Pretoria, 19 March 2026 — A high-level engagement between ATAF and the African Development Bank Group (AfDB), led by Director Abdoulaye Coulibaly, provided an opportunity to reflect on a partnership that is delivering tangible results for domestic revenue mobilisation across Africa.
Welcomed by ATAF Executive Secretary, Ms Mary Baine, the discussions focused on both the evolution of the partnership and the results achieved to date, highlighting its role as a key driver of capacity building, policy development, and institutional strengthening across the continent.
Throughout the collaboration, AfDB’s support has enabled ATAF to deliver measurable outcomes. More than 6,700 tax officials have been trained, with participation from an average of 35 countries, strengthening technical capacity across African tax administrations. The partnership has also contributed to USD 3.1 billion in additional revenue assessed and USD 1.7 billion in revenue collected, demonstrating the strong fiscal impact of targeted technical assistance.
These outcomes reflect a high return on investment, with revenue gains significantly exceeding programme funding. Revenue collected through ATAF-supported interventions translates into a 42.8% return on investment, equivalent to 428 times the initial funding, underscoring the effectiveness of combining capacity building, technical support, and policy guidance in strengthening tax systems.
Discussions also reviewed progress under current programmes and the impact achieved across previous phases, including the expansion of ATAF’s delivery model through initiatives such as the Tax Academy and the Rapid Response Unit, which have enhanced the organisation’s ability to respond to country needs in real time.
Looking ahead, both institutions explored opportunities to deepen collaboration, with a focus on scaling impact in key areas such as digital transformation, data-driven compliance, and strengthening frameworks to address illicit financial flows.
The partnership will also continue to support emerging priorities, including health, climate, and gender-responsive taxation.
