By Amin Kef (Ranger)
The Commissioner General of Sierra Leone’s National Revenue Authority (NRA), Jeneba J. Bangura, has called for stronger and more deliberate actions to advance gender equality and increase women’s leadership in tax administration across Africa.
Jeneba J. Bangura made the call on Monday, March 16, 2026, while delivering the keynote address at the 5th Anniversary Celebration of the African Tax Administration Forum Women in Tax Network (AWITN). She spoke in her capacity as Chairperson of the AWITN Board of Directors and Co-coordinator of the Tax and Gender Subcommittee of the United Nations Committee of Experts on International Cooperation in Tax Matters.
Addressing participants at the anniversary event, Jeneba J. Bangura described the occasion as both a celebration of progress achieved over the past five years and a renewed call for sustained commitment to promoting gender equality in public institutions, particularly within tax administrations across the continent.
She aligned the celebration with the theme for the 2026 International Women’s Month: “Rights. Justice. Action. For All Women and Girls,” noting that the theme reflects the urgent need for institutions, Governments and development partners to move beyond dialogue and adopt concrete measures that support the empowerment of women and girls.
According to the NRA Commissioner General, gender equality remains a critical pillar for sustainable economic development and effective governance. She emphasized that while some progress has been made in recent years, many African tax administrations still face challenges in ensuring balanced representation of women in leadership and decision-making roles.
“Women continue to be underrepresented in senior management and strategic leadership positions within many tax institutions across Africa,” Jeneba J. Bangura noted. “Addressing this imbalance requires deliberate policy reforms, stronger mentorship structures and the use of data-driven strategies to guide institutional transformation.”
Reflecting on the establishment of the ATAF Women in Tax Network in 2021, she explained that the initiative was created to tackle persistent inequalities in employment opportunities, income levels and leadership participation within tax administrations. The Network has since evolved into a platform that promotes professional development, knowledge exchange and policy advocacy aimed at advancing gender-responsive tax systems.
Jeneba J. Bangura further reaffirmed the Network’s commitment to implementing its 2026–2030 Strategic Plan, which focuses on institutional transformation, the use of research and data to inform policy decisions and the promotion of women’s empowerment across member administrations.
She also commended member countries that have begun implementing gender-focused reforms within their revenue authorities and acknowledged the role played by key advocates in strengthening the Network’s reach.
In particular, she recognized the contribution of Sam Shivute, whose advocacy efforts helped increase the number of signatories to the AWITN Pledge from 14 countries in 2024 to 23 countries in 2025, reflecting growing continental support for gender equality initiatives within tax administrations.
Speaking on Sierra Leone’s efforts, Jeneba J. Bangura reaffirmed the NRA’s commitment to advancing women’s leadership within the institution. She highlighted ongoing efforts aimed at strengthening mentorship programmes, expanding professional development opportunities for female staff and supporting reforms that create a more inclusive and enabling work environment.
She stressed that empowering women within tax administrations not only promotes fairness but also strengthens institutional capacity and enhances domestic resource mobilization across African economies.
Jeneba J. Bangura concluded by calling for sustained collaboration among Governments, development partners and professional networks to ensure that gender equality remains central to tax policy and administration reforms across the continent.
She emphasized that building inclusive institutions where women have equal opportunities to lead and contribute is essential for strengthening governance systems and advancing sustainable development across Africa.
