Addis ababa: The African Union Commission (AUC) remains committed to working with the African Capacity Building Foundation and other partners to institutionalize stronger mechanisms for evidence-based policymaking across the continent, Commission Deputy Chairperson Haddadi said. Addressing the closing of the 11th Africa Think Tank Summit 2025 today, African Union Commission Deputy Chairperson Selma Malika Haddadi highlighted the importance of the three-day deliberation in advancing the continent’s public financial management from taxation to action.

According to Ethiopian News Agency, the Deputy Chairperson emphasized the summit’s role in deepening the understanding of challenges such as weak revenue systems, policy fragmentation, and gaps in accountability and implementation. She noted that the summit has instilled a renewed sense of direction among participants, with a commitment to strengthening the link between knowledge and policy, and between design and delivery.

Haddadi stated that the public financial management system must evolve from being reactive to proactive, effectively mobilizing domestic resources and translating budgets into tangible results for citizens. She reiterated the AUC’s dedication to collaborating with the African Capacity Building Foundation and other partners to institutionalize evidence-based policymaking mechanisms across Africa.

The Deputy Chairperson stressed the importance of creating spaces for collaboration and data sharing to ensure that good ideas are transformed into effective policies and actions. She emphasized that Africa’s development should be driven by the continent itself, with fiscal sovereignty being crucial for progress.

African Capacity Building Foundation Executive Secretary, Mamadou Biteye, highlighted that domestic resource mobilization extends beyond taxation to having a tangible impact on citizens’ lives. He underscored the importance of Think Tanks in transitioning from taxation to action, advocating for a shift from analysis to implementation.

The Executive Secretary expressed gratitude to the Government of Ethiopia, the people of Ethiopia, and specifically, the ministries of Finance and Revenues for their hospitality and leadership during the summit. The event, themed ‘From Taxation to Action: Bridging Policy and Implementation in Public Financial Management in Africa’, concluded with discussions on bridging the gap between policy and implementation in public financial management.

During the closing of the summit, a book titled ‘Creation, Management, and Sustainability of Think Tanks in Africa’ was launched, marking a significant step in Africa’s intellectual journey.