Effective tax policy begins with sound evidence. As African countries respond to increasingly complex domestic and international tax challenges, strengthening research capacity has become essential for designing policies that are effective, equitable and responsive to rapidly changing economic realities.
To help build these capabilities, the ATAF Tax Academy, in partnership with Leiden University, is currently delivered its Tax Research and Policy Research Skills Workshop, bringing together 97 tax professionals from 24 ATAF member countries. The online programme, which ran until 16 July 2026, combining self-paced learning through the ATAF Learning Management System (LMS) with five interactive virtual sessions led by international experts.
The workshop equipped participants with the knowledge and practical research skills needed to support evidence-based tax policymaking and administration. Participants explored key issues shaping the future of taxation, including global tax governance, international tax cooperation, tax equity and justice, sustainability and environmental taxation, illicit financial flows, exchange of information, technology-driven tax administration, and contemporary research methodologies.
Beyond strengthening technical knowledge, the programme was designed to develop practical research competencies. Upon completion, participants were expected to critically analyse emerging international tax policy issues, apply rigorous research methodologies to complex tax challenges, formulate evidence-based policy recommendations, and produce high-quality policy papers, research proposals and analytical studies that can inform tax reforms within their respective administrations.
The workshop formed part of ATAF’s broader commitment to strengthening research and analytical capacity across African tax administrations. By enabling tax professionals to generate and apply evidence in policy development, the programme served as support to countries in evaluating existing tax measures, responding to emerging fiscal challenges and designing reforms that strengthen domestic revenue mobilisation.
The partnership with Leiden University reflects ATAF’s strategic commitment to building sustainable tax expertise across the continent. Internationally recognised for its research in international taxation and global tax governance through the GLOBTAXGOV programme, Leiden University complements ATAF’s technical work in areas such as Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS), the Global Minimum Tax (Pillar Two), digital taxation, transfer pricing, international tax treaties, the United Nations Framework Convention on International Tax Cooperation, and broader tax governance issues affecting developing countries.
Beyond this workshop, the collaboration creates opportunities for joint research, academic exchange, policy dialogue and postgraduate education, helping develop a new generation of African tax professionals equipped to contribute to evidence-based tax policy and strengthen domestic revenue mobilisation across the continent.
