Ministers and dignitaries attending the opening ceremony of the 31st Meeting of the GIABA Ministerial Committee, held on 23 May 2026 in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire

 

The 45th Meeting of the Technical Commission/Plenary, Working Groups, and the 31st Ministerial Committee Meeting of the Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA) were held in hybrid format from 21 to 23 May 2026 at the Sofitel Hôtel Ivoire in Abidjan, Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, with the participation of Member States, regional and international institutions, as well as technical and financial partners.

The proceedings of the 45th GIABA Technical Commission/Plenary and Working Groups Meetings were officially opened by Mr. Edwin W. Harris Jr., Director General of GIABA, in the prestigious Salle des Fêtes of the Sofitel Hôtel Ivoire. This important regional gathering brought together the Co-Chairs of the Evaluation and Compliance Group (ECG), delegations from Member States, experts, and technical partners working to combat illicit financial flows across West Africa. On the sidelines of the meetings, the GIABA Forum of Financial Intelligence Units (FFIU) convened in a closed-door session on Wednesday, 20 May 2026. The Forum brought together Heads of FIUs from Member States to deliberate on issues relating to enhanced regional cooperation, financial intelligence sharing, and the strengthening of anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing mechanisms within the ECOWAS space. The Forum elected Mr. Mouhamadou Harouna, President of the  Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) of Niger, as the new Chairperson of the GIABA FIUs Forum for a one-year renewable term. He succeeds Mr. Idrissa Mahamar Haidara, President of the CENTIF of Mali.

The official opening ceremony of the 45th Technical Commission/Plenary Meeting, held on 21 May 2026, featured several high-level addresses, including the welcome remarks delivered by General Idrissa Touré, President of the National Financial Intelligence Unit of Côte d’Ivoire (CENTIF-Côte d’Ivoire) and GIABA National Correspondent for the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire; the goodwill message by Mr. Kouao Guy Valérie, Second Deputy Mayor of the Municipality of Cocody, representing the Mayor of Cocody; the address by Mr. David Borbor, Director-General of the Financial Intelligence Agency of Sierra Leone and Chairperson of the GIABA Technical Commission; the introductory remarks by Mr. Edwin W. Harris Jr., Director General of GIABA; the congratulatory message by Mr. André Kanga, Permanent Secretary of the Action Group against Money Laundering in Central Africa (GABAC); the solidarity message from H.E. Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, delivered by his representative, H.E. Ms. Fatmah Diarré, ECOWAS Resident Representative in Côte d’Ivoire; as well as the opening address by Mr. Adama Coulibaly, Minister of Economy, Finance and Budget of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, represented by Mr. Moussa Sanogo, Minister of Construction, Housing and Urban Planning.

In his remarks, the Director General of GIABA, Mr. Edwin W. Harris Jr., expressed profound appreciation to the Ivorian authorities, CENTIF-Côte d’Ivoire, Member States, and partners for their sustained support to GIABA. Reflecting on the achievements recorded during his tenure, including the admission of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger as full members of GIABA, the commencement of the third round of mutual evaluations, and the restoration of GIABA’s credibility within the FATF Global Network, he underscored that the institution has regained a strengthened strategic position in the regional fight against financial crimes. As his mandate draws to a close on 30 July 2026, he paid tribute to the dedication of the GIABA Secretariat staff, technical and financial partners, and Member States. In their respective statements, the various dignitaries commended the progress made by Member States in implementing Anti-Money Laundering, Counter Financing of Terrorism, and Counter Proliferation Financing (AML/CFT/CPF) measures. They further underscored the importance of strengthened regional cooperation, robust compliance mechanisms, and sustained efforts to address emerging threats associated with illicit financial flows, virtual assets, terrorist financing, and transnational organized crime.

Participants also reviewed the work of the Risk, Trends and Methods Group (RTMG/PRG), emerging AML/CFT issues, and the outcomes of the FATF Plenary and Working Group meetings held in February 2026. Particular attention was devoted to preparations for the third round of mutual evaluations, which has already commenced; to issues relating to the effectiveness of national AML/CFT systems; and to enhancing cooperation among Member States.

