The world’s poorest countries are robbed of billions of dollars in vital revenue due to tax avoidance strategies used by some multinational corporations.

ActionAid’s new "Mistreated" report is based on a dataset of 500 tax treaties signed by low- and lower-middle income countries in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. This extensive research sheds lights on the tax agreements between LICs and wealthier countries and reveals the use of tax treaty networks to limit tax payments in LICs, therefore reducing the amount of crucial revenue as a vital source of public finance.

The report urges for the urgent review of these treaties, more transparency in the negotiation and ratification process as well as better impact assessment on revenue collection and development.

The final activities in the Seco-funded support to Sudanese debt policy and strategy concluded during February.

They began with a high-level seminar, at which the Ethiopian Economic Advisor to the Prime Minister shared Ethiopia’s experiences of HIPC and MDRI debt relief, and Sudanese policymakers discussed the draft national debt policy.This was followed by a training event on Debt Pro©, the software used by the IMF to assess debt relief needs and impact.

Finally, two senior Sudanese officials conducted a study tour to Addis Ababa to examine Ethiopian experiences in more detail. The project has been assessed by the Government of Sudan as having achieved its capacity-building aims, and the national debt policy is expected to be approved shortly.

DFI participated in a roundtable meeting organised in London by the UK Department for International Development on the forthcoming review of the LIC-Debt Sustainability Framework by the BWIs, and presented the findings of its paper on priorities for the review of the DSF. Another study completed in 2015 on priorities for debt issues in the FfD process has also been cleared by DFID for release. 

A new paper by the IMF examines the role of fiscal policies and institutions in building resilience in sub-Saharan African countries. Based on the analysis of a sample of 26 countries from the region over the 1990-2013 period, the report finds that raising tax revenues and a higher spending in social sectors create conditions favourable to economic resilience.

This correlation is further examined through case studies of 7 fragile countries (Cameroon, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda and Uganda) with a history of conflict or civil unrest, illustrating how they were able to build resilience and exit fragility.

DFI facilitated a regional capacity-building workshop for Oxfam International Asia, training around 30 staff on analyzing fiscal justice to combat inequality. The training covered anti-inequality government spending (using the GSW database) and anti-inequality tax policy (using a new GSW tax database), and helped participants to define priorities for regional and country strategies to campaign for fiscal justice. 

DFI participated in a British Academy International Forum with the secretariat of the International Commission on Financing Global Education Opportunity (chaired by Gordon Brown). Based on its work for GSW, GCE and UNESCO, DFI presented its views for priorities in mobilizing financing for education during the SDG period, and will be continuing to work with the secretariat over the next few months, making inputs on spending patterns and debt issues. 

Based on research by Development Finance International, the WaterAid’s new report “Releasing the Flow” concentrates on the capacity to use available funds for water and sanitation in five countries in Sub-Saharan Africa - Ethiopia, Mozambique, Rwanda, South Africa and Uganda. The research suggests that effective leadership from government – at national, regional and local level – is a key factor for success.

In all case studies there is evidence that strong political will has translated into positive action on absorption of funds, greater transparency and improved water and sanitation services for people and communities. Other critical factors include the availability of skilled human resources, the balance between recurrent and capital funding for local government, and the quality of co-ordination and communication between major stakeholders.

You can also download the DFI global study.

DFI facilitated a workshop for OIF and the Senegalese government, at which the draft study on Domestic Resource Mobilisation in OIF IDA Countries was presented to senior officials from 11 OIF member states. It was also used as the basis for discussions on their technical assistance needs. The event was also attended by tax experts from CREDAF, FERDI, the IMF, LSE, the OECD, Oxfam, UEMOA, UNDP and the World Bank, and ATAF, ICRICT and CEMAC supplied contributions. 

DFID has commissioned DFI to conduct a study of best practices among developing countries in keeping their public debts sustainable, by ensuring that funds borrowed are spent on “productive expenditure”.

Two missions were held in Rwanda (9-13 November) and Ghana (7-11 December) during which DFI conducted interviews with around 20 key stakeholders. The production of a case study report was also planned with the local team.

DFI participated in the 10th UNCTAD Debt Management Conference on Debt Management for Inclusive and Sustainable Development, attended by more than 200 debt experts from all over the world. DFI spoke on the issue of Managing the Fiscal Risks of Contingent Liabilities, emphasising measures which should be taken to avoid and reduce contingent liabilities ex ante rather than managing them ex post. The presentation and more details of the conference can be found here.