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

8:30 – Welcome and Opening Remarks

Speakers/Moderators

  • Commissioner General, Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA)
  • Representative from Ministry of ICT and Innovation, Rwanda
  • Giulia Mascagni, Executive Director, International Centre for Tax and Development (ICTD) 
9:00 – Overview of conference and Introduction

Speakers/Moderators

  • 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)

11:30 – 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)

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
  • 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:

Vishal Gujadhur, Deputy Director, Development Policy and Finance, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Digital Public Infrastructure and pathways for successful digitalisation: where should tax administrations start?

9:00 – Digital payments: what opportunities for tax compliance?

Scene setting

Fabrizio Santoro, Research Fellow – International Centre for Tax and Development (ICTD)

Panel

  • Arlette Rwakazina, Country and Partnership Lead, Cenfri
  • Mr. Isaac Amoako – Ag. Head, Transformation Office, Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA)
  • Lutando Mvovo, Head, International Tax Vodacom

Moderator

Tbc

11:00 – Improving data quality and integrity: Digital ID systems and taxpayer registration

Scene setting

Celeste Scarpini, Doctoral Fellow, International Centre for Tax and Development  

Panel

  • Allen Nassanga, Assistant Commissioner Research and Innovations, Uganda Revenue Authority (URA)
  • Syntaheu Mitiku, Digital Transformation Advisor, Cowater International
  • Kwame Fianko, Head of Data Mining & Analytics, Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA)

Moderator

Anders Agerskov, Tax Policy Dept, World Bank

14:00 – Data exchange systems – unlocking successful inter-institutional collaboration

Scene setting

Martin Hearson, Research Director, International Centre for Tax and Development

Panel

  • Waziona Ligomeka, Chief Economist, Ministry of Finance Malawi
  • 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)

16:00 – Pathways for future digital reforms

Scene setting

Wilson Prichard, Chair, Local Government Revenue Initiative (LoGRI), International Centre and Tax Development (ICTD)

Panel

  • Mary Baine, Tax Programmes Director, African Tax Administration Forum (ATAF)
  • Mustapha Ndajiwo, Founder, African Centre for Tax and Governance
  • Louise Kalisa, Commissioner for IT and Digital Transformation, RRA

Moderator

Louise Kalisa, Commissioner for IT and Digital Transformation, Rwanda Revenue Authority

17:30 – Closing remarks