Call For Expressions Of Interest To Map Literature, Policies And Stakeholders On Illicit Transfers And Tax Reforms at Partnership for African Social and Governance Research (PASGR)

Africa is said to be losing billions of dollars every year to tax dodging and illicit outflows. Governments and Multinational Organisations are reportedly responsible for the loss of about USD50 billion yearly in illicit transfers as they are engaged in activities that pose challenges to tax reforms with implications for development and livelihoods in some of the poorest countries on the continent.[1] According to the AU/ECA report on Illicit Financial Flows, Africa is said to have lost about USD850 billion between 1970 and 2008. Over that period, about USD217.7 billion is estimated to have been illegally transferred out of Nigeria, USD105.2 billion from Egypt, more than USD81.8 billion from South Africa, while Kenya is reported to have lost about $1.51 billion between 2002 and 2011. Tax reforms and illicit outflows and its many consequences have in part, been precipitated by the inertia of governance models, fragile tax institutions, tax havens whose influence are beyond African governments as well as the paucity of technical and financial resources to combat financial crimes and money laundering.

This situation partly explains why illicit transfers tax reforms remain a significant public policy issue with implications for the wellbeing of citizens as revenue meant for poverty alleviation and improvement of the wellbeing of citizens is diverted/lost[2]^{,[3] [4]}. The high level panel on illicit financial flows from Africa in 2015 helped to create awareness on these issues amongst national, regional, global policy actors and development partners. However, African governments and other policy actors must lead this fight by engaging processes that help to mobilise resources locally and globally while also seeking to reshape their tax architecture by strengthening leadership and institutions. Given the challenges that policy actors face accessing and appraising evidence for policy, it is imperative that information/evidence on studies on illicit transfers and tax reforms is synthesised and made available to varied policy actors to inform policy discussions and uptake.

Scope of the Studies

The studies will be conducted in four countries. Applicant(s) are required to apply for only one country study. The objective of each country study is to map the literature, policies and stakeholders on illicit transfers and tax reforms in the four countries.

This is a desk study which does not require the researcher to collect primary/empirical data. Literature sources will include published and unpublished materials, grey literature, government reports and others. Prior to commencement of the study, the researcher will be expected to hold face-to-face/telephone/skype conversation with PASGR research team on the study and further guidelines.

Required Qualification and Experience

PASGR seeks experienced social scientists with the following qualifications:

• Education: advanced degree, preferable a Ph.D. in political science, sociology economics, governance, public policy, development studies or similar.
• Experience in leading research that has culminated in at least one peer reviewed publication;
• Good understanding of the political context in the case study country;
• Experience in designing and undertaking literature reviews, syntheses and other knowledge translation products;
• Proven ability to draft clear, concise and accurate reports in English that address national and international development practitioners as well as policy makers;
• Applications from residents/locally based researchers are preferred;

Research Grants

Each country study will receive a grant to be negotiated and agreed with PASGR. The researcher will report directly to PASGR’s Research and Policy Manager.