JUBA, June 13 (Xinhua) -- The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) announced on Thursday that it has approved an 8.6-million-U.S. dollar grant for South Sudan to enhance non-oil revenue mobilization.
The funding will be provided through the African Development Fund (ADF), with 6.62 million dollars from the ADF's concessional window and 1.98 million dollars from the ADF's Transition Support Facility.
The project aims to procure IT equipment for the tax authorities, with officials receiving technical assistance and on-the-job support from embedded advisors.
Themba Bhebhe, the bank's country manager for South Sudan, said that the second phase of the non-oil revenue mobilization and accountability project (NORMA II) will strengthen the capacity of South Sudan's National Revenue Authority (SSRA) in revenue mobilization and accountability. This phase complements the ongoing Bank-supported NORMA I project and the institutional support project for enhancing economic governance in South Sudan.
Key interventions under NORMA II include developing the SSRA's IT systems to improve revenue administration, tax collection, and tax compliance.
The project also aims to enhance tax audits and investigations, including studies of taxpayer perceptions. Additionally, NORMA II seeks to expand the implementation of existing tax policies and explore new areas to broaden the tax base, including value-added tax, hotel tax, and property tax.
Furthermore, the bank said the project will consolidate training for project personnel from the first phase. South Sudan's National Revenue Authority and the Ministry of Finance and Planning will also receive technical assistance to enhance their ability to mobilize non-oil revenue and acquire equipment for internal training. ■
