Grant Agreement between COMESA and INTERPOL – Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA)

On 3^rd June 2015 COMESA signed an implementation Agreement with INTERPOL, though which COMESA extended EUR 1,300,214 for the implementation of the Regional Maritime Security Programme (MASE).

Background

The Financing Agreement FED/2012/024-98 was signed between the EU and IGAD for the implementation of the Regional Maritime Security Programme for a total cost of EUR 37,500,000. The Programme is implemented by IGAD, EAC, IOC and COMESA with IGAD as the Regional Authorizing Officer (RAO). The Financing Agreement provides for UNODC and INTERPOL to support the implementation of the EAC component and for INTERPOL to support the implementation of the COMESA Component.

COMESA signed an implementation Agreement with the EU for the implementation of its component which has the overall objective to strengthen regional capacity to disrupt the financial networks of pirate leaders and their financiers while also addressing the structural vulnerability factors and minimize the economic impact of piracy.

The direct results to be delivered by COMESA under the MASE programme are as follows:

Result 1: Financial analytical capacity in the region enhanced by setting up and strengthening of national Financial Intelligence Units (FIUs) and other analytical tools and strengthening the financial institutions in the region to analyse, detect and track financial flows linked to piracy, proceeds from financial crimes and other illicit maritime transactions.
Result 2: Common, coordinated and inter agency framework on anti-money laundering and piracy funding developed in ESA-IO; including supporting linkages with national Financial Intelligence Units (FIUs)
Result 3: National money laundering laws and regulations drafted or amended and regional policy frameworks to counter piracy and to address economic impact of piracy adopted
Result 4: Regional capacity to investigate and prosecute financial crimes at national and international levels assessed and strengthened.

COMESA signed a contribution Agreement with the EU on 25^th July 2014 for EURO 5,451,400 Million and committed to extend approximately 1.3 Million Euros to INTERPOL to support the implementation of result 4.