Anoma Kulathunga

H.M. Queen Máxima of the Netherlands, United Nations Secretary-General's Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development stated that 'the impact of helping migrants and their families will be lasting and global if we link remittances to other financial services and make them more affordable and more relevant to their needs.'Remittances are a critical source of financing for most developing countries. The importance of remittances goes beyond numbers. For many households in developing countries, they are probably the most stable source of primary or additional income.At the same time, the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks exposed the use and abuse of remittance channels for financing terrorism. In response to this threat, the international community issued new international anti-money laundering/combating the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) standards on remittance transfers and their service providers. For the first time, remittance service providers were required to be brought under the government oversight and either registered with or licensed by a competent authority, and to be subject to AML/CFT obligations.While the FATF Recommendations appear straightforward on paper, regulating and supervising in practice the money transfer business has proved to be a very challenging task in both developed and developing countries.This book assists policy makers, regulators, and supervisors of money transfer businesses to craft effective regulatory and supervisory frameworks governing remittances that meet international AML/CFT standards, while at the same time ensuring that the neediest have access to these crucial services.

The purpose of this study is to gather a broad spectrum of remittance data related to Uganda and the three remittance corridors and compile such information in a comprehensive report with a view to sharing knowledge and expertise. In addition to knowledge sharing, it is expected that the information and findings in this report will assist the authorities in developing the Ugandan remittance market and mitigating related risks. Being the first Bilateral Remittance Corridor Analysis (BRCA) report to be conducted with the partnership of a local authority adds to the significance of the endeavor. This report comprises five chapters with supporting annexes. The first chapter is a introductory chapter continues with data showing remittance trends from a global perspective and in Sub-Saharan Africa and their comparison with those of Uganda. Chapter two analyzes and compares the three remittance-sending countries in terms of remittance flows, remittance mechanisms and related costs, and regulations. Chapter three focuses onUganda as a remittance-receiving country, describing the remittance flows, market players, distribution network, access. Chapter four summarizes the main findings and observations. This report presents policy recommendations for Uganda as well as for remittance-sending countries in the final chapter.

This title is part of an initiative by the World Bank to develop standard indicators to measure the performance and soundness of the financial sector in the South Asia region and help pinpoint where performance is strong and where improvements are most needed.This book compiles indicators in six categories: access to finance, performance and efficiency, stability, corporate governance, capital market developments, and market concentration and competitiveness. These measures provide a new and more holistic perspective on getting finance in South Asia, and also help improve our understanding of the financial systems in South Asian countries. The book contains an attached CD-ROM with selected indicators.