The opening ceremony of the 31st GIABA Ministerial Committee (GMC) Meeting, held on 23 May 2026 at Hôtel Ivoire in Abidjan, also featured several high-level interventions, notably by Mr. Adama Coulibaly, Minister of Economy, Finance and Budget of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire; Mr. Edwin W. Harris Jr., Director General of GIABA; Mr. Sheku Ahmed Fantamadi Bangoura, Minister of Finance of the Republic of Sierra Leone and Chairperson of the GIABA Ministerial Committee; Hon. Edwin Melvin Snowe Jr., Senator of the Republic of Liberia; the solidarity message of H.E. Ms. Fatmah Esther Diarré, Acting ECOWAS Resident Representative in Côte d’Ivoire, representing the President of the ECOWAS Commission; as well as the opening address delivered by H.E. Mr. Robert Beugré Mambé, Prime Minister of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, representing H.E. Mr. Alassane Ouattara, President of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire.

In their statements, the authorities reaffirmed their shared commitment to strengthening regional mechanisms for combating money laundering, terrorist financing, and proliferation financing, while emphasizing the need for coordinated regional responses to the security, economic, and technological challenges facing West Africa.

The Prime Minister of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, for his part, highlighted GIABA’s strategic role in safeguarding the integrity of regional financial systems and underscored the reforms undertaken by Côte d’Ivoire to strengthen its national AML/CFT/CPF framework, particularly within the context of its process toward exiting the FATF Grey List.

The Ministerial Committee also endorsed the reports of the 44th and 45th GIABA Technical Commission/Plenary Meetings, as well as amendments to the second and third round mutual evaluation processes and procedures aimed at enhancing the confidentiality of evaluation documents, improving the effectiveness of follow-up mechanisms, and further aligning GIABA procedures with revised FATF Standards.

At the conclusion of the meetings, participants renewed their collective commitment to strengthening regional cooperation, consolidating national AML/CFT frameworks, and improving the effectiveness of compliance mechanisms in line with FATF International Standards.

 

Done in Abidjan, Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, on 23 May 2026.

 

…/…

The Inter-Government Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA), in collaboration with the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, will hold its 45^th Technical Commission /Plenary and 31^st GIABA Ministerial Committee meetings from the 18^th to the 23^rd May 2026 at Abidjan, Republic of Côte d’Ivoire.

 

The Plenary Meeting is scheduled to be declared opened by the Honorable Minister of Finance and Budget of the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire, Mr. Adama Coulibaly on Thursday, May 21, 2026, at 10:00 am. Other dignitaries, including the DG of GIABA, are expected to address the Plenary's Opening Session.

The Plenary Meeting is an assembly of experts, including representatives of member States, development partners and other organizations with observer status in GIABA. A key element during the plenary meeting is the consideration of the follow-up report of some member states under the Second Round of Mutual Evaluation. Other meetings in the margin of the Plenary are the consideration of the reports of Risks, Trends and Methods Group (RTMG)-typologies, the Forum of Financial Intelligence Units (FFIU) in GIABA member States and the Technical Assistance Group.

The event offers an opportunity for member States to come together to share their experiences regarding the challenges they face in implementing effective AML/CFT measures. The Plenary meeting is GIABA’s statutory meeting, bringing in discussion around a safe economic system for the region, and thus an integral part of GIABA’s efforts to foster regional integration in the ECOWAS region.

The 31^st GIABA Ministerial Committee (GMC), which will meet on Saturday, May 23rd, 2026, is the highest decision-making organ of GIABA; it comprises the Ministers of Finance, Justice, and Security/Interior of all member States. The GMC will consider and adopt the Director General’s Summary Activity Report, Report of the GIABA 44th Technical Commission/Plenary Meetings, amongst other reports.

GIABA, as a specialised ECOWAS institution as well as a FATF-Styled Regional Body (FSRB), holds twice a year technical commission/plenary meetings for representatives of member States to discuss several pertinent issues that require a concerted and harmonised approach in addressing them.

 

.../...

