ATAF and AfDB strengthen Africa’s development through a decadelong strategic partnership

ATAF and the African Development Bank (AfDB) have sustained a decade-long partnership focused on mobilising resources for Africa’s development. This collaboration reflects a shared commitment to enhancing domestic resource mobilisation (DRM), a critical strategy for African countries aiming to fund their national development agendas and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The ATAF-AfDB partnership is driven by the need to improve tax policy, tax administration, and public financial management across the continent. Effective DRM does not necessarily mean introducing new taxes or increasing rates. Instead, it involves optimising existing systems—streamlining tax policies, enhancing administrative efficiency, and simplifying filing processes. These improvements can significantly boost state revenues, providing governments with the funds needed to invest in critical sectors like education, healthcare, and infrastructure.

Over the years, ATAF and the AfDB have formalised their collaboration through several key agreements, including the Regional Institutional Support Project on Public Financial Governance (RISPFG) Phases I and II, a DRM study for Central Africa, collaborative support to Regional Member Countries (RMCs), fragile states and Public Financial Management. These initiatives are designed to bolster tax systems, curb illicit financial flows, and support gender equality through targeted programs like the ATAF Women in Tax Network (AWITN).

“Our partnership with the African Development Bank has been instrumental in driving the reforms needed to strengthen Africa’s tax systems,” said ATAF Executive Secretary, Mr. Logan Wort. “By improving tax policies and administration, we are not just increasing revenue but laying the groundwork for sustainable development. The focus on curbing illicit financial flows and adapting to the digital economy ensures that Africa’s growth is both resilient and inclusive. Together with the AfDB, we are committed to building a future where African countries can fully fund their development agendas and achieve lasting prosperity.” 

The impact of this partnership is evident in the outcomes of the RISPFG projects. The first phase, which concluded with significant success, provided technical assistance, knowledge sharing, and peer learning opportunities that have strengthened tax administration and public finance management in several African countries. This phase laid the groundwork for RISPFG Phase II, which continues to build on these achievements with a broader focus on DRM, public finance management, and promoting resilience for sustainable and inclusive growth. 

One of the standout achievements under this partnership is the DRM study for Central Africa. It has provided crucial revenue and customs-related data for countries such as Cameroon, Chad, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Mr. Emeka Nwankwo, Head of Member Services at ATAF, remarked on the study’s significance: “The DRM study for Central Africa has been instrumental in providing reliable data that will shape strategic decisions across the region. It is a critical resource for tax administrations, policymakers, and practitioners, offering a comprehensive reference for national and regional resource planning.” 

As ATAF and the AfDB continue to collaborate, the focus will remain on expanding and deepening their impact across Africa and providing more specialised country support. Future initiatives would include more targeted technical assistance to RMCs, emphasising areas such as fiscal policy, Tax transparency, tax expenditure management, capacity building and overall domestic resource mobilisation through taxation to that underpin Africa’s development agenda.

ATAF continues to solidify its position in Central Africa as a leading taxation organisation in tax matters through the project using the ATAF’s African Tax Outlook (ATO) data and indicators. Initially involving three ATAF member countries – Cameroon, Chad and Democratic Republic of Congo, the project now also includes countries such as Central African Republic, Congo and Gabon to broaden its impact. The primary objectives are to inform tax administrations and policymakers on implementing reforms to improve tax systems for domestic resource mobilisation and to include all regional countries in ATAF’s flagship publication, the African Tax Outlook. 

At its core, the DRM project will present a regional report that is envisioned as a comprehensive reference manual targeted primarily at tax administrations, tax policy decision-makers, tax practitioners, and taxpayers. It will analyse trends in macroeconomic and tax administration data, evaluating revenue collection performance and the efficacy of specific tax functions in these six Central African nations. In addition, it will be providing comprehensive insights and recommendations aiming to support member countries in strengthening their tax systems and ultimately contributing to their economic development and sustainability.