Paris, 23 juillet 2025

Fostering FSRBs’ voice and participation in FATF work

Jamaica and Nigeria are the two new countries invited by the FATF President to participate in the FATF-Style Regional Body (FSRB) jurisdictions Guest Initiative aimed at fostering inclusiveness, enhancing the cohesion of the Global Network and strengthening global capacity in the fight against illicit finance. This is an opportunity to better inform our work with voices that can share the challenges faced by the Caribbean and West African regions.

Jamaica, a member of the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) and Nigeria, a member of the Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA), will participate for one year in three consecutive FATF Plenary and related working group meetings (October 2025, February 2026 and June 2026) .

The countries follow the Cayman Islands and Senegal which were welcomed into the Guest Initiative from October 2024, followed by Kenya which was welcomed in February 2025 and continues to participate.

This initiative, a presidential priority for current President, Elisa de Anda Madrazo, furthers the FATF’s priority to increase its inclusivity and strengthen cohesion across the Global Network.

FATF President, Elisa de Anda Madrazo said: “This initiative is mutually beneficial, both enhancing global understanding and encouraging guest jurisdictions to act as lighthouses in their region to boost defences against illicit finance at a regional level. And that is what the FATF is all about – countries sharing and learning from each other to make the international financial system a defensive shield against dirty money.”

Fayval Williams, Minister of Finance and the Public Service of Jamaica, said:

“This invitation to participate in the FSRB guest initiative reflects the international community’s continued recognition of our progress; it represents a significant opportunity for Jamaica to contribute to global policy direction on anti-money laundering and counter-financing of terrorism (AML/CFT). Jamaica’s participation aligns with national priorities to maintain international confidence in our financial system, deepen our engagement with multilateral institutions, and enhance our role as a leader within the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF).

Hajiya Hafsat Bakari, Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Intelligence Unit (NFIU), said:

“We welcome the recognition by the FATF of the strong role Nigeria is playing to ensure effective implementation of AML/CFT standards across the region. The positive reforms of our AML/CFT framework are a vital part of the administration’s efforts to boost economic growth and development and this invitation by the FATF is a signal that we are on the right track and will reinforce our commitment to ensuring these standards are fully entrenched not just in Nigeria but across the wider region.”

A delegation from each guest jurisdiction will participate in all open sessions of the FATF Plenary and related working group meetings from October 2025, with their own seat at the table and under their own flag.

This initiative builds on one of the priorities of the Global Network that was identified in June 2024 at the Annual High-Level Meeting of the FATF President and FSRB Co-Chairs to increase FSRBs’ voices and participation in FATF work.

It builds on other efforts to increase the contributions of FSRB members to FATF work so that a diversity of perspectives can better inform FATF policy-making and global risk understanding.