Illicit Financial Flows (IFFs) hinder governments’ efforts to mobilize resources for long-term development projects. They could impede the endeavors for effective economic transformation to unfold on the continent. Although many African countries have taken steps to tackle IFFs, key policies in this regard remain under-implemented by most countries.
Ghana, Namibia and Zambia are part of the Open Society Foundations (OSF)-funded project “Statistical measurement of tax and commercial IFFs to enable more targeted policy action” (2024-2025). During the project, the three countries used UNCTAD’s Methodological guidance to measure tax and commercial IFFs to test measurement of various types of tax and commercial IFFs, including trade misinvoicing and aggressive tax avoidance. The three countries also used the new UNCTAD Triple A (“Assess, Analyse, Apply”) Policy Framework to produce policy recommendations based on statistical findings. Understanding the main activities driving IFFs is crucial for designing targeted and effective responses. Reliable IFFs data supports ongoing monitoring of changes in sources, destinations, types and channels, enabling enhanced evidence based policymaking.
The main objective of the workshop is to showcase Ghana, Namibia and Zambia’s findings of measuring trade misinvoicing IFFs, and share lessons learned and policy recommendations developed from the project. By leveraging on countries’ experiences and lessons learned, the workshop will enable participants to explore countries’ good practices and recommendations in the measurement process and learn the benefits of IFFs measurement for multiple (policy) purposes and national recommendations.
The audience of the workshop will be representatives of the three pilot countries, UNCTAD, and external stakeholders including UN Regional Commissions and other international organizations, international experts, academia, NGOs and think tanks.
The workshop will be held online, and participation is by invitation only.
