A Defining Decade of African Tax Research

When the African Tax Research Network (ATRN) gathers in Cape Town from 16–18 September 2025 for its 10th Annual Congress, it will not only confront Africa’s pressing fiscal challenges but also celebrate a decade of groundbreaking work in shaping the continent’s tax future. Born in Nairobi in 2015 under the African Tax Administration Forum (ATAF), ATRN has morphed into the leading platform for homegrown, policy-relevant tax research, bridging the worlds of academia, administration, and policymaking. In this article, I retrace ATRN’s defining decade—from its early vision of building research–policy nexus, through milestone congresses in Accra, Dar es Salaam, and Gaborone, to its expanding influence in journals, partnerships, and capacity-building. Drawing on voices of leaders, outcome statements, and the tangible results of its work, I examine how ATRN has evolved into a powerhouse of African scholarship and fiscal innovation. As it steps into its second decade, I argue that the story of ATRN is no longer just about research: it is about redefining how Africa mobilizes knowledge, cooperation, and resources for its fiscal future.