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Africa Gears Up for Landmark Fiscal Dialogue at Africa Think Tank Summit 2025

Posted on: 2025-10-10 13:07:42

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Ministry of Finance and the African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF) officially opened the 11th Africa Think Tank Summit (ATTS 2025) today at the Sheraton Hotel in Addis Ababa. Co-organized with the African Union Commission (AUC), AUDA-NEPAD, UNECA, African Leadership Excellence Academy (AFLEX), Policy Studies Institute (PSI), and Africa-Europe Foundation, the Summit brings together over 300 leading experts from think tanks, governments, civil society, academia, and development partners representing more than 50 African countries.

Under the theme “From Taxation to Action: Bridging Policy and Implementation in Public Financial Management (PFM) in Africa,” ATTS 2025 aims to advance fiscal sovereignty and accountable governance across the continent. The discussions focus on strengthening taxation systems, leveraging digital public finance tools, fostering domestic resource mobilization, and reducing dependency on external aid.

This year’s Summit highlights the strategic role of African think tanks in designing evidence-based reforms and bridging the gap between policy formulation and implementation. Key activities include high-level plenaries, a PFM Hackathon, and specialized training workshops, designed to enhance institutional capacity and drive sustainable development outcomes.

A central feature of the Summit is the launch of a landmark Book on African Think Tanks, chronicling their evolution, influence, and future contributions to public policy. The event also marked the official unveiling of the African Think Tank Platform (ATTP) Project, a major initiative aimed at strengthening Africa’s knowledge ecosystem and elevating the impact of policy research institutions.

Delivering the keynote address via video, Selma Malika Haddadi, Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission, reaffirmed the AU’s commitment to fiscal sovereignty, evidence-based governance, and long-term continental development.

Opening the Summit, Aynalem Nigussie, Ethiopia’s Minister of Revenue, emphasized, “Bridging policy and implementation is not just a technical challenge, it is a political and developmental imperative. Through collaboration, innovation, and shared knowledge, we can build stronger institutions that serve our people.”

Mamadou Biteye, Executive Secretary of ACBF, added, “With fiscal challenges mounting across Africa, this Summit is a timely call to action. ACBF remains committed to equipping African institutions with the tools they need to lead, reform, and finance their own development agendas.”

Aligned with AU Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals, ATTS 2025 showcases innovations in domestic resource mobilization, inclusive taxation, citizen engagement, and fintech-driven public finance solutions, reinforcing Africa’s leadership in fiscal transformation.