11th Africa Think Tank Summit to address public financial management reforms

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As fiscal pressures mount across the continent, African leaders and policy experts observe that it is critical to hold honest discussions around avenues to support taxation agendas to drive the deserved growth.

According to Mamadou Biteye, the Executive Secretary of the African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF), sharp reductions in Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) into African countries and huge raising debts are a major concern.

He was speaking on Thursday (September 25) during a virtual media briefing ahead of the 11th Africa Think Tank Summit (ATTS) to be hosted from 8–10 October 2025 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, under the theme “From Taxation to Action: Bridging Policy and Implementation in Public Financial Management (PFM) in Africa.”

During the briefing, experts from the African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF), the African Union Commission (AUC), and the African Leadership Excellence Academy (AFLEX) described the Summit as a significant opportunity for the continent to discuss strategies to foster economic growth.

“The theme 'From Taxation to Actions' comes in handy now that African countries are struggling with debts and yet also experience low domestic resource mobilisation. We intend to discuss how to grow the taxation ratio, which in Africa remains the lowest because of the huge informal sector in our countries,” Mamadou noted.

Biteye also highlighted several key initiatives that will be unveiled at the Summit, including the Africa Think Tank Platform Project, designed to connect and empower research institutions across the continent and strengthen their engagement with policymakers.

“We are also launching a Book on African Think Tanks, which documents experiences, lessons learned, and their contributions to policy making,” he added.

"And with practical innovations like the PFM Hackathon and hands-on training workshops, professionals will be equipped with the skills to solve real fiscal challenges.”

The event is supported by the World Bank, the Hewlett Foundation, and hosted by the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia through its Ministry of Finance.

H.E. Zadig Abreha, President of AFLEX, highlighted that the theme speaks directly to Africa’s long-time challenges. It’s not only about designing good policies, but ensuring they are implemented effectively and sustainably.

“The Summit will be a great opportunity to deliberate on pressing issues of the day and issues of the future,” he said.

During the briefing, ACBF's Head of Communications, Fatou Diouf, emphasised the important role of journalists in shaping public discourse around PFM reforms, and encouraged media representatives to localise the Summit’s stories for their audiences.

With global aid declining and fiscal pressure rising, speakers emphasised that Africa’s future hinges on turning policy into practice, especially in the area of domestic resource mobilisation.

A strategic and timely agenda

The ACBF announced a dynamic program for the Summit, with sessions designed to build momentum for meaningful reform.

Highlights include: Ministerial Dialogue on resource mobilisation and policy accountability, A PFM Hackathon, where innovators present digital solutions to fiscal challenges, Training workshops targeting public servants, economists, and PFM specialists, among others.

Key focus areas include:

• Innovative taxation strategies and PFM reform
• Institutional capacity building and oversight mechanisms
• Citizen engagement and transparency in governance
• Financing climate action, health, education, and infrastructure