Omidyar Network provides two-year tax grant to Tax Justice Network Africa

Omidyar Network has announced a two-year grant, worth over US$450 000, to the Tax Justice Network Africa (TJN-A) in order to support the Nairobi, Kenya-based nonprofit’s work in promoting equitable tax systems on the continent.

Established in 2007, the Tax Justice Network Africa is described as a pan-African initiative that sets out to promote socially just, democratic and progressive taxation systems on the continent.

“TJN-A has established itself as the preeminent African organisation working on tax justice on the continent,” said Omidyar Network Director, Investments Ory Okolloh in a press announcement.

In a mission to raise awareness on tax inequities in African markets, last year for instance, the group found that tax breaks for multinationals outstrip spending on schools and clinics in Sierra Leone.

The significance of TJN-A’s work is echoed by Okolloh:

Their research and policy work provides invaluable insights for both governments and citizens wrestling with how to create and sustain equitable tax systems, and their established, local voice draws respect from stakeholders not only in Africa, but globally. We at Omidyar Network are proud to support their work.

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Omidyar Network was established in 2004 by co-founder of PayPal Pierre Omidyar. Since its inception the philanthropic investment firm has committed over US$760-million to for-and non-profit initiatives around the globe. It’s been focusing its efforts on a range of areas including internet and mobile, education, financial inclusion, governance and citizen engagement and property rights.

Omidyar Network’s grant comes through the philanthropic investment firm’s Governance & Citizen Engagement initiative, which sets out to build stronger and more open societies by increasing government responsiveness and citizen participation. In service of those goals, support of TJN-A will foster improved transparency and governance of budgets and extractive revenues and other resources used for public services.

Image by Ken Teegardin via Flickr