African tax experts gain research skills through ATAF’s training
The training marked Phase One of ATAF’s broader research development programme, designed to cultivate a new generation of African tax researchers. It provides not just academic instruction, but practical tools for applying research to real-world tax challenges.
ATAF hosted Phase One of its Research Methods Training for tax administration and tax policy practitioners from 19-23 May 2025 in Pretoria, South Africa, as part of its ongoing efforts to strengthen research capacity within African tax administrations. This in-person training is a cornerstone of ATAF’s capacity building strategy aimed at enhancing evidence-based policymaking and operational improvements through rigorous research.
This week-long training was tailored to provide foundational knowledge and practical skills in research design, data analysis, and the development of high-quality research papers relevant to tax policy and administration in Africa. Participants included officials from revenue authorities, ministries of finance, and research institutions across Africa.
Conducting the training, Dr Alex Oguso, Research & Tax Modelling Unit at the Kenya Revenue Authority, noted that he greatly benefited from the education, “so we’d like you to take it seriously and benefit from it, as I did when I participated in 2019. When we look at you, we see trainers too.”
The training marked Phase One of ATAF’s broader research development programme, designed to cultivate a new generation of African tax researchers. It provides not just academic instruction, but practical tools for applying research to real-world tax challenges.
By investing in such capacity building initiatives, ATAF continues to support member countries in developing sound tax policies and improving administrative effectiveness, thereby enhancing domestic resource mobilisation for sustainable development.
