The Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes has appointed South African Revenue Service (Sars) Commissioner Edward Kieswetter  vice-chairperson of the Africa Initiative.

Kenya Revenue Administration Githii Mburu has been appointed chairperson of the Africa Initiative.

The Africa Initiative is a programme of work focusing on tax transparency and exchange of information (EOI) in Africa. It was launched during the plenary meeting of the Global Forum in October 2014, in Berlin, by African members of the Global Forum along with other partners.

Initially launched for a three-year period to 2017, the initiative was renewed to cover the years 2018 to 2020 and then renewed again for three years from 2021 to 2023.

For 2021 and beyond, the Africa Initiative will continue to build political awareness throughout Africa; help new members implement the core stage of tax transparency and EOI; consolidate the progress achieved by members since 2014; increase its efforts on transparency of beneficial ownership information and the automatic exchange of information; and explore with interested members enhanced building blocks, such as the cross-border recovery of tax claims.

The Africa Initiative is open to all African countries and currently has 32 African member jurisdictions. Countries participating in the Initiative have committed to meeting specific and measurable targets in implementing and using the international tax transparency standards.

Since its launch in 2014, the Africa Initiative has accentuated two strategic pillars to strengthen the benefits of tax transparency and EOI in Africa.

The first pillar aims to raise political awareness about the benefits of tax transparency and EOI to gain the necessary political buy-in and commitment from African decision-makers. This has taken place through high-level events in Africa, as well as meetings with African Cabinet Ministers and partners during which tax transparency is promoted.

The second pillar of the Africa Initiative aims to create awareness and build the capacity of tax administrations in tax transparency and EOI.

Working with its partners, the Global Forum Secretariat assists African countries to strengthen their legal framework to ensure availability and access to information relevant for tax purposes.

It also helps to establish equipped and skilled EOI units, as well as to provide training to officials, including tax auditors to effectively use EOI instruments in tackling tax evasion and illicit financial flows and eventually increase domestic revenue collection.