Spotlight: CFS in Seville, Spain for the 4th Financing for Development Forum (30 June - 4 July 2025).
CFS supported by Oxfam in Africa was part of a key panel on the Global Financial Architecture at the 4th FfD in Sevilla. CFS also supported the launch of its partner - The House of Fiscal Wisdom, a think tank with the mandate to establish the Commission on Financing Development. Read our Sevilla Briefing and CFS Insights Report below (scroll down).
Masterclass on Taxation of the Digital Economy (October 2025)
Dr Latif developed 5 modules on taxing the digital economy (open access on Ubora Academy) for the Africa Capacity Building Foundation. At the 4th Africa Think Tank Summit in Addis Ababa [8th October 2025] she led a masterclass on the modules for Ministries of Finance: Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia; WATAF, University of Cape Town and other participants. The course is part of CFS training and a mandatory part of the syllabus for LLM International Tax Law and Public Finance Management Law at the Faculty of Law.
Workshop on the Basics of Taxation (September 2025)
In August and at the request of FEMNET, CFS delivered a 1 day workshop on the Basics of Taxation for women across the African continent. The course focused on understanding what tax is and the legal language that introduces the various complexities tackled in the study of taxation.
Workshop on Taxing Wealth (September 2025)
On 22nd September 2025 CFS delivered a training in partnership with the National Taxpayers Association to journalists and the tax policy unit- National Treasury and Economic Planning on understanding wealth and its taxation.
African Peoples Commission of Inquiry on the IMF/World Bank Conditionalities (May 2025)
In May 2025, CFS researchers: Robert Riitho, Farheen Kassim and Mary Ongore led by Dr Latif acted as counsel presenting evidence on 4 accusations against the IMF and World Bank in Lilongwe, Malawi. CFS partnered with AFRODAD in the latter's flagship advocacy project in convening the African Peoples Commission on Inquiry over 2 days. CFS successfully presented the accusations through 4 key expert witnesses before a 2 judge bench. The proceedings elicited a response from the World Bank office in Malawi.
CFS at KIPPRA Symposium (April 2025)
On 29th April 2025, Dr. Latif was invited to speak at the Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis (KIPPRA) Annual Think Tank Symposium, where she represented CFS. In her remarks, she underscored the importance of wealth taxation as a tool for equity and fiscal justice, called for a critical reassessment of tax incentives through cost-benefit analysis, and emphasised the need to broaden Kenya's DRM by exploring innovative approaches to taxing the digital economy, including algorithm levies and data transmission taxes - this is part of the work CFS is influencing globally.
Roundtable on the Fiscal Scene in Kenya (December 2024)
On 9 December 2024 we hosted an invigorating roundtable meeting that brought together a dynamic mix of thinkers, practitioners, and advocates to set the fiscal scene we are witnessing today. 25 participants gathered physically on an open-air rooftop to exchange ideas, challenge conventions, and reimagine the future of taxation and fiscal governance. Participants also joined us remotely from Ghana, the Netherlands, Denmark, and Mauritius adding a global dimension to this vibrant hybrid session.
The roundtable delved into pressing fiscal issues that disrupt economies worldwide, examining not just the challenges but the opportunities they present. Discussions ranged from international taxation and the proposed UN Framework Convention on Tax to carbon border adjustment mechanisms (CBAM) and their implications for environmental sustainability. Domestic resource mobilization (DRM) was a critical focus, with participants exploring the untapped potential of Africa’s informal sector, the possibilities presented by digitalization, and the urgency of strengthening Africa’s credit rating agencies. The complex interplay of debt and development financing also took center stage, particularly in the context of Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) and beneficial ownership transparency.
An essential thread through all discussions was the role of storytelling and journalism in tax advocacy. The power of a well-told narrative to build public trust and shape policy was acknowledged as an indispensable tool for advancing progressive taxation.
In a deliberate move to break the intensity of intellectual discussions, the session featured a sign language learning event. This exercise symbolised the importance of communication and inclusion, reinforcing the event’s overarching message: fiscal governance must be human-centered. It was a lively and engaging interlude, reminding participants of the need to make complex fiscal issues accessible to all.
Joint Workshop with UNCTAD to Support the Young Scholars Initiative (September 2024)
On 6-7 September 2024 we kicked off our CFS workshop in partnership with UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD)’s Young Scholars Initiative. We hosted 16 African researchers to share their works under the theme state, society and economy. We had excellent panels framed around country case studies with intervention from Lyla Latif, PhD Parita Shah Joan A. Atim Radha Upadhyaya Fadhel Kaboub, Geraldine Sibanda and Thereza Reis.
Snippet: Closing remarks delivered by Dr. Radha Upadhyaya
Workshop Kenya's Tax Appeals Tribunal (March 2024)
March 2024 began on a high note for us at CFS. Our team led the training of Kenya’s Tax Appeals Tribunal members (29 Jan to 2 Feb). Our training focused on domestic taxation, statutory interpretation and tax judgement writing. This is the first part of the training with several more on advanced taxation which will be taught together with our partners International Lawyers Project (ILP) in the next months. The purpose of the training was to advance the technical understanding of members of the TAT in these areas. Industry experts were also invited to the training to share tax as practised with the participants.