Sending money to fragile and sanctioned states: A guide for NGOs
Counterterrorism legislation has added another thread to an already complex tapestry of challenges facing nongovernmental organizations seeking to send money to fragile and sanctioned states. While a small number of NGOs have seen their bank accounts closed over the past year, many have had individual transactions delayed and even barred.
Since the United States introduced counterterrorism legislation in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, many countries have followed suit. This applies to countries where not only many international charities are based, but also where the majority of NGO beneficiaries live.
Cambodia, for example, vowed this month to push ahead with a draft law that aims to prevent NGOs from acting as a funnel of funding for terrorist groups in the country and that will force NGOs to register and file accounts with the government. Kenya has also cracked down on money transfer providers and this month accused the U.S., the U.K., Norway, Germany and Finland of funding organizations that it claims are linked to al-Shabab.
3 sectors where corporate philanthropy could do more in fragile states
The private sector can better leverage its unique skills in fragile states, specifically in improving institutions, financial inclusion and local crisis response. Here's how.
As the front-line facilitators of finance, banks have been pushed into an enforcement role. NGOs and the people they seek to help have been among the hardest hit. Nearly a third of charities questioned in a recent survey by the U.K. Charities Finance Group said that they felt banks had become “substantially more risk averse.” Considering the pressure that banks are under to comply with regulations that are not always clear and that continue to evolve, this is not surprising.
