TBML Capacity Building Expert

Job description

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

(INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANT)

COMMON MARKET FOR EASTERN AND SOUTHERN AFRICA

The COMESA Secretariat has applied for financing from the African Development Bank toward the cost of the Regional Capacity Building Project Against Trade-Based Money Laundering (TBML) and intends to apply part of the agreed amount for this grant to payments under the contract for recruitment of a Trade Based Money Laundering (TBML) Capacity Building Expert.

The services included under this project are to oversee and coordinate the activities of the project to ensure achievement of project objectives throughout the project duration . He/she will have overall responsibility for ensuring technical and operational excellence in the delivery of all activities and in compliance with the grant agreement of the Project.

The duration of the assignment is 3 years.

COMESA Secretariat now invites eligible individual consultants to indicate their interest in providing these services. Interested Individual consultants must provide information indicating that they are qualified to perform the services (Curriculum Vitae (CVs), description of similar assignments, experience in similar conditions, , etc.).

Eligibility criteria, establishment of the short-list and the selection procedure shall be in accordance with the African Development Bank’s “Procurement Framework for Bank Group Funded Operations” dated 2015, which is available on the Bank’s website at: https://www.afdb.org/en/projects-and-operations/procurement/new-procurement-policy .

A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Individual Consultant Selection method set out in the Procurement Policy.

Interested consultants may obtain further information and detailed Terms of Reference at the address below during office hours from 08:00 to 17:00 Central Africa Time (CAT).

Interested consultants may send their inquiries during office hours, from 08:00 to 17:00 Central Africa Time (CAT).

Expressions of interest must be delivered to the address below by Monday 13^th July 2026 at 16:00hrs Central Africa Time and with subject “COMESA Capacity Building Project Against TBML – TBML Capacity Building Expert”.

Attn:

Mr. Silver Mwesigwa

Head of Procurement

Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA)

Ben Bella Road

P O Box 30051

Lusaka, Zambia

Tel: 260 211 229725–32

E-mail – procurement@comesa.int ,

copying smwesigwa@comesa.int and kmzumara@comesa.int .

Issue Date: 19^th June 2026

Annex A: Terms of Reference.

ANNEXE A: TERMS OF REFERENCE

TBML CAPACITY BUILDING EXPERT

1. Background

1. Trade-Based Money Laundering (TBML) represents one of the most prevalent and sophisticated methods used to launder illicit proceeds through international trade systems. Criminal networks exploit the complexity of global trade transactions, trade finance instruments, and customs procedures to disguise the origins of illegally obtained funds. The estimated scale of TBML activities ranges between USD 800 billion to USD 2 trillion annually, representing a significant threat to financial integrity and regional economic security.

2. Within Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) region increased regional integration and cross-border trade have created both opportunities and vulnerabilities. While trade facilitation measures enhance economic growth, they also present potential channels for financial crime if appropriate safeguards are not in place. Member States face capacity challenges in detecting, investigating, and prosecuting TBML offenses, including limited inter-agency coordination, insufficient technical expertise, and inadequate risk assessment frameworks.

3. COMESA through the support of the African Development Bank(AfDB) under the Targeted Support Window (Pillar III) of the Transition Support Facility (TSF) seeks to strengthen the capacity of its Member States including Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Somalia and Sudan to prevent, detect, and combat TBML through comprehensive training programs, development of operational tools, and enhancement of regional cooperation mechanisms.

2. Objectives

4. The principal objective is to enhance institutional, technical and operational capacities of relevant stakeholders, primarily in the four Member States directly supported by the Project, to effectively prevent, detect, investigate and combat Trade-Based Money Laundering (TBML) and related illicit financial flows through training, technical assistance, policy support and knowledge transfer.

5. The specific objectives include:

1. Design and delivery of TBML trainings and raising awareness of TBML risks

2. Strengthening detection and risk analysis capabilities in the targeted Member States

3. Supporting policy and regulatory framework development

4. Enhancing in-country inter-agency coordination

5. Strengthening monitoring and evaluation,

6. Promoting regional and international cooperation.

3. Scope of Work

Under the direct supervision of the Head of Governance, Peace and Security Unit and the overall supervision of the Assistant Secretary General (Programmes), the TBML Capacity Building Expert shall perform the following duties:

1. Develop a scalable regional TBML capacity building framework for COMESA;

2. Train FIUs, and LEAs (including customs and revenue officials) on detecting, tracing, analysing, investigating and reporting TBML cases

3. Extend sensitisation on TBML to DNFBPs, women and youth traders’ networks in the region;

4. Enhance quality and effectiveness of TBML-related Suspicious Transaction Reports (STRs) analysis and investigations;

5. Ensure the deployment and operational effectiveness of technology to detect, analyse, trace and report TBML-related cases;

6. Improve compliance with FATF Recommendations primarily in the four selected countries and support preparation for mutual evaluations and follow-up reviews

7. Coordinate and implement the project components, prepare narrative reports for the project and attend to day-to-day activities relating to the Project and ensure the following outputs:

1. 1. Approved Work Plan and budgets.

