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Faith leaders and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Tanzania have been challenged to enhance their engagement with the government in order to drive meaningful advocacy for international tax negotiations and reforms. This came out of the conclusion of two-day training program in Arusha, Tanzania, that focused on fostering collaboration and driving meaningful change to champion tax justice in Tanzania.
The training was organized by Tax Justice Network Africa (TJNA) and brought together more than 40 representatives from CSOs, and faith-based organisations from all over the country. The sessions encompassed essential topics such as the understanding and significance of taxation, addressing tax injustices, understanding illicit financial flows (IFFs), assessing the impact of multinational corporations on tax justice, and examining the global context of tax policy.
Speaking during the training, TJNA’s Policy Officer, Tax and International Financial Architecture, Francis Kairu, noted that the training was a good starting point for the Tanzanian CSOs & faith leaders and would allow them to begin a process of engaging their national government to address international tax reforms and champion tax justice.
Equipped with newfound knowledge and skills, the participants expressed their readiness to champion the cause of tax justice, driving systemic change and reshaping the country's fiscal dynamics.
“The training is valuable for my knowledge and benefits for my roles and responsibilities as a leader and tax justice champion. I have understood the complex tax concepts and working frameworks. I have also understood the place of values, morals, and ethics among tax champions, practitioners, and authorities in bringing about tax justice in Africa. Moving forward, success in this journey will only be realized if we plan and work together as Faith organizations and Civil Society in Tanzania,” added Bishop Nelson Kisare, Presiding Bishop Menonnite Church of Tanzania, Chairman of the Interfaith Standing Committee (ISCEJIC).
By equipping CSOs and faith leaders with the knowledge and expertise needed to address tax injustice, this capacity development workshop in Tanzania represented a significant step toward establishing a fairer and more equitable society.
Through such trainings, TJNA seeks to create and empower tax justice champions at national levels. These activities also provide a solid foundation for the revamped and upcoming International Tax Justice Academy (ITJA) scheduled for August 2023 and aimed at deepening understanding and skills in tax justice advocacy across the continent.
The training was co-facilitated by Policy Forum-Tanzania, the Interfaith Standing Committee on Economic Justice and Integrity of Creation (ISCEJIC) and Norwegian Church Aid Tanzania.
For more information about our participation, please contact Francis Kairu at fkairu@taxjusticeafrica.net