 

NOTICE OF EXPRESSION OF INTEREST

 

 

Selection reference:	GIABA/BUDGET/2026/SCI/10
Subject:	Selection of a protocol assistant on behalf of GIABA.
Remuneration:	$12,000 per year.
Publication date:	April 30, 2026
Deadline:	May 25, 2026

 

NOTICE OF CONTRACT AWARD FOR ANNUAL PROJECT AUDITS

NO	POSITION	GRADE	Email Address
1	Information Officer (Outreach)	P3/P4	infout26@courtecowas.org
2	Translator French * 2	P4	trans26fr@courtecowas.org
3	Translator English	P4	trans26en@curtecowas.org
4	Interpreter (French)*2	P5	inter26fr@courtecowas.org
5	Revisor Portuguese	P5	revis26pt@courtecowas.org
6	Senior Research Officer	P4	seresof26@courtecowas.org
7	Accountant Treasury	P3/P4	acctree26@courtecowas.org
8	Documentalist /Archivist	P3/P4	docarc26@courtecowas.org
9	Senior Court Reporter (Portuguese)	P3/P4	senrept26pt@courtecowas.org
10	Research Officer	P2/P3	resoff26@courtecowas.org
11	Legal Officer	P2/P3	legoff26@courtecowas.org
12	Proofreader (French)	P1/P2	prfread26@courtecowas.org
13	Court Reporter (Portuguese)	P2/P3	creport26pt@courtecowas.org
14	Information Officer (New Media)	P2/P3	infonm26@courtecowas.org

Institution	INTERGOVERNMENTAL ACTION GROUP AGAINST MONEY LAUNDERING IN WEST AFRICA
Selection Method:	Selection of Individual Consultant
Selection reference:	GIABA/BUDGET/2026/SCI/05
Subject:	Selection of an Administrative Assistant for the Abidjan Information Center.
Location:	Abidjan-Côte d’Ivoire.
Remuneration:	$12,000 per year.
Publication date:	February 16, 2026
Deadline:	09 March 2026

 

·        Deadline for receipt of applications: 09 March 2026 at 17:00 GMT.

·        Applications will be submitted at: consultants@giaba.org.  cc mnnakorba@giaba.org   and dnunez@giaba.org.

·        Application format: the application must be in the form of a single PDF file

·        Specify in the subject line: "SCI05- Administrative Assistant"

Institution	INTERGOVERNMENTAL ACTION GROUP AGAINST MONEY LAUNDERING IN WEST AFRICA
Selection Method:	Selection of Individual Consultant
Selection reference:	GIABA/BUDGET/2026/SCI/06
Subject:	Selection of an IT Assistant for the Abidjan Information Centre.
Location:	Abidjan-Côte d’Ivoire.
Remuneration:	USD 12,000 per year.
Publication date:	February 16, 2026
Deadline:	09 March 2026

·        Deadline for receipt of applications: 09 March 2026 at 17:00 GMT.

·        Submission links: Applications will be submitted at:  consultants@giaba.org. cc mnnakorba@giaba.org  and dnunez@giaba.org

·        Application format: the application must be in the form of a single PDF file

·        Specify in the subject line: "SCI06- GIABA IT Assistant"

GIABA is looking to engage the services of a qualified individual consultant to design, develop, and implement an internal SharePoint-based intranet system leveraging Microsoft 365 technologies.

GIABA invites interested Radio and Television stations of the following States: Benin, Cape Verde, Côte d'Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo to express their interest in providing the services described above.

The Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA) has commenced the 3^rd round of mutual evaluation of its member States with the on-site visit of the Republic of Ghana from  January 26 to February 6, 2026. Ghana is the first country to be evaluated in the 3^rd round of GIABA mutual evaluation calendar.

GIABA mutual evaluations are in-depth country reports analysing the implementation and effectiveness of measures to combat money laundering, terrorist financing and proliferation financing. The reports are peer reviews, where members from different countries assess another country. Mutual evaluations provide an in-depth description and analysis of a country’s anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing system, as well as focused recommendations to further strengthen its systems.

GIABA conducts peer reviews of each member on an ongoing basis to assess levels of implementation of the FATF Recommendations, providing an in-depth description and analysis of each country’s system for preventing criminal abuse of the financial system. During a mutual evaluation, the assessed country must demonstrate that it has an effective framework to protect the financial system from abuse.

Dignitaries and top government officials present during the opening ceremony include Ghana’s Deputy Finance Minister, Hon Thomas Nyarko Ampem, Governor, Bank of Ghana, Dr. Johnson Pandit Asiama, Director-General of GIABA, Mr. Edwin W. Harris Jr., National Security Coordinator, COP Osman Abdul Razak, CEO, FIC, Mr. Albert Kwadwo Twum Boafo, representative from Ministry of Foreign Affairs,  Coordinating Director for Multilateral and International Organisations, Ambassador Francis Danti Kotia.