   2. Standard periodical reports on implementation

   3. Monthly, quarterly and annual management reports.

4. Key Tasks and Responsibilities

1. Provision of oversight and execution of the Project

2. Preparation of annual activity budgets, narrative work plans, monthly and quarterly progress reports

3. Provision of technical and advisory support to the activities and related processes that impinge on the project

4. Ensuring that timelines, responsibilities and the TBML Project work programme are implemented expeditiously

5. Conduct capacity building sensitisations/ trainings for the targeted stakeholders as outlined in the Project Document.

6. Facilitate regional meetings of the Project and lead on the production of publicity materials including videos, documentaries, website brochures, posters, etc relating to the Project and ensure their effective dissemination at regional and national levels.

7. Coordinate with project countries the aggregation at the project/ regional level of monitoring and evaluation data and supervise the development of bi-annual project monitoring and evaluation reports

8. Implement and maintain an adequate control environment to manage fiduciary (procurement and financial management) risks of the Project.

9. Coordinate the holding of the Project Steering Committee (bi-annually) and provide the necessary advice to the implementing partners and other key stakeholders

10. Provide progress reports and Secretariat Services to the COMESA Project Steering Committee in collaboration with the Development Partner

11. Coordinate and implement all activities as outlined in the Project Document

12. Undertake other related duties and special assignments as directed by the supervisor.

Once-off deliverables

13. Design Regional TBML Capacity Building Manuals/ Curriculum for COMESA targeting Parliamentarians, LEAs, Reporting Entities, Traders’ Associations and develop a scalable training curriculum adaptable to Member States.

14. Create standardised TBML supervisory and investigative toolkits including SOPs, STR templates, among others.

15. Develop regional information-sharing best practice guidelines aligned with the Egmont Group principles.

5. Education, Qualifications, Professional Skills and Experience

The Expert must have the following qualifications, professional skills and experience:

Educational Qualifications:

The candidate must possess:

1. A minimum of a master’s degree with specialisation in any of the following areas: Law, Finance, Economics, Business Studies or relevant field.

2. Possession of professional certifications in anti-money laundering and financial crime such as, ICA Specialist Certificate in Trade-Based Money Laundering (TBML), Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists (ACAMS) Trade Finance certification, Certified Financial Crime Specialist (CFCS) and Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS) will be an added advantage.

Professional Skills and Experience Requirements

1. At least demonstrated minimum 10 years relevant AML/ TBML/ CFT work experience.

2. Direct experience with FATF mutual evaluations and additional experience working with Customs and Revenue Authorities, FIUs, Supervisory authorities, DNFBPs and NPOs

3. Knowledgeable on continental and global efforts towards promoting financial integrity through combating TBML, addressing beneficial ownership, sanctions compliance, and risk-based supervision required.

4. Experience working with governments, regional bodies and in designing and coordinating relevant capacity building measures, technical training on AML/ TBML/ CFT in the region required.

5. Strong abilities to develop strategies, derive plans from them, and calmly work towards their realisation, under demanding performance schedules.

6. Communication and effective writing in English are desirable. Proficiencies in French and Arabic will be an added advantage.

7. Experience in concept development and coordinating AML/ TBML typologies to inform policy decisions.

8. Demonstrated strong attention to detail, excellent coordination and leadership skills, ability to manage multiple deadlines, professional discretion and integrity.

9. Exposure and ability to work in a multi-cultural and multi-stakeholder environment.

10. Leadership, creativity, negotiation, diplomatic and high computer literacy skills.

6. Working Language Requirements

1. 1. The working language shall be English therefore applicants must be fluent in both spoken and written English.

   2. A combination of knowledge and use of English with either French or Arabic will be an added advantage.

7. Contract Duration

Three (3) years with a possibility of extension subject to availability of funds for continued Project implementation and satisfactory performance. The initial contract period shall include six (6) months probationary period.

8. Duty Station

The TBML Capacity Building Expert will be based at the COMESA Secretariat in Lusaka, Zambia but may be required to go on mission to selected Regional Member States

Leave

1. This role shall be entitled to 2.5 working leave days per calendar month, and no accrued leave days shall be computed into cash at the end of the contract.

TBML CAPACITY BUILDING EXPERT