There was a time when Africa’s voice in global tax debates felt like an echo in a distant room, scattered, unheard, and often shaped by those who didn’t live our realities. For years, different regional blocs tried to close that gap, from the early frameworks under the African Union to sub-regional initiatives like ATAF’s predecessors in COMESA and SADC tax networks, and later, Africa’s participation in OECD and UN tax committees. Yet, despite these efforts, the continent’s tax story remained fragmented, a collection of good intentions without a unified rhythm.
Then came a turning point. A new platform was born, not from bureaucracy, but from a shared awakening that Africa needed its own voice, rooted in its own experience. That platform was the African Tax Administration Forum (ATAF). For me, ATAF represents more than just a network of tax authorities; it is the quiet revolution that has redefined how Africa sees and defends its own revenue destiny. It’s where policy meets purpose, capacity meets courage, and African tax administrators speak not as individual countries but as a collective determined to shape fairer global tax rules.
When I look at ATAF today, from its advocacy on digital taxation to its stance on global minimum tax reforms, I see a living testimony that Africa is no longer a silent observer in the tax world. ATAF is our bridge to global relevance and our proof that Africa can negotiate not from the sidelines, but from the centre of the table.
Formally launched in November 2009 in Kampala, Uganda, ATAF emerged out of earlier efforts and regional initiatives which sought to bring African tax administrations into closer cooperation. When it was founded, few could have imagined how quickly it would transform Africa’s presence in the global tax space. At the time, global conversations on taxation, especially around base erosion, profit shifting, and treaty fairness, were dominated by voices from developed economies. Africa, despite being rich in resources, contributed little to the drafting of rules that governed how those resources were taxed. That imbalance often meant lost revenue and diminished sovereignty.
ATAF stepped in to change that narrative. Its mission was simple but revolutionary: to create a platform where African countries could share experiences, build capacity, and speak collectively in shaping international tax rules. Through its technical committees, working groups, and policy engagements, ATAF began coordinating Africa’s position on key reforms, ensuring that global tax standards reflected the realities of African economies.
ATAF’s membership spans across Anglophone, Francophone, and Lusophone Africa. From Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland (Eswatini), Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and others. The organization has a secretariat in Pretoria, South Africa.
Across this broad membership, ATAF serves national tax administrations, parliamentarians, policy-makers, tax practitioners, and academics, helping them share best practices, build expertise, and coordinate positions in international forums. These professionals now have access to training courses, master’s programmes, peer networks, technical notes, and data tools that were previously not available in many African countries.
Since its inception, ATAF has pursued a transformative vision, helping African nations mobilize domestic resources and reduce dependency on external aid. Headquartered in Pretoria, South Africa, ATAF has trained and equipped tax professionals across the continent.
To date, over 17,000 African tax officials have benefited from ATAF’s technical assistance. Between 2016 and 2023, its initiatives helped member states issue USD 4.75 billion in additional tax assessments and collect USD 1.9 billion in actual revenue, funding schools, hospitals, and infrastructure without foreign aid.
ATAF’s flagship publication, the African Tax Outlook (ATO), launched in 2015, now covers 39 countries, providing Africa’s first comparative database of tax performance, structures, and policy trends. Complementing this is the African Tax Research Network (ATRN), which nurtures Africa’s tax policy thinkers and researchers through conferences, peer learning, and policy papers.
ATAF’s most profound contribution has been its role in amplifying Africa’s collective voice at the world’s tax negotiation tables. Through the OECD/G20 Inclusive Framework on BEPS, ATAF coordinates Africa’s position on digital taxation, transfer pricing, and global minimum tax reforms. When debates on Pillar One and Pillar Two reforms intensified, ATAF stood firm, ensuring that developing nations were not sidelined in how profits of multinational enterprises are allocated.
It continues to influence global policy at the United Nations, advocating for a UN Framework Convention on International Tax Cooperation, and works closely with the African Union Commission to harmonize Africa’s regional tax strategy.
“ATAF has made Africa impossible to ignore in global tax reform; we now negotiate from the centre, not the sidelines.”
Across member countries, ATAF’s work is delivering visible results.
Nigeria and Kenya have adopted ATAF-guided transfer pricing and digital services tax frameworks.
Ghana and Rwanda have improved cross-border audit capacity through ATAF’s mentorship.
Zambia has strengthened its treaty negotiation capacity under ATAF’s peer-review mechanism.
South Africa and Mauritius now support regional training programmes through ATAF’s expert pool.
For my country, Uganda, the story is equally inspiring. The Uganda Revenue Authority has leveraged ATAF’s training on international taxation, exchange of information, and digital economy taxation to refine its audit and treaty policies. In 2024, Uganda earned a seat on ATAF’s Governing Council, a continental recognition of its leadership in building robust tax systems.
ATAF’s work transcends taxation; it embodies Africa’s broader pursuit of economic independence. By championing fair tax practices and building technical expertise, it has restored confidence that African challenges can be met with African solutions.
The Forum’s recent focus on taxing the digital economy, extractives, environmental levies, and high-net-worth individuals reflects foresight and innovation. As global trade becomes digital and intangible, ATAF ensures that Africa is not left behind in capturing value from modern economies. “ATAF’s real victory is not in policy documents, but in the quiet empowerment of Africa’s tax professionals like me.”
As a tax advisor, I see ATAF not merely as an institution but as a continental movement of intellect and integrity. It has transformed Africa from a passive recipient of global tax rules into an active designer of them. Its commitment to capacity building, policy reform, and fair international representation has changed how the world perceives African tax administrations. It has given our continent not only a seat at the table but the courage to lead the conversation.
I therefore commend ATAF for its unwavering commitment to empowering Africa’s tax community. Its achievements serve as a call to action for tax experts, legislators, researchers, and policymakers to engage more deeply in its initiatives, to share knowledge, refine laws, and strengthen systems that define our fiscal future.
Because when Africa speaks with one tax voice, informed, united, and confident, the world no longer debates our relevance; it listens to our leadership.
The author is a Chartered Accountant and Tax Advisor.
