The Intergovernmental Committee of Experts and Senior Officials for North Africa (CIHFE) is holding its annual meeting in Rabat from November 11 to 13.
Organized by the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) Office, the gathering focuses on a critical theme: “Strengthening Domestic Resource Mobilization through Innovation and Technology in North Africa.”
The meeting brings together representatives and specialists from the seven North African nations—Morocco, Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Mauritania, Sudan, and Tunisia—to assess regional progress, define key priorities for the coming year, and focus on regional integration and the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
A primary objective of the gathering is to analyze advancements in domestic revenue management (DRM) and explore how innovation, digital transformation, and technology can enhance states’ financial capacity.
Domestic resource mobilization is considered a cornerstone of fiscal independence and is vital for financing crucial public services and investments, such as education, health, and infrastructure.
The commission intends to highlight opportunities for South-South cooperation and experience sharing, fostering a coordinated approach to public policy across the region.
The focus on DRM is urgent, as several North African countries currently face significant fiscal hurdles. Countries including Egypt, Libya, Mauritania, and Sudan currently collect less than 15% of their GDP in taxes. These amounts fall below international standards and are insufficient to adequately fund essential public services.
To compensate for weak domestic resources, many nations rely on volatile revenue streams like trade taxes and commodity exports, leaving them highly vulnerable to external economic shocks.
The findings and conclusions generated during the Committee meeting and the coinciding expert meeting will be presented at the 2026 Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, scheduled to take place in Morocco next March.
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