IMF/World Bank to integrate assessments

WASHINGTON, DC -- The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank will jointly adopt a comprehensive and integrated approach to assessing compliance with international standards for fighting money laundering and terrorist financing in member countries. They have also agreed to step up the delivery of technical assistance to those countries whose financial systems are most at risk.

The decision, endorsed by the two institutions’ boards, builds on the recent 12-month joint pilot programme of assessments of international standards conducted in co-operation with international partners engaged in combating money laundering and financing of terrorism. Since the programme began in summer 2002, 41 countries have been assessed for compliance with international standards, including