The closing ceremony was witnessed by the Minister for Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, ⁠CEO of the Ghana Financial Intelligence Centre, Mr. Albert Kwadwo Twum Boafo, 2nd Deputy Governor, Bank of Ghana, Madam Matilda Asante, Deputy Coordinator, National Security Council Secretariat, Mrs. Elizabeth Yankah, and 2nd Deputy Commissioner, Mensah Thompson.

GIABA continues to make significant progress in its work as it relates to its compliance mandate. The conclusion of the on-site is a significant milestone in the chain of the Mutual Evaluation exercise. GIABA congratulates Ghana for submitting to the process.

 

GIABA PROCUREMENT PLAN FOR THE YEAR 2026

The Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, was created on 28^th May 1975 and currently comprises 12 member-states namely: Benin, Cabo Verde, Cote D’Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo. The sub-regional body was created out of a desire to improve the lives of the people through the promotion of cooperation and development in all areas of economic activity: intra-regional trade, free movement of persons, goods and services, and the harmonization of sectoral policies. The ultimate aim is the constitution of a West African Common Market and a Customs and Monetary Union.

To effectively execute its programs towards the realization of its objectives, ECOWAS created various Institutions and specialized Agencies among which the Intergovernmental Action Group Against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA).

GIABA is currently recruiting qualified and capable nationals of ECOWAS Member States who are below the age of 45 years into the positions advertised in the table below.

Candidates wishing to be considered for a post should download the JOB APPLICATION FORM, (Press button ctrl & clik)  fill it and send it as an attachment to the corresponding email address  with their CVs, diplomas/certificates and motivation letter.

Special Notice:

1.      Only applications sent through the indicated addresses in the advertisement will be considered.

2.      Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for the interviews.

3.      Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise and a competency-based interview.

 

N°	Position	Grade	Job Code	Directorate	Email address	Closing date	Duty station
1	INFORMATION MANAGER	P3/P4	20001172	Director General Office	g1172infman@giaba.org	28/02/2026	Abidjan – Côte d’Ivoire
2	Protocol Assistant	G4/G5/G6	20003315		g3315proass@giaba.org	28/02/2026	Abidjan – Côte d’Ivoire
3	INTERPRETER (French booth)	P3/P4	20001168	DIRECTORATE ADMINISTRATION & FINANCE	g1168intfr@giaba.org	28/02/2026	Dakar - Senegal
4	Administrative Officer	P3/P4	20001144		g1144adminoff@giaba.org	28/02/2026	Dakar - Senegal
5	HUMAN RESOURCE ASSISTANT	G4/G5/G6	20001157		g1157hra@giaba.org	28/02/2026	Dakar - Senegal
6	Non-Financial Institutions Officer	P1/P2/P3	20003958	DIRECTORATE EVALUATION & COMPLIANCE/	g3958nonfinoff@giaba.org	28/02/2026	Dakar - Senegal
7	TYPOLOGIES OFFICER	P3/P4	20003360	DIRECTORATE POLICY & RESEARCH	g3360typoff@giaba.org	28/02/2026	Dakar - Senegal
8	Research, Documentation & Publication Assistant	G4/G5/G6	20001141		g1141resdocass@giaba.org	28/02/2026	Dakar - Senegal

 

Institution	Intergovernmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA)
Selection Method:	Selection of Individual Consultant
Selection reference:	GIABA/BUDGET/2025/SCI/01
Subject:	Selection of a national individual consultant for the mid-term evaluation of GIABA's Strategic Plan 2023-2027.
Publication date:	January 18, 2026
Deadline:	02 February 2026

ECOWAS AUTHORITY ADMITS BURKINA FASO, MALI AND NIGER AS NON-ECOWAS MEMBERS OF GIABA

The Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has granted the admission of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger as non-ECOWAS members of GIABA. The admission of the three countries is dependent on their strong political commitment to fully implement obligations required of GIABA members, including addressing deficiencies in their Anti-Money Laundering/Countering the Financing of Terrorism/Countering Proliferation Financing (AML/CFT/CPF) frameworks, and cooperating and complying with all obligations related to Anti-Money Laundering, Countering the Financing of Terrorism, and Countering Proliferation Financing as provided for under the GIABA Statute.

This was part of decisions reached at the end of the 68th Ordinary Session of the Authority held on 14 December 2025 in Abuja, Nigeria, under the chairmanship of H.E. Julius Maada Bio, President of the Republic of Sierra Leone and current Chair of the Authority.

