Matia Samuel
Africa-Press – South-Sudan. The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank Group approved $8.6 million grant to South Sudan for the second phase of the Non-Oil Revenue Mobilisation and Accountability Project (NORMA II).
According to the African Development Fund (ADF), the bank group’s concessional window will provide $6.62 million, while $1.98 million will come from the ADF’s Transition Support Facility.
The South Sudan African Development Bank Country Manager, Themba Bhebhe, said in Juba yesterday that NORMA II will enhance the capacity of South Sudan’s National Revenue Authority (SSRA) to boost non-oil revenue mobilisation and accountability.
“This phase complements the ongoing Bank-supported NORMA I project and the Institutional Support Project for Strengthening Economic Governance in South Sudan,” he stated.
Bhebhe noted that the two initiatives seek to address inefficiencies in broader public finance management, including budget framework, public sector spending efficiency, financial controls, reporting and accountability. Both projects are supported by ADF resources.
“Key interventions of the NORMA II include developing the SSRA’s IT systems to improve revenue administration, tax collection, promoting tax compliance, and enhancing tax audits and investigations, among them studies of taxpayer perceptions,” he said.
He revealed that the project also aims to expand the implementation of existing tax policies while exploring new areas to broaden the tax base, particularly value-added tax, hotel tax, and property tax and it will consolidate training for project personnel from the first phase.
“The project is expected to procure IT equipment for the tax authorities, whereas officials will receive technical assistance and on-the-job support from embedded advisors. They will also benefit from capacity building at the local and regional levels,” Bhebhe stated.
He stressed that the South Sudan National Revenue Authority and the Ministry of Finance and Planning would also receive technical assistance to improve their ability to mobilise non-oil revenue and acquire equipment for internal training.
Source: The City Review South Sudan
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