WATAF conducts first Francophone tax training in Benin

The West African Tax Administration Forum (WATAF), working with the International Monetary Fund’s TADAT Secretariat, has completed the first Francophone TADAT Training and Certification Session in Cotonou, Benin. Held from August 24 to 28, 2026, the program aimed to strengthen tax administration performance, compliance, and revenue collection across the region.

The training session included tax officials from several Francophone member administrations, including Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger, and Senegal. Out of more than 300 registrants, 175 officials successfully completed the intensive training and examination.

This initiative follows an earlier Anglophone session held in Lagos, Nigeria, in April 2026. Combined, these sessions have reached 300 tax officers this year. WATAF Executive Secretary Jules Tapsoba noted that the session is a vital step in ensuring balanced access to technical training and strengthening regional expertise.