It would be recalled that Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger formally completed their withdrawal from the ECOWAS on January 29, 2025, after they have formed a new confederation, the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).

Previously, the GIABA Ministerial Committee (GMC) had recommended the applications of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger for admission as non-ECOWAS members of GIABA during its 2nd Extraordinary session held on July 19, 2025, in Accra, Ghana.

The GIABA establishment statute permits it to accept non-ECOWAS member States as members, provided they meet the eligibility criteria. With the new admissions, GIABA now has five non-ECOWAS countries in addition to Sao Tome and Principe and the Union of Comoros.

GIABA HOLDS ITS 44^TH TECHNICAL COMMISSION AND PLENARY MEETINGS IN MONROVIA

The Intergovernmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA) will hold its 44th Technical Commission and Plenary meetings from November 17 to 21, 2025, in Monrovia, Liberia.

Meeting twice a year, this major gathering of stakeholders in the fight against money laundering and terrorist financing (AML/CFT) aims to promote discussions among technical experts from Member States (MS) on the threats and challenges relating to the fight against economic and financial crimes in the sub-region. It also allows MS to address relevant issues that require a concerted and harmonised approach to the effective implementation of AML/CFT measures. Finally, as a platform for sharing experiences, the plenary sessions also provide opportunities to establish partnerships among experts, MS representatives, technical partners, and observers in the context of AML/CFT.

In Monrovia, discussions will focus on the Follow-Up Reports (FURs) of the second round of mutual evaluations of Member States, including Mali, Niger, Guinea, and Sierra Leone. The Mutual Evaluation and Monitoring Processes and Procedures aim to assess the implementation and effectiveness of the laws, regulations, or other measures required by the core criteria. These mutual evaluations also make it possible to verify whether all necessary measures have been fully and adequately implemented. They also aim to help member states address gaps identified in their AML/CFT systems, in order to ensure compliance with international standards.

In Monrovia, there will also be discussions on the meeting of the Working Group on Risks, Trends and Methods (RTMG) and the Policy Review Group (PRG). The focus will be on updating the report on the typology of money laundering, terrorist financing, and proliferation financing (ML/TF/PF) risks related to trade in GIABA member states, as well as on adopting the Operational Manual for Member States' FIUs/CICs.

Also, on the agenda for the 44th Technical Commission and Plenary Meeting, there is the closed-door Regional Forum of Financial Intelligence Units (FFIUs), a special session led by the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism of the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Centre (UNCCT), the election of the bureau of the presidency of the Technical Commission, the Director General's summary activity report, etc. The opening ceremony of the meeting is scheduled for Thursday, 20^th November 2025. The President of the Republic of Liberia is invited to declare the session opened.  

The community institution's silver jubilee (25^th Anniversary) will be celebrated in Monrovia on 21^st November 2025. Created by the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in December 2000 as West Africa's response to the harmful effects of money laundering and terrorist financing (ML/TF), GIABA has, since its creation, made significant progress in various aspects relating to mechanisms for combating economic and financial crimes in its member states.

Celebrating this milestone means celebrating its successes and achievements. It also means identifying its mission among the contemporary ML/TF/PF challenges facing the sub-region; it means assessing its impact in promoting a robust AML/CFT/PF mechanism in West Africa; it means examining its future roles in the global AML/CFT/PF ecosystem; and finally, it means motivating staff and other stakeholders in their efforts to combat economic and financial crime.

TORONTO, November 7, 2025 - The Toronto Centre for Global Leadership in Financial Supervision (Toronto Centre) and the Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA) are pleased to announce the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to deepen collaboration in combatting of money laundering and the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT).

Money laundering and terrorist financing pose serious threats to financial (and general) stability and integrity of a country. They can lead to banking crises, governance weaknesses, and wider economic repercussions. This MOU outlines the efforts that Toronto Centre and GIABA are taking to combat these offenses, including the delivery of programs for financial supervisors in GIABA member jurisdictions that will enhance their AML/CFT toolkits, in accordance with the standards of the Financial Action Task Force.

Babak Abbaszadeh, President and CEO, Toronto Centre, stated:

“The MOU with GIABA highlights our shared commitment to strengthening the global response to money laundering and the financing of terrorism. By investing in training and capacity building, we are empowering financial supervisors to lead with integrity and safeguard the resilience of the financial system. We are honoured to partner with GIABA.”

