ATAF

From 16–20 March 2026, ATAF experts Mr. Linstrom Marangu and Mr. @FrankKalizinje were in Malawi, supporting efforts to strengthen health and excise tax systems—demonstrating ATAF’s continued impact in building effective and responsive tax administrations across Africa. The mission began with a high-level engagement with the @MRA_Malawi Commissioner General, Mr. Felix Tambulasi followed by technical discussions with teams across Policy, Legal, Domestic Taxes, and Customs. These engagements are critical to ensuring that tax policies are not only well-designed but also practically implementable and enforceable. By focusing on health taxes and excise systems, the initiative addresses two key priorities: strengthening domestic revenue mobilisation and improving public health outcomes. From refining policy frameworks to enhancing administrative capacity and exploring the use of appropriate technologies, ATAF’s support is tailored to deliver sustainable, country-specific results.

As part of our ongoing collaboration with the @KRACorporate, through the @KESRA_KRA, ATAF is supporting efforts to strengthen tax administration reforms and align domestic systems with evolving international standards. From 9–13 March, our experts Dr. Moses Chamisa and Ms. Wynonna Steyn delivered targeted technical assistance focused on enhancing KRA’s capacity in revenue forecasting and tax analysis—key tools for effective fiscal planning and informed decision-making. Through practical, hands-on engagement, the programme strengthened approaches to assessing revenue performance, applying forecasting techniques, and using analytical tools to improve the accuracy and credibility of revenue projections. The impact is clear: stronger data, better insights, and more informed policy decisions. By building these capabilities, ATAF is helping KRA enhance compliance strategies, improve budget planning, and strengthen domestic resource mobilisation.

Today ATAF hosted the African Development Bank (@AfDB_Group) delegation, headed by Director Abdoulaye Coulibaly. The engagement with ATAF, led by the Executive Secretary Mary @BaineM2, reflected on the strong and impactful partnership between the two institutions, particularly in advancing domestic resource mobilisation across Africa. Through AfDB’s continued support, ATAF has strengthened capacity, delivered impactful programmes, and contributed to improved tax systems on the continent. Concretely, the amount of revenue collected through ATAF's assistance to its members translates into a 42.% ROI on the support provided, which is 428 times the initial amount invested in organisation. Discussions highlighted the progress of the current project, the tangible impact achieved in previous phases, and the promising results emerging from ongoing work. Importantly, both institutions explored opportunities to deepen collaboration and scale impact in support of Africa’s development priorities. ATAF looks forward to building on this valued partnership with the African Development Bank to continue driving sustainable domestic resource mobilisation across the continent, drawing on ATAF’s niche expertise in providing technical, administrative and policy tax support to African member states, using a tailored and tiered approach which focusses on country-specific programmes, regional-level support and continental solutions.

During her official visit to Luanda, Angola, the Executive Secretary, Ms Mary Baine, paid a courtesy call to the President of the Administração Geral Tributária (AGT), Dr José Leiria, to reaffirm cooperation and ensure that ATAF’s support remains closely aligned with AGT’s reform priorities. Discussions focused on strengthening collaboration in key technical areas, including Exchange of Information, Transfer Pricing oversight, VAT compliance management, and capacity building for AGT officials. The engagement also provided an opportunity to review the impact of ATAF’s technical assistance and explore ways to further enhance Angola’s capacity to address cross-border tax risks and illicit financial flows. Both parties also exchanged views on Angola’s broader tax reform agenda, including efforts to strengthen compliance management, expand the use of digital systems and third-party data, and broaden the tax base as part of the country’s ongoing efforts to strengthen domestic revenue mobilisation.

We are delighted to welcome a delegation from Tanzania’s Office of the Tax Ombud, led by the Acting Ombud, Ms Witness Mollel, as well as the @TaxOmbud to our offices in Pretoria. During this benchmarking and knowledge-sharing visit, delegates engaged with our experts on approaches to strengthening tax administration and promoting good governance. Discussions also focused on sharing regional experiences, exchanging practical insights, and exploring solutions that can be adapted to Tanzania’s context.

