ATAF Tax Academy Expands Training Programs for African Tax Professionals
The academy's programs emphasise regional collaboration through expert roundtable discussions and workshops tailored to African contexts.
PRETORIA, South Africa—The African Tax Administration Forum (ATAF) Tax Academy is strengthening its capacity-building initiatives across Africa, rolling out an expanded curriculum for 2025 that emphasises data analytics, fraud detection, and international tax governance, writes Winston Mwale.
Key programs include specialised courses in VAT fraud investigation and transfer pricing, developed in partnership with the OECD and International Government Forum (IGF).
The academy also launched an executive postgraduate program with Leiden University focusing on global tax governance.
"The academy has empowered me as a taxation practitioner, equipping me with the necessary knowledge and tools to excel in my role," said Tasiyana Siavhundu, Training Officer at Zimbabwe Revenue Authority.
"The practical emphasis of the training, coupled with high-quality facilitators, has enabled me to gain both theoretical and hands-on experience."
The curriculum expansion responds to growing demands for sophisticated tax administration skills across the continent.
New courses incorporate advanced analytics and scientific approaches to improve tax compliance and revenue forecasting.
"I have successfully applied the expertise acquired from the ATAF courses to revise and enhance our training curriculum," Siavhundu said.
"This has led to better training outcomes for our tax officers, ultimately contributing to the efficiency of our tax administration processes."
The academy's programs emphasise regional collaboration through expert roundtable discussions and workshops tailored to African contexts.
Participants gain access to networking opportunities with tax professionals across member states while developing technical expertise in areas such as monitoring and evaluation, taxpayer services, and fiscal planning.