Improvement of Policies and Procedures for Central Bank Supervisory Functions

Program Overview

This course is designed to enhance the capacity of SAMA personnel in reviewing, developing, and improving internal policies and procedures governing supervisory and regulatory operations. As a central bank regulator, SAMA plays a critical role in ensuring financial system stability, enforcing regulatory compliance, and promoting effective governance among financial institutions. This course will help align internal processes with international best practices, improve risk responsiveness, and ensure consistent supervisory outcomes.

Who Should Attend?

• This course is intended for professionals working in:
• Banking Supervision Departments
• Regulatory Policy & Research Units
• Compliance & Internal Control Functions
• Legal & Risk Management Departments
• Macroprudential and Microprudential Oversight Teams
• Strategy and Organizational Development Units
  Ideal for: Mid-to-senior level supervisors, policy analysts, inspection team leads, regulatory framework designers, and decision-makers involved in policy governance and supervisory planning at SAMA.

Learning Objectives

By the end of the course, participants will:

• Understand the lifecycle and governance of regulatory policies and supervisory procedures.
• Identify gaps and areas for enhancement in existing internal frameworks.
• Apply international best practices (e.g., BCBS, FATF, IOSCO, IMF recommendations) to policy development.
• Develop and implement a structured approach to improve, document, and update internal policies and procedures.
• Strengthen coordination between departments for policy effectiveness and supervisory impact.

Training Methodology

This is an interactive training program and will consist of the following training approaches:

• Lectures
• Seminars & Presentations
• Group Discussions
• Assignments

Like all our courses, this program follows the ‘Do-Review-Learn-Apply’ model.

Course content

Module 1: Introduction and Role of Policy in a Supervisory Context

• Importance of effective policies and procedures in financial supervision
• Relationship between policies, procedures, and regulatory outcomes
• SAMA’s role and responsibilities in the regulatory ecosystem

Module 2: Principles of Good Policy Governance

• Characteristics of sound supervisory policy frameworks
• Transparency, accountability, consistency, and responsiveness
• Overview of international standards (BCBS Core Principles, IMF assessments)

Module 3: Lifecycle of Policy Development

• Identification of regulatory gaps and risks
• Policy formulation and drafting protocols
• Stakeholder consultation and inter-departmental coordination

Module 4: Diagnostic Tools for Policy and Procedure Assessment

• Benchmarking and gap analysis techniques
• Internal audit feedback, compliance reviews, supervisory insights
• Lessons from international peer regulators

Module 5: Policy Impact Assessment and Risk-Based Review

• Evaluating policy effectiveness
• Risk-based approach to prioritizing procedural updates
• Integrating feedback loops and supervisory data insights

Module 6: Case Studies from Other Central Banks

• Examples from the Bank of England, MAS (Singapore), and ECB
• Best practices in supervisory policy modernization
• Practical lessons learned

Module 7: Designing and Documenting Effective Procedures

• Structure and clarity in procedural documents
• Templates, process flows, and accountability matrices
• Version control and audit trail mechanisms

Module 8: Policy Implementation and Change Management

• Communicating changes across the organization
• Training, awareness, and compliance tracking
• Handling resistance and ensuring operational alignment

Module 9: Governance and Oversight of Policy Updates

• Establishing a policy committee or review board
• Monitoring and review schedules
• Role of digital tools in policy lifecycle management

Module 10: Hands-On Policy Review Workshop

• Participants review a sample SAMA policy/procedure
• Identify strengths, weaknesses, and improvement points
• Present and discuss group findings

Module 11: Developing a Policy Improvement Plan

• Step-by-step planning guide
• Alignment with SAMA’s strategic objectives and regulatory priorities
• Integration with risk management and internal control frameworks

Module 12: Wrap-Up and Forward Planning

• Summary of key takeaways
• Recommended next steps for SAMA departments
• Establishing a culture of continuous policy improvement