Christian Aid and Tax Justice Network Africa have released “Africa Rising? Inequalities and the essential role of fair taxation”, a report which explores the link between tax policy and inequality. Focusing on 8 African countries (Kenya, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Zambia, Malawi, Zimbabwe and South Africa), the report reveals that despite a robust growth rate and some positive progress in essential services such as health and education in recent years, income inequality in sub-Saharan Africa is set to worsen without a strong set of tax policy reforms at national and global level. To address this issue, the paper makes four recommendations: (i) at a national level, sub-Saharan African Governments should focus on raising tax revenues; (ii) a pan-African coordination of tax policies among sub-Saharan Governments and enhanced regional cooperation and information sharing; (iii) global reforms where the international community tackles financial secrecy and tax havens; and (iv) optimise the opportunity of the new post-2015 framework replacing the MDGs by ensuring that fairer taxation is at the core of the new forthcoming system of targets and indicators.

The 12th Plenary Session of the Leading Group on innovative financing for development took place on January 17th in Abuja under the Nigerian presidency. Among the various issues discussed, the day-long plenary event clarified the categorisation of existing initiatives of innovative financing and discussed the state of the international mobilisation in favour of solidarity taxes. It also started a debate on initiatives of innovative financing for climate change. Finally, it was announced that a workshop of international experts aiming to follow up on the various issues discussed in Abuja is planned for the Spring 2014 in Paris. The agenda, event summary, keynote speeches and related documentation are all available on the Leading Group website.