International conference organised by the ICTD in partnership with Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA)
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Taking stock of current practices and challenges with data and technology
09:00 – Welcome and Opening Remarks
Speakers
- Commissioner General, Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA)
- Giulia Mascagni, Executive Director, International Centre for Tax and Development (ICTD)
- Innocent Muhizi, CEO, Rwanda Information Society Authority, Ministry of ICT and Innovation, Rwanda
9:20 – Overview of conference and Introduction
Speaker
- Martin Hearson, Research Director, International Centre for Tax and Development (ICTD)
9:30 – Data Management to Support Core Administrative Functions
Scene-setting:
Giovanni Occhiali, Research Fellow, International Centre for Tax and Development (ICTD)
Panel:
- Ronald Waiswa, Specialist, Applied Research and Statistics, African Tax Administration Forum (ATAF)
- Denis Mukama, Assistant Commissioner for Research, Planning and Statistics, Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA)
- Rose Camille Vincent, Assistant Professor, University of Utrecht
Moderator:
Tengetile Phindile Masuku, Manager Research, Eswatini Revenue Service (ERS)
11:00 – Coffee break
11:30 – Data Governance: Current Successes and the Way Ahead in Tax Administration
Scene-setting:
Daisy Ogembo, Assistant Professor University of Birmingham
Panel:
- Damacrine Masira, Manager Academic Research, Kenya School of Revenue Administration (KESRA)
- Innocente Murasi, Deputy Commissioner General, Rwanda Revenue Administration (RRA)
- Nana Achiaa Mensah, Tax Policy and Legal Consultant, Shauri Consulting Limited
Moderator:
Peter Henriksen Ringstad, Senior Advisor, Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad)
13:00 – Lunch
14:00 – Digital inclusion: improving access and usage of digital tools
Scene-setting:
Caroline Khene, Digital Cluster Lead, Institute of Development Studies (IDS)
Panel:
- Chennai Mukumba, Executive Director – Tax Justice Network Africa (TJNA)
- Oswell Kahonde, Head – Anglophone Africa, UNCDF Better than Cash Alliance (BTCA)
- Edward Groening, Head of Research and Planning, Eswatini Revenue Service (ERS)
Moderator:
Twiwve Siwale, Head of Tax for Growth, International Growth Centre (IGC)
15:30 – Research Posters session in the foyer (this session will *not* be livestreamed)
Research Posters will summarise research studies relevant to the conference and will be displayed in the foyer for the duration of the conference.
Digital ID Uganda: Celeste Scarpini, Doctoral Fellow – International Centre for Tax and Development (ICTD)
Digital ID Ghana: Stephen Okiya, Research consultant – International Centre for Tax and Development (ICTD)
DMP Rwanda: Yves Nsengiyumva, Researcher – Kigwa Consulting
E-Tax Eswatini: Tanele Magongo, Manager of Strategy – Eswatini Revenue Service (ERS)
E-Tax Burkina Faso: Mouhamed Zerbo, Lecturer in economics and management – CERDI
E-Tax Ethiopia: Seid Yiman, Doctoral Fellow – International Centre for Tax and Development (ICTD)
EBMv2: Naphtal Hakizimana, Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA)
Data customs: Jova Mayega, Supervisor Statistics and Policy Analysis – Uganda Revenue Authority (URA)
ITAX Uganda/SL: Dr Giovanni Occhiali & Philip Kargbo, National Revenue Authority of Sierra Leone
Digitalisation in Togo: Dorothy Kangoro, Director – Afrilaw
Digitalisation in Nigeria: Abdulsalam Masud, Revenue Reporting and Audit Engagement – Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC)
16:30 – Keynote Panel: Digital Public Infrastructure: Potential for Tax Administration
Panel:
- James Stewart, Partner & CTO, Public Digital
- Ntare Niyomugabo, Chief Technology Officer, RSwitch
- Mary Baine, Tax Programmes Director, ATAF
- Israel Bimpe, CEO Irembo
Moderator:
Vishal Gujadhur, Deputy Director, Development Policy and Finance, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
17:30 – Drinks/Dinner Reception
Digital Public Infrastructure and pathways for successful digitalisation: where should tax administrations start?
8:30 – Recap from Day 1 and Overview of Day 2
Ukwezi – Umuhire Ingabire Grace, Prof in Charge of Rev Modelling and Statistics, Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA)
8:45 – Improving Data Quality and Integrity: Digital ID Systems and Taxpayer Registration Digital payments: what opportunities for tax compliance?
Scene setting
Celeste Scarpini, Doctoral Fellow – International Centre for Tax and Development (ICTD)
Panel
- Tina Kaidu, Research and Revenue Modelling, Uganda Revenue Authority (URA)
- Sintayehu Mitiku, Digital Transformation Advisor, Cowater International
- Kwame Fianko, Head – Data Mining & Analytics, Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA)
Moderator
Anders Agerskov, Tax Policy Dept, World Bank
10:15 – Coffee break
10:45 – Digital Payments: What Opportunities for Tax Compliance?
Scene setting
Fabrizio Santoro, Research Fellow, International Centre for Tax and Development
Panel
- Isaac Amoako, Ag. Head, Transformation Office, Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA)
- Lutando Mvovo, Head, International Tax Vodacom
- Christian Kajeneri, Director, Payment Systems at the National Bank of Rwanda
Moderator
Dimitrij Konsewitch (GIZ)
12:15 – Lunch
13:15 – Data exchange systems – unlocking successful inter-institutional collaboration
Scene setting
Martin Hearson, Research Director, International Centre for Tax and Development (ICTD)
Panel
- Eliya Lungu, Acting Assistant Director- Statistics and Data Management, Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA)
- Milly Nalukwago, Director of Statistics Central Bank of Uganda
- Layla Latif, Lecturer and Research Lead on Public Finance, University of Nairobi
Moderator
Doris Akol, Senior Economist, International Monetary Fund (IMF)
15:30 – Coffee break
15:15 – Pathways for future digital reforms
Panel
- Mustapha Ndajiwo, Founder, African Centre for Tax and Governance
- Louise Kalisa, Commissioner for IT and Digital Transformation, Rwanda Revenue Authority
- Philip Kargbo, Senior Director, Monitoring, Research and Planning Department, National Revenue Authority of Sierra Leone (NRA)
- Kenneth Mbobua, Ag. Deputy Commissioner ICT, Kenya Revenue Authority
Moderator
Antonia Strachey, East Africa Regional Tax Advisor, FCDO