Last June the 7th Meeting of CRAFT Stakeholders took place in Nayvasha Kenia. The meeting was a two-day event that was divided into two sessions. The first day was a closed-door session for internal stakeholders and held focused discussions on practical project implementation. Representatives of all the stakeholders participated. A special welcome to the representatives of Tunesia and Niger. They will get their own country page shortly.
The second day was a joint conference with Africa chapter of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) partners on Illicit Financial Flows, Tax and Extractives. Very interesting presentations of key speakers led to comprehensive discussions and practical recommendations to move forward.
It is clear that a lot of effort has been made by involved stakeholders and individuals. Substantial efforts have been made to research the tax systems, to educate the general people, to build alliances and to organize them into democratic tools for change.
Changing the tax system of a country calls for perseverance. At the start of the project everybody knew that it would be a major challenge. The economic interests and the political nature of the tax system make this issue as important as it is difficult to effectively address and adjust.
Fortunately in many countries hopeful achievements have been accomplished. Mr. Mugambi wrote a comprehensive report about the meeting. This report is a must read for anyone who is interested in the CRAFT project or who wants to get involved in the development of a more fair tax system in their country.
The report offers:
- a brief description of the background and objectives of the CRAFT project
- a summary of the achievements and challenges per country
- an overview of the presentations and discussions held on the second day
- a summary of the highlights and conclusions/recommendations of the meeting
Download executive summary here
Download full report here
Stop unfair taxation as soon as possible. Do not let people convince you that the issue is too complicated. Tax specifics can be complicated but the basic underlying mechanisms are clear.
Inform yourself and contact the lead partner in your country to get involved. Fair taxation can truly make a significant change!