The Executive Secretary, Ms Mary Baine, accompanied by Mr Romeo Nkoulou-Ella, responsible for Member Engagement and External Relations, is travelling to Luanda, Angola, for a courtesy visit to the leadership of the Administração Geral Tributária (AGT). The visit aims to strengthen collaboration between ATAF and AGT, review ongoing technical support, and explore new opportunities to advance Angola’s tax administration reforms. This engagement reflects our continued commitment to working closely with our member countries to build stronger and more resilient tax systems across Africa.

The AWITN @ 5 Anniversary Webinar celebrated the progress made in advancing women’s leadership in tax administration while recognising that much more remains to be done to achieve gender equality. Delivering the keynote address, AWITN Board Chair and Commissioner General of the National Revenue Authority of Sierra Leone (SNRA), Ms Jeneba J. Bangura, reflected on the persistent inequalities that continue to shape leadership and economic opportunities across the continent, stressing that “clearly more needs to be done to transform this status quo.” She emphasised that tax administrations have an important role to play in advancing inclusive development, commending all the 23 ATAF member countries who signed the AWITN Pledge since 2024. She highlighted examples of progress across ATAF member administrations. She pointed to the Gambia Revenue Authority (GRA) for fast-tracking institutional reforms that increased female representation in senior management from 6 to 23 women out of 72 positions by October 2025. She also noted that the Namibia Revenue Agency (NamRA) revised its maternity leave policy to address workplace policies that disproportionately affect women. In Sierra Leone, she cited her own experience, noting that since the launch of the SNRA mentorship programme in 2022, the proportion of women in executive positions has increased from 25 per cent to 39 per cent. These examples demonstrate that “tax policy and administration can play a key role in promoting gender equality and supporting sustainable development of our continent.” Calling for collective responsibility, Commissioner General Bangura encouraged leaders and institutions to translate commitments into meaningful change. “It all starts with all of us doing the right thing for the Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls,” she said.

As the ATAF Women in Tax Network (AWITN) celebrates its 5th anniversary, the milestone offers an opportunity to reflect on how a bold idea launched in 2021 has grown into a continental movement advancing women’s leadership in tax administration. Opening the anniversary webinar, the Executive Secretary Ms Mary Baine reflected on the Network’s journey and the deliberate commitment behind it. “Since the inception of AWITN, ATAF has invested resources and time in supporting this strategic initiative,” she said, highlighting mentorship programmes, leadership initiatives, and the growing participation of women in ATAF capacity-building programmes across the continent. She emphasised that mentorship remains central to the Network’s mission: “Mentorship is one of the priorities of AWITN,” she noted, recognising the many women who have dedicated their time and expertise to supporting the development of the next generation of leaders in tax administration. The Executive Secretary also paid tribute to those who laid the foundation for the Network’s success, acknowledging former AWITN Board Chairs Dr Amélia Muendane and H.E. Ms Veronique Herminie, former ATAF Executive Secretary Mr Logan Wort, as well as Ms Varsha Singh, Commissioner General of the Seychelles Revenue Commission and ATAF's Ms Susan Nakato, for their role in establishing and promoting AWITN. Looking ahead, she encouraged participants to continue building on the progress achieved so far, stressing that “there is no better time than now for us to drive real change and transformation through gender mainstreaming in tax systems.”

Join the AWITN 5th Anniversary Webinar and hear from Rachel Mkundai (TRA), Viviane Kabare (DGI–Burkina Faso), and Julinda Makili (NamRA) as they share how the ATAF Women in Tax Network has shaped their professional journeys and supported their growth. Be part of the conversation as we celebrate "Five years of empowerment: Advancing Women's Leadership in African Taxation." Date: 16 March 2026 Time: 11:00 – 12:00 CAT Register here to join the celebration: ataftax-org.zoom.us/webinar/regist…

