Best Practices Paper: The Use of the FATF Recommendations to Combat Corruption

AML/CFT experts and anti-corruption (AC) experts recognise that the FATF Recommendations can be a powerful tool in the fight against corruption. When effectively implemented, the FATF Recommendations create an environment where it is difficult for corruption to thrive and remain undetected. 

Although AML/CFT and AC efforts are mutually reinforcing, they are not always brought together effectively. This is an issue of great importance to the international community, including the G20. The FATF has held three experts meetings, jointly with the G20 Anti-Corruption Working Group (ACWG), to provide an international platform for the exchange of views between AML/CFT and AC experts: President's Summary of Outcomes from the Expert's meeting on Corruption, 27 February 2011, President's Summary of Outcomes from the Experts’ meeting on Corruption, and President's Summary of Outcomes from the Experts’ Meeting on Corruption, 12 October 2013. Participating experts at these meetings agreed that there was a need for further tools to enhance the understanding of the FATF Recommendations and how they can be used in anti-corruption efforts. 

This best practices paper aims to provide policy makers and practitioners with guidance and best practices on how AML/CFT measures can be used to combat corruption. The FATF developed this paper with direct input from the AC experts of the G20 ACWG, and built on existing work by the FATF:

• Use of the FATF Recommendations to support the fight against corruption  
  The Corruption Information Note was published for the general public on how to leverage AML/CFT measures in the fight against corruption.  (October 2012)
  
  
• FATF Guidance: Politically Exposed Persons (Recommendations 12 and 22))
  This guidance paper was developed to assist countries and the private sector in the development and implementation of measures to implement Recommendations 12 and 22 on PEPs. (June 2013)
  
  
• Specific Risk Factors in the Laundering of Proceeds of Corruption - Assistance to reporting institutions 
  This report provides assistance to financial institutions and designated non-financial businesses and profession (DNFBPs) to better analyse and understand the specific risk factors associated with laundering the proceeds of corruption. (June 2012)
  
  
• Laundering the Proceeds of Corruption 
  This report analyses typologies used to launder the proceeds of corruption through an analysis of cases from a practitioner’s perspective to assist in the understanding of money laundering techniques used. (July 2011)