Harare, Zimbabwe, August 27, 2024
– A development that is important for Africa’s economic future is the
African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF), the leading capacity development institution in Africa and the African Tax Administration Forum (ATAF), the continent’s premier authority on tax matters, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This MoU is a critical step towards strengthening African tax systems by promoting capacity building initiatives for domestic resource mobilization and supporting sustainable development in Africa.

Under this MoU, ACBF will provide expertise in leadership development, capacity building and institutional strengthening through its Institutional Accelerator Model (IAM) to support the public financial management system in Africa, drawing on its extensive experience in building human capital and institutional capacity for Africa’s sustainable development. ATAF will provide expertise in tax administration, policy and legislation, building on its proven track record in improving tax systems across Africa.

“Strengthening domestic resource mobilization is fundamental to any robust global public financial management system. ACBF continues to work with African countries to support these critical development areas. Our strategic partnership with ATAF, Africa’s leading tax authority, will significantly enhance and complement ACBF’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the capacity of African countries to finance their development priorities,” said Mamadou Biteye, Executive Secretary of ACBF.

By pooling expertise and resources, ACBF and ATAF will support African countries in building robust tax systems, ultimately contributing to improved domestic resource mobilization and sustainable development. This partnership will focus on key initiatives, including capacity building programs for senior tax administration and policy leaders, developing organizational assessment tools, and promoting best practices on tax capacity building. In addition, the collaboration will facilitate research and knowledge sharing on tax policy and administration and ensure that African countries receive comprehensive support in building effective tax systems. These initiatives will form the backbone of our joint efforts.

“This MoU is an important step in further developing African tax systems and supporting ATAF’s broader mandate for effective and sustainable tax administrations. By combining ATAF’s experience and expertise in tax matters with ACBF’s capacity building expertise, this partnership will strengthen our joint efforts to increase domestic resource mobilization and improve financial management across the continent. Through this collaboration, we aim to build a more robust tax infrastructure that equips African countries to meet future challenges and supports sustainable development,” commented Logan Wort, Executive Secretary of ATAF.

With this MoU, ACBF and ATAF commit to the long-term goal of significantly improving the efficiency and effectiveness of Africa’s tax architecture. This commitment is a testament to our belief in the potential of African leaders and institutions to drive inclusive growth and sustainable development on the continent. We are optimistic that this partnership will have a positive impact on domestic resource mobilization and sustainable development.

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For further information please contact:

Ms Fatou Diouf

Head of Communication & Influence, ACBF

[email protected]

Ziggy Fikiri

Manager: Communication & Marketing, ATAF

[email protected]

ABOUT ACBF

The African Capacity Building Foundation is the premier capacity development partner in Africa. With a mission to develop the human capital and institutions needed for Africa’s comprehensive and sustainable development, the ACBF has worked to improve the institutional capacity of 40 African states. This includes training more than 50,000 civil servants who hold key positions in finance, planning or economic development ministries and central banks across the region. The African Union has granted the ACBF the status of a specialized capacity development agency. The ACBF’s headquarters are in Harare, with regional offices in Nairobi for East and Central Africa, Accra for West and Central Africa, and a liaison office in Addis Ababa.

ABOUT ATAF

ATAF is a pan-African organization dedicated to building efficient and effective tax systems across Africa. It has 44 member countries and is mandated to promote economic development and improve the living standards of the people of Africa through taxation. In implementing its mission, ATAF supports its member states in achieving their revenue targets, promotes the role of taxation in African governance and nation-building, creates and disseminates knowledge on tax issues to support policy and legislative processes, and promotes transparency and accountability to improve tax collection.
In addition, ATAF gives African countries a voice on regional and global platformsinfluences the international tax debate and develops and supports partnerships between African countries and development partners.