Un impôt sur la fortune pourrait-il contribuer à renforcer l’équité fiscale et la mobilisation des recettes intérieures ? C’est la question au cœur d’une récente mission menée au Burkina Faso, au cours de laquelle les experts de l’ATAF, Dr Joëlle Traoré et M. Ronald Waiswa, ont travaillé en étroite collaboration avec la Direction générale des Impôts (DGI) afin d’examiner la faisabilité de l’introduction d’un impôt sur la fortune ciblant les personnes les plus aisées. Cette mission a donné lieu à une série de consultations avec plusieurs directions de la DGI, le ministère des Finances, ainsi que d’autres parties prenantes clés. Les échanges ont porté sur les cadres juridiques et administratifs nécessaires à la mise en place d’un tel dispositif, ainsi que sur les exigences en matière de données et de capacités institutionnelles pour en assurer une mise en œuvre efficace. Les discussions ont également permis d’explorer les principales sources de richesse dans le pays, les défis liés à l’identification des contribuables à haute valeur nette, ainsi que la disponibilité des informations administratives nécessaires pour appuyer une éventuelle réforme. Cette analyse s’inscrit dans une réflexion plus large visant à identifier des options de politique fiscale susceptibles de renforcer l’imposition de la richesse et d’améliorer l’équité du système fiscal, tout en veillant à ce que toute réforme envisagée reste adaptée aux capacités administratives du pays. À l’issue de la mission, Mme Éliane Djiguemdé Ouédraogo, Directrice générale de la DGI-Burkina Faso, a salué cette collaboration, soulignant que les échanges avec les experts de l’ATAF ont apporté des contributions utiles aux réflexions en cours au sein de l’administration.

Zimbabwe is continuing to take significant steps to embrace tax transparency and exchange of information, contributing to global efforts to combat tax evasion and illicit financial flows. These efforts aim to ensure that its legal system and administrative capability align with international standards, which will be assessed in a forthcoming peer review by the Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes. To support this process, our International Tax, Policy and Administration Advisor, Ms Melissa DeJong, EOI Expert Ms Reem Abuzied, and the ATAF Chair of the EOI Technical Committee, Mr Joseph Balikuddembe from the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA), worked closely with colleagues from the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA), as well as representatives from the Ministry of Finance, Companies Registry, and the Reserve Bank, alongside key private sector stakeholders. Practical discussions, mock assessments, and hands-on sessions enabled participants to review key EOIR elements and work through the requirements for completing the peer review questionnaire. A detailed set of recommended actions will be prepared to guide Zimbabwe in further strengthening its legal framework and practical implementation. This engagement was supported by the GIZ Good Financial Governance in Africa project through the Multi-Donor Action on Fighting Tax-Related Illicit Financial Flows in Africa, co-funded by the European Union, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, and the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). The visit follows an initial mission conducted in March 2025, which focused on Phase 1 of the peer review and included a comprehensive assessment of the legal, regulatory, and institutional framework governing transparency and exchange of information. The discussions examined strengths, identified technical and legislative gaps, and provided targeted recommendations to

Celebrating five years of advancing women’s leadership in African taxation. Since its establishment, the ATAF Women in Tax Network (AWITN) has championed the advancement of women in tax administration across Africa  by raising awareness on the interconnectivity of tax systems and gender equality. AWITN marks its 5th Anniversary with a special webinar reflecting on its journey and its role in strengthening gender responsive practices and strategies across African tax administrations. Theme: Five Years of Empowerment: Advancing Women’s Leadership in African Taxation 📅 16 March 2026 ⏲️ 11:00 – 12:00 CAT Scan the QR code on the poster to register and join the conversation.

Mr Ephraim Murenzi (ATAF’s EOI Specialist), together with Mr Paul Ahey of the Ghana Revenue Authority and Mr Tatu Ilunga from GIZ, delivered an Exchange of Information workshop in Luanda from 2–4 March 2026. The workshop supported the Angolan General Tax Administration in strengthening its readiness to implement international Exchange of Information standards. Discussions focused on handling EOI requests, reinforcing the role of the Competent Authority, preparing for the Global Forum peer review process, and developing a roadmap for implementation. Strengthening Exchange of Information capabilities will help Angola combat tax evasion, improve transparency, and enhance domestic revenue mobilisation. This workshop was supported by the GIZ Good Financial Governance in Africa project through the Multi Donor Action on Fighting Tax Related Illicit Financial Flows in Africa, co-funded by the European Union, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland and the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). As African economies become increasingly interconnected, strengthening exchange of information remains central to protecting tax bases and supporting sustainable domestic revenue mobilisation