Regional Workshop on the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) Fiscal Expenditure Methodology for Francophone and Lusophone States
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Representative of the Minister of Finance of Senegal, Mr. Issa Faye warmly welcomed delegates on behalf of the Government and people of Senegal. He emphasized the country's commitment to greater fiscal transparency and effective public resource management. ' Tax exemptions, if well-targeted, can be tools for growth and poverty reduction. However, their real impact must be rigorously measured ' he noted. Senegal's hosting of the event, he added, reflects its strong support for regional fiscal harmonization and cooperation.
Mr. Rajiv Kumar, representing the World Bank, acknowledged the progress made by several ECOWAS Member States and encouraged greater transparency and systematic reporting. 'World Bank is pleased to partner with ECOWAS to deliver this important workshop that aims to strengthen the capacity of member states to manage the fiscal and economic impact of tax expenditures,' he stated.
In her opening remarks, H.E. Ambassador Zelma Yollande Nobre Fassinou, ECOWAS Resident Representative to Senegal, emphasized the importance of the workshop and expressed gratitude to the Government of Senegal for its continued support for regional integration efforts. She highlighted that ' Tax expenditures,when not properly evaluated, can undermine domestic resource mobilization and limit the capacity of our governments to finance vital programs. ' Ambassador Fassinou emphasized that the workshop is not only a platform for technical learning but also an opportunity to strengthen partnerships and enhance collective governance in line with the 2023 ECOWAS Directive on Tax Expenditures. She further noted the importance of timely submission of tax expenditure reports by Member States, in alignment with the provisions of the Directive, as an important step towards improved transparency and accountability in fiscal policy across the region.
Ambassador Fassinou also highlighted the workshop's aim to encourage open dialogue and peer exchange, noting that participants will present their national frameworks, challenges, and best practices. ' This workshop provides an ideal platform to deepen our shared understanding, align our methodologies, and enhance regional cooperation in managing fiscal incentives ' she said.
The workshop features technical sessions, practical exercises, and country presentations aimed at improving governance, transparency and alignment of tax incentives with national development strategies. Participants include officials from finance ministries, tax administrations and regional and international partners.
This workshop reinforces ECOWAS' commitment to strengthening national capacities and aligning fiscal practices with regional integration objectives. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The National
18 hours ago
- The National
Will nations agree treaty to cut plastic production?
Talks to agree the first global treaty on combating plastic pollution are set to begin on Tuesday, and limiting plastic production is a key point of contention. Dozens of countries, campaign groups and researchers say that legally binding cuts to plastic production, which is running at about 460 million tonnes a year, are the only way to deal with the problem. However, many other nations, including producers of fossil fuels that are used to make most plastics, want the treaty to instead focus on improving the collection and recycling of plastic waste. The discussions in Geneva, scheduled to run until 14 August, are titled INC-5.2 because they are the second part of the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee, part of the UN Environment Assembly. More than 170 nations and hundreds of organisations are taking part in the talks, which ended in gridlock over the issue of production limits during the first part of the fifth session, in Busan, South Korea, in late 2024. Beyond waste management Prof Bethanie Almroth, co-coordinator of the Scientists' Coalition for an Effective Plastics Treaty, which is pressing for production limits, said studies had shown that improved waste management 'will not suffice' in dealing with plastic. 'The amount of plastic being produced is not manageable by the infrastructure that exists or will exist in the future,' said Prof Almroth, a plastic pollution researcher at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden. According to figures published by the World Economic Forum, the amount of plastic produced each year could rise to 1.7 billion tonnes by 2060. Prof Almroth said a proposed 40 per cent cut in annual plastic production by 2040, put forward by Rwanda and Peru, would be insufficient to prevent continued plastic pollution. Environmental organisations have previously called for a 75 per cent reduction in production. Economic vs environmental costs Pollution is created across the life cycle of plastic, including during production, so improvements in recycling would not be enough to end environmental harms, according to Prof Almroth. Concerns have been raised over lobbying by fossil fuel and plastic producers at gatherings to finalise the treaty. Prof Almroth said there was disinformation and misrepresentation of scientific findings, making it harder for delegates to come to decisions. She acknowledged that a shift away from fossil fuels and their use to produce plastics would have an economic cost, but said 'the costs of inaction will be greater' and efforts to find alternatives would create new business models. While describing herself as 'realistically optimistic' about the outcome, Prof Almroth said the way that negotiations were proceeding by consensus could derail efforts to cut plastic production. 'There's a risk of watering down negotiations to the point where the treaty might lack effectiveness,' she said. 