ATAF Head of International & Cross Border Taxation, Mr Antony Munanda, urged members of ATAF’s Joint Technical Committees (JTCs) to continue serving as champions of ATAF’s work by promoting the use and implementation of ATAF products within their administrations, sharing practical feedback from their application, and helping strengthen Africa’s collective voice on tax matters.
The call came at the conclusion of the 9th ATAF Technical Committee Meetings, which brought together 60 tax experts from 15 member countries to discuss practical solutions for strengthening tax systems, combating illicit financial flows, and improving domestic revenue mobilisation.
Treaty policy featured prominently throughout the meetings, with members reviewing ATAF’s evolving treaty policy framework, including the revised ATAF Model Double Taxation Agreement, the ATAF Tax Treaty Negotiation Manual, and the Policy Guide on Treaty Benefits. Together, these tools are designed to help countries negotiate stronger tax treaties, safeguard taxing rights, and address challenges such as treaty shopping and outdated treaty provisions that no longer reflect today’s global economy.
Members also reviewed progress on the ATAF Automatic Exchange of Information (AEOI) IT System, being developed in partnership with the Zambia Revenue Authority and with support from the World Bank Group. Built specifically for African tax administrations, the platform is expected to strengthen the exchange and use of tax information, helping countries improve compliance and tackle cross-border tax evasion.
Discussions further explored beneficial ownership transparency and the role of company registrars in strengthening Exchange of Information systems. Members also examined emerging issues, including artificial intelligence, cryptocurrency, interoperability of tax systems, and the taxation of the gaming and betting industry—areas that are increasingly shaping the future of tax administration across Africa.
The meetings also highlighted how ATAF’s technical work is translating into practical support for member countries. One example is the ATAF Guide on Effective Taxation of High-Net-Worth Individuals in Africa, which is already supporting implementation efforts across the continent. Lesotho recently became the first country to begin implementing the framework with ATAF support, developing a compliance framework and implementation roadmap aimed at strengthening revenue collection.
