Twenty-one tax officials from 10 Southern African nations gather for a two-week intensive programme aimed at translating international tax transparency standards into practical compliance tools and cross-border cooperation.
The ATAF, in partnership with GIZ, officially piloted the Training on Tax Transparency covering Beneficial Ownership and Exchange of Information in Johannesburg, South Africa on 18 May 2026.
The training is the pilot of two training modules (BO and EOI respectively) on tax transparency and it brings together 21 tax officials from 10 Southern African countries, creating a collaborative platform for strengthening regional cooperation and advancing practical implementation of tax transparency frameworks.
Opening the training, Mr Emeka Nwankwo, ATAF Head of Member Services, emphasised that effective transparency ultimately depends on how administrations use information once it is obtained. “As we work to deepen compliance, the last mile usage of tax transparency information in our compliance risk management is critical.”
Echoing this message, Mr Ulrich Wehnert, Cluster Coordinator for Governance Programmes at GIZ, underscored the operational dimension of transparency reforms: “Addressing tax transparency and exchange of information for tax purposes requires more than policy — it requires smart tools and use of the information by tax administrations.”
Over two weeks, participants will engage in an intensive programme designed to move beyond theory and into practice. The training focuses on translating international tax transparency standards into administrative action — from identifying and using beneficial ownership information and exchange of information data in audits, risk assessments, and investigations, to strengthening exchange of information processes, enhancing cross-border cooperation, and ensuring the effective handling of confidential taxpayer data.
Sessions combine technical presentations, peer learning, simulations, and country experiences. Discussions also align African administrative practices with global transparency frameworks. The programme is delivered under the Multi-Donor Action on Combatting Illicit Financial Flows in Africa (MDA), co-financed by the European Union, Finland, and Germany, and implemented by GIZ.