'Plastic pollution is urgent. Delaying further would allow the problem to grow.' Groups have formed during the negotiations, notably the 'high-ambition coalition', which includes more than 60 nations such as Norway, Rwanda, Peru and the UK that support a legally binding treaty with production limits. By contrast the 'like-minded group', which contains nations such as Saudi Arabia and China, is pressing for a treaty that focuses on dealing with plastic waste. Among the organisations pushing for a treaty that mandates production limits is Greenpeace Mena. Its lead plastics campaigner, Farah Al Hattab, said during a media briefing that plastic was 'strangling our soil, our water, our air'. While calling for 'ambitious objectives' on the reuse of plastics to be adopted, she suggested that a focus simply on ways to improve how plastic waste was dealt with risked the adoption of 'fake solutions'. 'This treaty should be legally binding,' she added. 'Other treaties that are not legally binding have problems with implementation.' In the Mena region, communities could look back to traditions to find ways of cutting out plastic, Ms Al Hattab said. 'We can stop using single-use plastic. Our ancestors used containers from glass and clay,' she said. 'If we promote clean-up initiatives, we can help reduce plastic pollution, but this takes time and money.' An estimated 20 million tones of plastic ends up as waste in the environment each year, according to reports. Studies have shown that this can be harmful to a wide range of wildlife including turtles and seabirds in the UAE. Pieces of plastic waste break down into microplastics, which have been found around the globe, including in polar regions far away from large human populations, and in human tissue. Microplastic impact on health A study published in Nature in July indicated that more than 16,000 chemicals have been used in plastics, at least 4,200 of which could be harmful to humans or the environment. The study reported that potentially harmful chemicals were present even in food packaging. One of the study's authors, Dr Zhanyun Wang, a scientist at Swiss research institute Empa, said when the study was released that to create 'a safe and sustainable circular economy for plastics' it was necessary to simplify their chemical composition. The British Plastics Federation, a UK trade association that represents organisations such as plastics producers and recyclers, said it favoured 'an ambitious treaty that covers the whole life cycle of plastics'. While stating that plastic 'has no place in the open environment', the organisation added that it should continue to be used 'where it provides the best environmental outcome and offers clear benefits'. 'Plastic has a strategically important role in vital infrastructure, such as the distribution of fresh food and water, in developing clean energy and in defence,' the federation said in a statement. While it said it would continue to 'provide every support required' to the British government team at the conference, the federation added that plastic helps to reduce carbon emissions by limiting the weight of transported items and by cutting food waste. 'The treaty needs to be impactful while not hampering the ability of the UK, and the world, to be innovative, achieve net zero and avoid the worst effects of climate change,' its statement added. The federation did not respond to an enquiry about whether it supported limits on plastic production.
UAE Moments
2 days ago
- UAE Moments
♋ Cancer Daily Horoscope for August 2, 2025
Love & Relationships Today brings emotional clarity, Cancer. You're more attuned to your needs and those of your peers. If you're single, someone may connect with you on a deep level—don't shy away. In long-term partnerships, a quiet conversation could strengthen your bond and bring mutual understanding. Career & Ambition Your empathetic nature serves you well at work today. You're able to diffuse tension and build bridges. If you've been thinking of introducing a new idea or project, now's a great time to pitch it—your timing is on point. Colleagues may want your input, which highlights your growing value. Finances Financially, today offers stability. You might see small returns from earlier efforts or receive feedback that helps you recalibrate. Avoid impulse buys, but being open to smart opportunities—like investing in learning—will pay off longer term. Health & Wellness Emotionally you're balanced, which fuels physical wellbeing. A light workout or mindful stretching helps you stay grounded. Limit digital chaos—particularly screens and noisy environments—to preserve your calm. A quiet evening with a nourishing meal will recharge you. Extras: Family & Self Family energy is supportive—someone might share a personal insight with you, and it feels meaningful. Time spent in quiet reflection or journaling helps you integrate recent emotional shifts.
Zawya
2 days ago
- Zawya
Senegal's prime minister unveils recovery plan to rely on domestic funding
Senegal's Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko on Friday announced a new economic recovery plan, pledging to finance 90% of the initiative through domestic resources and avoid additional debt. The plan, aimed at stabilizing the finances of the West African nation which began producing oil and gas last year, comes as Senegal faces financial challenges and scrutiny over debt misreporting. Senegal is grappling with billions of dollars in hidden debts from the previous administration, which led to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) freezing its loan programme. "We will only seek external partners for the asset recycling portion," Sonko said during the plan's presentation in Dakar, emphasizing the reliance on domestic resource mobilization for the majority of funding. (Reporting by Anait Miridzhanian and Ayen Deng Bior Editing by Bate Felix and Robbie Corey-Boulet)
