African Think Tanks Summit to address policy–implementation gap in public financial management

The three-day forum, themed “From Taxation to Action: Bridging Policy and Implementation in Public Financial Management in Africa,” will focus on practical strategies to close the long-standing gap between fiscal policy formulation and implementation.

The summit is organized by the African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF) in partnership with the African Union Commission and hosted by Ethiopia’s Ministry of Finance. It is supported by the World Bank and the Hewlett Foundation.

ACBF Executive Director, Mamadou Biteye, speaking at an online press briefing with African journalists, emphasized that the summit offers a unique platform for sharing actionable solutions and innovative approaches to strengthen domestic resource mobilization and advance Africa’s fiscal sovereignty.

“The 2025 summit aims to turn well-crafted fiscal papers into life-changing initiatives for the people of Africa, driving sustainable development across the continent,” said Mr. Biteye.

Among the expected outcomes are capacity-building programs for public financial management officials, including the Building Excellence in Taxation in Africa (BETA) course, as well as the launch of the African Think Tank Book.

Zadig Sharew, President of the African Leadership Excellence Academy (AFLEX), described think tanks as “catalysts for change,” urging them to provide sustainable fiscal knowledge.

“Think tanks must ignite continental awareness about the future, chart a path toward stronger public financial management systems, and contribute to a continent that finances its own development in line with the African Union’s Agenda 2063,” he said.

The summit agenda will feature high-level ministerial dialogues, stakeholder sessions, training workshops, a public financial management hackathon, and the official launch of the African Think Tank Book.

Despite numerous reform commitments by African nations, implementation challenges persist, resulting in inefficient budget execution, widening tax burdens, and low tax-to-GDP ratios.

The summit seeks to tackle these bottlenecks by convening more than 300 think tanks, policymakers, civil society actors, fintech innovators, and development partners from across Africa to develop practical, action-oriented solutions.