African Development Fund invests more than $6 million to strengthen public finance management in African countries | African Development Bank

The African Development Fund Board of Directors has approved a $6.12 million grant to help strengthen public finance management in low-income African countries.

The funding is for Phase 2 of the Regional Institutional Support Project in Public Finance Governance (RISPFG), which will be implemented by two pan-African institutions: the African Tax Administration Forum (ATAF) and the Collaborative Africa Budget Reform Initiative (CABRI). The grant, which was formally approved on November 3, 2022, will be distributed as follows: $3.90 million to support the continent’s tax administration reforms and efforts to mobilize domestic resources through support to ATAF and $2 .22 million to support budget reforms and strengthen public finance management through CABRI .

This project is a follow-up to a first phase approved in 2016 by the African Development Bank and successfully concluded in September 2021 with both institutions (ATAF and CABRI). The overall objective of the project is to improve domestic resource mobilization and public finance management in recipient countries and help strengthen their efforts for sustainable, inclusive growth and development. More specifically, it aims to improve African tax systems through technical capacity building, strengthening public finance management capacities and integrating gender and climate change into taxation and public finance management. The project will also help countries build a common position and a stronger voice for the continent on regional and global platforms.

Abdoulaye Coulibaly, That said the director of the Coordination Bureau Governance and Public Financial Management of the African Development Bank In addition to development outcomes, the project also aimed to strengthen the resilience of national systems to various shocks, improve disaster preparedness and boost the transition to low-carbon economies, through climate-smart budgeting and fiscal policies.

“The project will contribute to strengthening the actions of the Public Financial Management Academy, a virtual platform for capacity building for African countries across the cycle and public finance management ecosystem, established in August 2022 by the Bank,” said Coulibaly. .

The project will help African Development Fund countries that are members of the two implementing organisations. Both their tax authorities and officials of finance ministries will benefit from capacity building. The project will contribute to the development achievements of the African continent and the achievement of several commitments, including finance for development, Agenda 2063 and Sustainable Development Goals. It will be carried out over a period of three years.

About the African Tax Administration Forum (ATAF)

The African Tax Administration Forum is an intergovernmental organization made up of 40 African member states. Founded in 2009, it aims to strengthen more effective and efficient tax systems in Africa, to reduce aid dependency, improve fiscal governance, reduce poverty and improve the daily lives of African citizens. In its more than a decade of existence, it has been recognized globally and regionally as an expert institution, technical leader and authoritative voice in tax matters. The secretariat is located in Pretoria, South Africa.

About the Collaborative Africa Budget Reform Initiative (CABRI)

Founded in 2009, the Collaborative African Initiative on Budget Reform is an intergovernmental organization encompassing 17 African countries. Its mission is to strengthen the capacity of civil servants to implement reforms that ensure public finances are managed with integrity, transparency and accountability. It serves as a learning and exchange platform for African Ministries of Finance, Budget and Planning. It currently works with more than 35 countries. The CABRI Secretariat is also located in Pretoria, South Africa.