Projects & Assignments
Tom has worked on a range of consulting projects and assignments. A selection is listed below:
Financiering religieuze instellingen in Nederland vanuit niet-democratische landen
June-YTD, 2014
Working for the Dutch Government (WODC) in partnership with RAND Europe to determine the feasibility of identifying the extent to which religious institutions in the Netherlands receive funding from foreign states, and if possible, the extent to which influence is placed on these religious institutions as a result of this funding.
Strengthening Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Capacities in Ethiopia
June, 2014
Contracted by the Global Center on Cooperative Security to provided three days of AML/CFT training to local bank presidents, banking risk & compliance managers, insurance and microfinance companies in Addis Ababa. Also produced policy briefings covering remittances/government FX regime and banking sector liberalisation/reform.
Safer Corridors Rapid Assessment: Somalia & UK Banking
September, 2013
A rapid assessment commissioned by the UK Government to reconcile two important policy goals in relation to international remittances and funds transfers: first, to support poverty alleviation and investment in fragile states by safeguarding cost-effective transfer mechanisms; and second, to minimise the risk that these mechanisms be used for criminal or terrorist purposes. Money Service Businesses (MSBs) provide intermediation for remittances, and they require a bank account in order to deliver effective commercial services. Most MSBs are intensive cash handling businesses and thus vulnerable to the risk of facilitating illicit finance flows. Major banks are withdrawing bank accounts from MSBs because of the reputational and regulatory risk of being associated with illicit finance and fear of fines, together with inadequate profitability, leading to a possible market restructure. Concerns have been raised about Somalia due to the potential negative impact on the humanitarian situation and development goals, therefore this assessment looks specifically at that context.
June-YTD, 2014
Working for the Dutch Government (WODC) in partnership with RAND Europe to determine the feasibility of identifying the extent to which religious institutions in the Netherlands receive funding from foreign states, and if possible, the extent to which influence is placed on these religious institutions as a result of this funding.
Strengthening Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Capacities in Ethiopia
June, 2014
Contracted by the Global Center on Cooperative Security to provided three days of AML/CFT training to local bank presidents, banking risk & compliance managers, insurance and microfinance companies in Addis Ababa. Also produced policy briefings covering remittances/government FX regime and banking sector liberalisation/reform.
Safer Corridors Rapid Assessment: Somalia & UK Banking
September, 2013
A rapid assessment commissioned by the UK Government to reconcile two important policy goals in relation to international remittances and funds transfers: first, to support poverty alleviation and investment in fragile states by safeguarding cost-effective transfer mechanisms; and second, to minimise the risk that these mechanisms be used for criminal or terrorist purposes. Money Service Businesses (MSBs) provide intermediation for remittances, and they require a bank account in order to deliver effective commercial services. Most MSBs are intensive cash handling businesses and thus vulnerable to the risk of facilitating illicit finance flows. Major banks are withdrawing bank accounts from MSBs because of the reputational and regulatory risk of being associated with illicit finance and fear of fines, together with inadequate profitability, leading to a possible market restructure. Concerns have been raised about Somalia due to the potential negative impact on the humanitarian situation and development goals, therefore this assessment looks specifically at that context.