IBFD CSAT and WAUTI sign MoU at the Africa Tax Symposium, Nairobi, Kenya
On 30 May 2024, the IBFD Centre for Studies in African Taxation (CSAT) and the West African Union of Tax Institutes (WAUTI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), to collaborate on various tax initiatives.
The IBFD-CSAT was represented by Belema Obuoforibo, Chair, Centre for Studies in African Taxation (CSAT), Member of the IBFD Executive Board, and Victor van Kommer, Member, CSAT Management/ Member of the IBFD Executive Board, while WAUTI was represented by their president, George Kwatia.
The MoU provides a framework for collaboration on broad taxation issues including capacity development, sharing experiences on international taxation and domestic tax systems and research. The WAUTI Secretariat and the IBFD-CSAT, will jointly monitor the progress in implementing the signed MoU.
Belema Obuoforibo expressed her optimism about the collaboration, stating, “the MoU sets the foundation for driving the development of research in the field of taxation as well as building the IBFD author and correspondence network within the sub-region. The goal is to build strong regional partnerships that foster growth and development of tax systems in Africa”.
Victor van Kommer added that “the MoU clears the path for blending expertise that would drive capacity and policy development and support revenue mobilisation initiatives within the sub region”.
This collaboration is set to be mutually advantageous for the growth of both organizations. It aims to enhance the understanding and advancement of tax systems, drive key tax reforms in the region, provide greater insights on tax developments among industry experts and other relevant stakeholders as well as building the IBFD author and correspondence network.
On his part, George Kwatia said, “It is a great milestone to secure a formal partnership with, IBFD’s CSAT, and this partnership will inspire the discovery of greater opportunities, on the road to developing and promoting the tax profession within the sub-region particularly in research, event collaboration and capacity development for the benefit of WAUTI members.”
Capacity building and tax research is at the heart of WAUTI, and the same is true for CSAT. The congruity of objectives naturally births a strong bond for years to come in pursuit of enhancing taxation capacity and expertise in the sub-region and beyond.