Non-profit organizations play a vital role in communities across Africa, providing essential services, supporting human rights, and driving development. Yet many face barriers when it comes to accessing financial services or meeting complex regulatory requirements, which can limit their ability to operate effectively. The High-Level Africa Civil Society AML/CFT Conference was created to bring together civil society, regulators, and financial institutions to discuss solutions that protect both financial integrity and the operational space of non-profit organizations (NPOs).

This year’s conference, hosted in Gaborone, Botswana, offered a platform for sharing experiences, exchanging good practices, and exploring practical solutions to challenges faced by NPOs.

Human Security Collective (HSC) participated in the conference, bringing civil society perspectives directly into AML/CFT discussions. Together with Spaces for Change, HSC co-facilitated a Masterclass on “Addressing Bank De-risking and Enhancing Financial Inclusion for Non-Profit Organizations”, which explored the difficulties NPOs face in accessing banking services and highlighted practical strategies to overcome them.

HSC also chaired a panel on NPO oversight models and good practices, featuring contributions from Financial Intelligence Units, regulatory authorities, and civil society representatives from Uganda, Nigeria, Botswana, Kenya, and Zimbabwe. The discussion focused on effective approaches to counterterrorism financing oversight that balance compliance with the need for an enabling environment, emphasizing self-regulation, collaboration with regulators, and risk-based supervision.

The event reinforced the value of dialogue, collaboration, and innovation in supporting non-profits, highlighting pathways to stronger financial oversight that also preserve the ability of organizations to serve their communities.