CEWARN hosted a seminar on the nexus between taxation and conflict in the IGAD region on 19-20 June 2019 in Entebbe, Uganda. Participants included officials from ministries of finance and revenue authorities as well as representatives of special interest groups including trade unions and academic institutions from IGAD Member States.

The main aim of the seminar was to explore current policy and practice in integrating conflict sensitivity in tax governance processes in IGAD Member States.

The seminar also sought to generate policy recommendations on more effective conflict sensitive taxation processes in IGAD Member States. The seminar benefitted from several technical presentations on the nexus between taxation and conflict as well as COMESA’s structural vulnerability assessment work.

The preliminary recommendations drawn from the seminar included: the need for further exploration of level of public participation in tax initiation processes; the need for effective public information; the need for institutional capacity building for tax administration; the need for better sensitization and tax education as well as a proposal to set up a regional advisory center on Taxation issues.

The seminar was within the context of CEWARN’s recent transition to a multi-sectoral focus of conflict prevention. The activity was undertaken with the support of the European Union.