At a glance
The Gibraltar Financial Intelligence Unit (GFIU) has a clear role: to protect Gibraltar from money laundering, terrorist financing, proliferation financing, and other financial crimes. But it also has another mission, ensuring that professionals across the public and private sectors have the skills and knowledge to identify and stop financial crime.
The GFIU used to deliver training through seminars, workshops, and on-site sessions. This format was useful but limited. There was no way to track engagement or measure long-term impact. COVID-19 further highlighted the risk of over-reliance on in-person sessions.
The GFIU decided to turn this disruption into an opportunity. Instead of pausing training, they redesigned it. Using Easygenerator, they launched e-Nexus. Since its launch, the GFIU’s e-Nexus e-learning platform has trained over 1,500 professionals. Courses cover complex and fast-evolving topics such as terrorist financing, sanctions, ransomware, human trafficking, proliferation financing, and suspicious activity reporting.
These lessons are not abstract theory. They are practical, case-based, and interactive, giving professionals the ability to apply what they learn directly in their day-to-day roles.
Edgar Lopez, Director of the GFIU, led this digital move. He explains that going digital made sense because it solved the limitations of the more traditional system. It allowed them to reach more people, keep content consistent, and update courses quickly whenever new risks appeared.
The challenge of delivering training as a government agency
Before Easygenerator, the GFIU relied on in-person training. Sessions had to be planned, scheduled, and repeated many times. This was not sustainable. “There was no central repository for learning material and no way to track engagement, gather feedback, or measure learning impact,” mentions Edgar.
COVID-19 then stopped all in-person sessions, which created an immediate training gap. As Gibraltar’s FIU, the GFIU must provide training across both financial and non-financial sectors. It also needs to meet Financial Action Task Force (FATF) expectations for outreach impact. That means proving that learning is not only delivered but also reaches the right people.
“Compliance with FATF standards requires us to prove our effectiveness in outreach,” Edgar explains. “That means showing that training is accessible, consistent, and has impact.”
Challenges
- Reliance on in-person training limited reach and scalability
- Lack of centralized digital tracking or feedback mechanisms
- The COVID-19 disruption of outreach efforts
- Responsibility to ensure equal access and transparency
A new approach with Easygenerator
The answer came with Project Nexus Phase 3, the GFIU’s initiative to modernize outreach through technological means. Out of necessity, the GFIU launched e-Nexus, a digital platform that delivers training to professionals remotely.
Easygenerator gave the team a tool that was simple, affordable, and flexible. For a small unit with many responsibilities, this was more than a short-term fix. It was a chance to build a modern way of training. The pandemic sped up the launch, but it also helped the GFIU rethink how it connects with its partners.
Through e-Nexus, professionals can log in and complete training at their own pace. They can access modules tailored to their sector, engage with real case examples, and test their understanding with interactive exercises. Courses can be updated quickly, which helps the GFIU keep pace with changing criminal threats and new legislation.
This digital-first approach meant the GFIU could reach more people, keep content aligned with existing and emerging risks, and ensure that even small firms had access to the same training as larger institutions.
Edgar explains that the move was not just technical. ” It was about showing that a government agency could be innovative, adaptable, and forward-looking. We wanted to lead by example, using technology to build resilience in the face of disruption. ”
This learning model has also improved the quality of reporting. Professionals now complete online modules and attend in-person sessions where they discuss complex cases. This hybrid approach has already improved report quality and reduced low-value or defensive reporting.
Results at scale
e-Nexus grew from a quick response during COVID-19 into a long-term learning platform that supports Gibraltar’s fight against financial crime. Since 2020, more than 1,500 professionals have been trained across financial and non-financial sectors.
Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with 97% of learners rating the courses as good or excellent (source, see page 8).
The platform supports hybrid outreach: professionals complete courses online and continue discussions in follow-up sessions when needed. This helps the GFIU reinforce learning and answer sector-specific questions. The digital model also means the team can update courses fast in response to new criminal methods, such as ransomware attacks or changes to sanctions.
Training is now targeted and proven to be more effective. Evidence shows that professionals are submitting higher-quality Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs). Reports are now clearer, more focused, and more useful for analysts. This shows that people are applying what they learn in real cases.
Data also plays an important role. Learner progress and feedback flow back into the GFIU’s continuous improvement model, known as the “Nexus Cycle”. This helps the team improve content based on what data shows.
The impact now goes beyond Gibraltar. The GFIU also shares courses with other FIUs using Easygenerator and allows the other FIUs to adapt courses to their respective laws.
“Other FIUs ask us how we did it,” Edgar says. “There is now interest in building similar platforms in other jurisdictions.”
What began as an urgent response to a global pandemic has grown into a cornerstone of Gibraltar’s AML/CFT outreach. Today, e-Nexus is not just a platform; it is the flagship of Project Nexus, proof that innovation and adaptability can drive impact, even in the most regulated and complex fields.
As Edgar puts it, “Going digital wasn’t just about keeping training alive during the pandemic; it was about building a sustainable model for the future.”
Results
- 1,500+ professionals trained through e-Nexus
- 97% positive learner feedback
- Cost savings through in-house content creation
- Shared learning with other jurisdictions, improving international cooperation
Looking ahead
Project Nexus is built to last. Supported by the GFIU’s Communication Strategy 2025–2028, e-Nexus will keep growing, with new courses covering risks like cyber-enabled fraud. The GFIU also plans to use real case studies, while protecting the privacy of the people involved, so that learners can study real-world examples.
Edgar sums up the next step: “Our focus now is on enhancing the quality and reach of our outreach efforts, ensuring every professional has access to high-quality content and making training accessible to everyone who needs it.”
The GFIU sees this as ongoing work, with innovation, responsibility, and cooperation shaping what comes next. As Gibraltar faces new challenges, e-Nexus gives the GFIU a steady way to stay connected and prepared.
About Project Nexus
Project Nexus is the GFIU’s long-term program to connect with stakeholders and improve Gibraltar’s defenses against financial crime. It started as a way to build stronger relationships between the public and the private sector. Over time, it has grown into a complete strategy that combines training, communication, and international cooperation.
E-Nexus is one of the main parts of Project Nexus. It makes sure training is continuous, consistent, and available to everyone. The project shows how a government agency can use technology to keep people informed and involved in protecting the financial system.
Q&A
How did the Gibraltar Financial Intelligence Unit use Easygenerator to move training online?
When COVID-19 stopped in-person seminars, the GFIU built e-Nexus on Easygenerator. This moved training online so professionals could learn anytime, anywhere, and on any device, and the GFIU could update content instantly.
What kind of courses has the GFIU created on Easygenerator?
The GFIU created over 15 courses on complex topics like money laundering, terrorist financing, proliferation financing, ransomware, sanctions, and human trafficking. The courses use examples and interactive knowledge development exercises to make learning practical.
Why did the GFIU choose Easygenerator instead of other e-learning tools?
Edgar Lopez said Easygenerator was affordable, easy to use, and all-in-one. Other platforms were too costly or built for universities, while Easygenerator fit a small government team’s needs.
How did Easygenerator help the GFIU continue training during COVID-19?
Easygenerator let the GFIU launch online courses quickly in 2020. This kept training going during the pandemic and later became a hybrid model with both online and in-person sessions.
What results has the GFIU achieved with e-Nexus and Easygenerator?
The GFIU trained 1,500+ professionals, received 97% positive feedback, saved money by creating courses in-house, and even shared templates with other FIUs to support cross-border cooperation.