Mr. Edwin W. Harris Jr., Director General, GIABA, also shared his thoughts on the MOU:

“This MOU represents a strategic milestone in our efforts to strengthen AML/CFT frameworks across West Africa. By combining our regional expertise with Toronto Centre’s global leadership in financial supervision, we are enhancing the capacity of our member States to safeguard financial integrity and promote sustainable development.”

Together, Toronto Centre and GIABA are committed to furthering AML/CFT measures in West Africa, ensuring the financial stability of vulnerable populations in the region.

To learn more about the missions and initiatives of Toronto Centre and GIABA, please visit our respective websites as follows:

 

Toronto Centre - https://torontocentre.org/

GIABA - https://www.giaba.org/

The Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA) and the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) will convene a Joint Experts’ Meeting (JEM) in Accra, Ghana from November 4 to 6, 2025. The meeting is supported by the Government of the Republic of Ghana.

The annual Joint Experts’ Meeting is a key global platform for operational engagement, which brings together experts from across the FATF Global Network to share practical insights, innovative strategies, and leading practices in tackling the evolving threats of money laundering, terrorist financing, proliferation financing, and related financial crimes. The JEM plays a critical role in informing the FATF’s work by drawing on the frontline experiences of practitioners. It strengthens the effectiveness of the Global Network’s collective response to emerging typologies and risks, while fostering collaboration and consistency in the implementation of AML/CFT standards worldwide.

The 2025 JEM is designed to achieve such objectives that align with the broader goals of enhancing global cooperation and strengthening the effectiveness of AML/CFT efforts across the FATF Global Network and GIABA member States, among which are: enhancing the understanding of emerging money laundering, terrorist financing and proliferation financing typologies and financial crime threats; strengthening regional and global collaboration in combating ML/TF/PF and related financial crimes; fostering strategic partnerships among key stakeholders; promoting mutual learning and exchange of good practices; providing operational input to support FATF and GIABA work programmes; initiating a structured engagement between the private sector and the FATF Global Network focusing on region-specific risks and emerging issues: and identifying opportunities for technical assistance and capacity building.

About 250 delegates are expected to participate, including distinguished experts from FATF member countries, various FATF-Style Regional Bodies (FSRBs), international organizations, and selected private sector stakeholders.

At the end of the Joint Experts Meeting, several key outcomes that will contribute to both global and regional efforts in combating financial crime, while reinforcing the strategic priorities of FATF and GIABA are expected. These include: operational insights and inputs to inform and shape FATF and GIABA work programmes; enhanced regional and global cooperation; improved understanding of emerging ML/TF/PF risks and typologies; identification of good practices and common challenges; stronger public-private sector engagement framework; opportunities for targeted technical assistance and capacity building; and network-building among AML/CFT practitioners

The Intergovernmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA), in collaboration with the National Financial Intelligence Unit (CENTIF-Côte d'Ivoire) and the Coordinating Committee for National Policies on AML/CFT and the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction, is organising a national workshop on the development of a framework and strategy for the collection and management of data to combat money laundering and terrorist financing (AML/CFT) from 10th to 12th  November 2025 in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.

This initiative is part of the regional project to support the design of national AML/CFT databases, implemented by GIABA in three member states – Côte d'Ivoire, Cabo Verde and Ghana – before its extension to all ECOWAS countries in 2026.

In a regional context marked by rising risks related to money laundering, terrorist financing and proliferation, strengthening financial governance and economic resilience is more important than ever. Despite the progress made, data collection and exchange systems remain fragmented and often manual, limiting the effectiveness of national AML/CFT mechanisms. This is why GIABA, aware of the strategic importance of data in the prevention and detection of illicit financial flows, supports the establishment of centralised, secure and interoperable national databases, in accordance with Recommendation 33 of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).

This workshop therefore aims to provide Côte d'Ivoire with a coherent national framework for collecting, analysing and sharing data on AML/CFT/FP. Specifically, it will involve designing a centralised system to consolidate and standardise the information produced by the various institutions concerned, strengthen the technical capacities of national actors, improve inter-institutional coordination and ensure faster access to reliable data for risk-based supervision, assessment and decision-making. Through this integrated approach, the country will strengthen its compliance with FATF and GIABA international standards, while consolidating its regional leadership in the fight against financial crime.

