The role of EOI in the fight against IFFs Africa: An ATAF reflection

PRETORIA – The African Tax Administration Forum (ATAF), in collaboration with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), is getting ready for the ATAF-GIZ Conference on Transparency and Illicit Financial Flows (IFFs), happening from 15-16 September.

The conference's theme is The Role of EOI in the fight against IFFs on the African Continent. 

In 2015, High-Level Panel (HLP), chaired by former South African President Thabo Mbeki, came up with a detailed report on the IFF status in Africa, which contained several recommendations. Then, in February 2021, Financial Accountability, Transparency and Integrity (FACTI) Panel launched its report on IFF with 14 recommendations to improve tax transparency, integrity and accountability.

• READ: Why tax transparency plays a crucial role to stemming illicit financial flows

Implementation of the HLP and FACTI reports require political commitment, coordination by multiple stakeholders and a country targets. As most IFFs from African countries end up in financial institutions outside Africa, intergovernmental cooperation aiming at enhancing transparency and exchange of information (EOI) for tax purposes is an important solution to tackling international tax evasion and aggressive tax avoidance. The conference will explore the transparency agenda, its role and the current progress made to combat IFFs.

• READ: FACTI Meeting focuses on effects of IFFs on developing countries

QUESTIONS THE CONFERENCE AIMS TO ADDRESS ARE:

• The critical importance of EOI on the African Continent and the current status
• Maximising opportunities under IFF information in EOI process.
• Pooling resources: Instruments to facilitating exchanges and combat IFF across the continent
• What strategies are available to fast track the implementation of various recommendations

This conference is expected to attract experts from the African tax administrations, international organisations, civil society organisations (CSO), policymakers, and officials working to enhance the transparency agenda, particularly the exchange of information. The focus is bringing the exchange of information and other transparency measures to light in implementing strategies to combat illicit financial flows (IFFs) from Africa. 

HERE'S WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT:

Day one will focus on the current status of various programmes, projects, and transparency mechanisms to achieve targets. 

Day two and the final day, will reflect on the methods available to fast track the implementation of recommendations and use the pooling of resources to execute. 

Get involved by registering for the conference here.