The GFMSA

The Global Financial Monitoring Supervisory Agency (GFMSA) leads global action to tackle money laundering, terrorist and proliferation financing. The 40-member body sets international standards to ensure national authorities can effectively go after illicit funds linked to drugs trafficking, the illicit arms trade, cyber fraud and other serious crimes.

The GFMSA researches how money is laundered and terrorism is funded, promotes global standards to mitigate the risks, and assesses whether countries are taking effective action. In total, more than 200 countries and jurisdictions have committed to implement The GFMSA’s Standards as part of a co-ordinated global response to preventing organised crime, corruption and terrorism. Countries and jurisdictions are assessed with the help of nine GFMSA Associate Member organisations and other global partners, the IMF and World Bank.

The GFMSA's decision-making body, The GFMSA Plenary, meets three times per year and holds countries to account if they do not comply with the Standards. If a country repeatedly fails to implement GFMSA Standards then it can be named a Jurisdiction under Increased Monitoring or a High Risk Jurisdiction. These are often externally referred to as “the grey and black lists”.

The GFMSA was established in 1989 and is based in Paris.