and drafting capabilities, and the ability to engage effectively with senior and technical government counterparts, subject-matter experts and other relevant stakeholders.

The assignment will be implemented in close coordination with relevant national counterparts and in cooperation with the Eurasian Group on Combating Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism (EAG) Secretariat and the United Nations Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA), in line with the approved project framework and relevant international standards.

Under the direct supervision of the Programme Management Officer, the UN Volunteer will serve as a substantive Expert and provide specialized technical and analytical expertise for the implementation of the project “Strengthening the Implementation of FATF Recommendation 8 in Turkmenistan”. The Expert will contribute to the effective delivery of project activities, with particular emphasis on the assessment of terrorist financing risks affecting the non-profit organization (NPO) sector, risk-based and proportionate approaches, relevant legal, regulatory and institutional frameworks, and the development of practical guidance and targeted capacity-building.
The Expert will contribute to substantive research and analysis, technical inputs to the NPO-sector terrorist financing risk assessment, review of relevant legal and regulatory frameworks, development of practical guidance and analytical products, preparation and delivery of capacity-building activities, and the formulation of practical recommendations to support national follow-up.

In particular, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

• Conduct substantive research and analysis on FATF Recommendation 8, terrorist financing risks affecting the NPO sector, risk-based and proportionate approaches, and relevant international and regional standards, guidance and good practices, and translate analytical findings into practical inputs for project implementation.
• Provide specialized technical inputs to the assessment of terrorist financing risks affecting the NPO sector, including the development and application of appropriate risk criteria and analytical methodology; collection, review and analysis of relevant qualitative and quantitative information; identification of vulnerabilities, risk factors and differentiated levels of risk; and preparation of substantive findings and practical recommendations.
• Conduct and substantively contribute to the review of legal, regulatory and institutional frameworks relevant to the implementation of FATF Recommendation 8 in Turkmenistan, including analysis of existing measures against the requirements of the revised Recommendation 8 and identification of areas where risk-based and proportionate approaches could be further strengthened.
• Prepare high-quality analytical and technical products, including background papers, briefing notes, comparative analyses, technical inputs, presentations, talking points, substantive meeting materials, findings and recommendations related to the implementation of FATF Recommendation 8.
• Contribute substantively to the development of practical guidance and methodological materials for competent national authorities on risk-based and proportionate approaches to the NPO sector, including the identification of different levels of terrorist financing risk, application of proportionate risk-mitigation and supervisory measures, and periodic review of the adequacy of such measures.
• Provide substantive expertise for the preparation and delivery of consultations, technical meetings, workshops and capacity-building activities for competent national authorities and other relevant stakeholders, including the development of training materials, case-based exercises and technical presentations, and delivery or co-facilitation of substantive sessions, as appropriate.
• Engage with relevant national authorities, subject-matter experts, representatives of the NPO sector and other relevant stakeholders to support the collection and validation of information, facilitate substantive technical exchanges and ensure that project outputs are informed by relevant national context and international standards.
• Review and provide substantive comments on technical documents, analytical products and other materials prepared in the context of the project, and ensure the quality, consistency and technical accuracy of relevant project outputs within the Expert’s area of expertise.
• Support the formulation of practical, evidence-based recommendations for national consideration, drawing on the findings of the risk assessment, legal and regulatory analysis, consultations and capacity-building activities, and taking into account the need for measures to be targeted, proportionate and risk-based.
• Contribute to substantive coordination with the Eurasian Group on Combating Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism (EAG) Secretariat, the United Nations Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA), relevant national counterparts and other partners, as required for the implementation of project activities.
• Prepare substantive records and follow-up documentation arising from consultations, workshops and technical meetings, and contribute to monitoring and documenting progress, results, lessons learned and recommendations relevant to project implementation.
• Perform other related substantive duties within the scope of the assignment, as required.