GIABA Approves $650,000 Grants for CSOs to Combat Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing in West Africa

GIABA Approves $650,000 Grants for CSOs to Combat Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing in West Africa

The Inter-Governmental Action Group Against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA) has approved a total of $650,000 in grants for Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) across the region to support the fight against money laundering and terrorist financing through heightened public awareness and advocacy.

The grants, disbursed between 2024 and 2025, include $350,000 released last year and an additional $300,000 issued this year to 12 CSOs. These funds are aimed at enhancing awareness on asset recovery and management in member-states.

Speaking at a regional sensitisation seminar in Lagos, themed “Requirements for Fighting Against Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT),” GIABA Director-General Edwin Harris emphasized the importance of civil society in advancing regional security.

The seminar served as a platform to promote stronger engagement between GIABA and CSOs. It encouraged organisations to carry out outreach campaigns to raise public awareness on AML/CFT issues and to use their platforms to share GIABA-related content and promote anti-financial crime measures.

GIABA highlighted the urgent need for multi-stakeholder collaboration in tackling money laundering and terrorism financing, noting that since 2011, it has prioritized partnerships with the private sector and civil society as part of its strategic approach.

Harris said:

“GIABA is West Africa’s regional body against money laundering, terrorist financing, and proliferation financing (ML/TF/PF).”

He explained that GIABA was formally established as a specialized ECOWAS institution in December 2000 to enhance member-states’ capacities to prevent and control money laundering and terrorism financing.

He stressed the necessity of preventing financial crimes to ensure sustainable peace and economic growth in the sub-region.

“The 2024 grant, issued through a competitive bidding process, targeted public sensitisation against terrorism and violent extremism, particularly in Northeast Nigeria and the Mano River Union countries of Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Guinea.

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“This year, 2025, GIABA has already released another 300,000 US Dollars to 12 CSOs in the region to create massive awareness and advocacy around asset recovery and management in our member-states.

“The immediate outcomes as we are seeing are already encouraging. I therefore urge you all to continue to work harder for a peaceful and economically viable West Africa,” Harris said.

Also speaking at the event, GIABA’s Head of Information, Timothy Melaye, reiterated the agency’s commitment to deepening collaboration with CSOs.

“GIABA will continue to engage the CSOs in our work to ensure a safe, sound and resilient region of West Africa,” he stated.