The Inter Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa has published a Technical Assistance Information Sharing Guide that sets out how technical assistance information may be shared within and outside GIABA. The guide is designed to address overlapping activity with technical and financial partners and establishes a consent-based framework tied to security classifications, with dissemination generally requiring both GIABA management approval and the technical assistance recipient’s consent. The guide distinguishes between several categories of information and applies different disclosure standards to each. The fact that technical assistance has been provided, its general subject matter, and project administration information are generally treated as non-confidential unless the recipient indicates otherwise, and may be shared with staff, partners and, in some cases, the public. Information forming the basis of technical assistance advice is presumed confidential, may be shared beyond GIABA only in limited coordination cases with explicit consent from the recipient and any relevant third party, and will generally not be published. Final technical assistance mission reports and other final advice are also treated as confidential, but may be shared with the direct recipient, other domestic agencies on a non-objection basis, and donors or other technical assistance providers with a legitimate interest if the recipient consents and confidentiality is maintained. Publication is permitted only with recipient consent and approval from the head of the authoring technical assistance department, with scope for deletions of highly market-sensitive material or policy intentions whose premature disclosure would seriously undermine implementation. The guide excludes mutual evaluation reports, certain typologies and research materials, and information already governed by GIABA’s communication strategy or open archives policy. Technical assistance directorates are responsible for implementation, staff are expected to alert recipients to the rules when technical assistance is requested, and the guidelines took effect on November 21, 2025.
Inter Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA)2026-01-01
Inter Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa issues technical assistance information sharing guide with consent based disclosure rules
The Inter Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa has issued a guide governing how technical assistance information is shared within GIABA and with recipients, donors, other providers and the public. It makes basic information on technical assistance and project administration generally shareable, while treating underlying working material and final advice as confidential and subject to recipient consent, management approval and classification rules. The guidelines took effect on November 21, 2025.