Over a period of three days, the programme will combine plenary sessions, thematic presentations, group work and practical training. It will bring together some thirty senior executives from the main Ivorian institutions, including the BCEAO, CENTIF, the Directorate-General of Customs, the Directorate-General of Taxes, the National Police, the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights, the Platform for Combating Economic and Financial Crime (PLCC), the UEMOA Financial Markets Authority (AMF-UEMOA), the Trade and Personal Property Credit Register (RCCM), the National Institute of Statistics (INS) and the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI-CI). This institutional diversity will ensure a comprehensive and complementary approach to the issue of data.

The workshop should yield concrete results, including the development of a draft national framework for data collection and management, the definition of a prioritised roadmap for its implementation, and the adoption of a plan for the gradual roll-out of the national AML/CFT/PF database. These deliverables will enable Côte d'Ivoire to strengthen the consistency and traceability of its efforts, improve the supervision of financial activities, and consolidate results in terms of investigations, prosecutions, and the confiscation of illicit assets.

Through this initiative, GIABA, CENTIF and the Coordinating Committee for National Policies on AML/CFT and the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction reaffirm their shared commitment to promoting transparency, financial integrity and regional cooperation in the fight against money laundering and terrorist financing. This workshop is therefore a decisive step towards building a reliable and sustainable data ecosystem, promoting more secure and resilient financial governance in Côte d'Ivoire and the sub-region.

 

 

Timothy MELAYE

Ag. Head - Communications and Advocacy

 

…/…

 

Reference number - 01/Cl/GIABA/DAF/P-CD4AML/2025

Sector: Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing (AML/CFT)

Financing Agreement Reference: P-Z1-KF0-072

Project Identification Number: 5900155017401

The Intergovernmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA) has received funding from the African Development Bank for the cost of the Project to Strengthen Capacities to Combat Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing in West African States in Transition, and intends to use part of the agreed amount of this grant for payments under the contract of a Project Procurement Officer (individual consultant).

The services included in this project are as follows: a) updating the procurement plan at least quarterly and as needed; b) filing and archiving all documents and contracts; c) establishing a mechanism to monitor the procurement process, particularly deadlines, in order to quickly identify potential causes of delays, inform senior management and suggest ways to resolve them; d) drafting requests for expressions of interest and requests for proposals and ensuring their timely publication; e) ensuring the quality of technical specifications and terms of reference produced by programme officers; f) prepare tender documents, requests for quotations and requests for proposals; g) monitor the publication of tender notices in the appropriate media (websites, newspapers); h) Participate in the opening of bids, the evaluation of submissions and the awarding of contracts, providing useful advice to stakeholders involved in the procurement process; i) Draft contracts between GIABA and consultants, suppliers and service providers; j) follow up on "no objection" documents requested from partners, if necessary; k) ensure that all decisions relating to the award and execution of contracts comply with the signed agreement and the regulations in force; l) assist/contribute to the drafting of and provide expert advice on incoming and outgoing communications relating to procurement; m) ensure that contractual commitments are systematically recorded in the information system and communicated to the Accountant; n) ensure that the results of tenders are published in a timely manner after the contract has been awarded and that unsuccessful bidders receive the necessary information; o) upon request, assist the Internal Procurement Committee (IPC) in evaluating bids and providing insights; p) assist committees or subcommittees responsible for analysing the selection of bids or the award of contracts, and any other activity deemed necessary by the Project Implementation Unit.

Expressions of interest should be sent by email to the address below, preferably before 14 November 2025, at 17:00 GMT, with the subject line "CD4AML/CFT Project Procurement Officer". 

For the attention of: PROCUREMENT UNIT

Intergovernmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA)

SICAP Complex, Point E,1stFloor, Building A

Av. Cheikh-Anta DIOP x Canal IV - P.O. Box 32400

Dakar, Senegal

Tel.: +221 33 859 18 18

Email: consultants@giaba.org

Institution	Intergovernmental Action Group Against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA)
Subject	Recruitment of Consultants to Conduct National Workshops on Asset Recovery & Management of Seized and Confiscated Assets for National Competent Authorities
Sector	Anti-Money Laundering and Counter Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT)
Financing Agreement reference:	P-Z1-KFO-072
Project ID No.	5900155017401
Location	Dakar, Senegal
Date of Publication	22 October 2025
Deadline	05 November 2025