The new funding model tests the commitment of AU member states
The new financing model of the AU is an opportunity for member states to pay their dues regularly and on time.
This year, the African Union (AU) is supposed to begin the implementation of its new funding model through a 0.2% import levy on eligible goods. This provides the AU with a fresh opportunity to reach its goal of financial self-reliance. However, many obstacles lie ahead of implementation in 2017 – the deadline set by the architects of the plan. Also, closer scrutiny shows that the existing regional funding models, on which part of the AU plan is based, have faced huge setbacks.
According to the AU’s factsheet for the implementation of its financing plan, drawn up by former African Development Bank chief Donald Kaberuka, a number of countries have already started implementing the new plan. This includes Kenya, Rwanda, Chad, Ethiopia and the Republic of Congo. Yet this is far from adequate on a continent with 54 countries. The effectiveness of the new funding mechanism clearly depends on the timely implementation by all AU member states.
The effectiveness of the funding mechanism depends on the timely implementation by all AU members |
|
Lessons from Africa’s subregions
Kaberuka stated at the 27th AU summit in Kigali, when his plan was adopted by heads of state, that the AU import levy is possible because it is modelled on similar ‘successful’ import levies adopted by African states to finance regional economic communities (RECs). Kaberuka used this to fend off criticism about the ambitious nature of the funding proposal on a continent known for its lavish plans that lack implementation.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), for instance, adopted a Common External Tariff (CET) in 2006. The tariff plan only came into force in January 2015, almost a decade after its adoption, due to numerous delays. Only nine member states at this stage apply the CET. This year, ECOWAS decided to push for the effective application of the CET by all 15 member states starting January 2017.
The Community Levy of 0.5% of imports to fund ECOWAS programmes has also faced challenges and delays.
Thus, while some states may seem keen to implement the new 0.2% levy, others may stall the process, as the ECOWAS example shows.
A regional arrangement for the Peace Fund
While arrangements for financing the AU’s operations and programmes are up to individual countries, according to assessed contributions, each of Africa’s five regions are required to contribute to peacekeeping operations on a regional basis.
 Each of Africa’s five regions are required to contribute to peacekeeping operations |
|
Each region is required to contribute $64 million in the first year of the plan, totalling $320 million to finance roughly 25% of the total budget for peacekeeping in Africa. The United Nations (UN) and other outside partners pay the rest.
The contributions to the Peace Fund are over and above those paid to the AU through assessed contributions, but also taken out of the 0.2% levy on imports.
Institutional barriers
The new funding mechanism requires each country to select the ‘appropriate financial institution(s) or customs authority responsible for assessment and collection of the AU import levy’. The weak revenue-generating agencies and unsophisticated financial institutions of some member states could, however, make it difficult for them to implement the levy within the given timeframe.
The responsible revenue institutions would also have to be corruption-free to ensure that the import levy is paid to the AU account rather than ending up in the hands of corrupt officials.
| Revenue institutions would have to be corruption-free to ensure that the import levy is paid |
|
Will it be about choosing between the AU and RECs?
Considering that AU member states also belong to other subregional groupings with their own levy arrangements, the question can be asked whether the new AU levy would not be an extra burden on some states.
The Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) also has a 0.4% levy arrangement on all imports from outside the region. The levy arrangement was to start in January 2017, as was the AU arrangement.
Rwanda, which re-joined ECCAS in 2015, is already negotiating to be left out of the ECCAS import levy model due to other commitments. It had committed to a similar arrangement of 1.4% under the East African Community (EAC), as well as the recent AU 0.2% import levy.
Since 2017 is when most of the levy arrangements on the continent are either kicking off or maturing, some states may have to decide what to prioritise in the short term: the AU or their own RECs? As such, the import levy tests the level of commitment of member states to the AU and to their own regions.
| Some states may have to decide what to prioritise in the short term: the AU or their own RECs? |
|
New costs and opportunities
Some commentators have also expressed concern over the possible impact of this import levy on importers and African consumers.
However, Stephen Karingi, Director of the Capacity Development Division of the UN Economic Commission for Africa, told the PSC Report, ‘It is possible to implement the 0.2 levy in a way that it has a neutral impact on the costs to importers and the consumers.’
He says Kenya is a good example of how this ‘neutrality of impact on the costs of production and to consumers has been achieved’. It has done this through the innovative use of existing fiscal measures. The Kenyan minister of finance has proposed to reduce the existing import declaration fee of 2.5% in order to cater for the 0.2% AU levy, without raising the cost of importation or causing a price increase for consumers.’
Karingi argues that ‘whichever approach the African governments decide to take to implement the levy, any short-term costs or pain are far outweighed by the medium- to long-term benefits of an African Union which is self financing’.
Contingency plans to cover deficits?
The AU states that if any country collects more money through the import levy than what is required from it by the AU, it can keep the rest of the funds for its own needs. Countries pay according to ‘assessed contributions’ based on the size of their economies. This provision could, theoretically, encourage countries to impose the levy, since part of it could go to state coffers.
The flipside of the coin is that member states also have to make contingency plans to foot the bill if the import revenues do not match their assessed contribution.
As such, member states need to strengthen their tax and revenue system to ensure the generation of ample funds for running their country and paying their dues. The 2015 Thabo Mbeki report on illicit funding estimated that Africa looses $50 billion annually partly because of tax avoidance by multinational companies. This persists owing to the weak tax system that renders African states unable to generate funds for pertinent development needs.
| Once you’re the one paying, you become more concerned about getting good value for money |
|
Making the most of the funds
One of the underlying implications of the new funding model is that it may push the AU to become more effective. The AU would have to implement reforms to make the most of the money member states would now generate locally.
During the 28th AU Summit Rwandan President Paul Kagamé acknowledged that the reform of the AU is closely tied to the new funding decision. ‘Once you’re the one paying, you automatically become more concerned about getting good value for money,’ he said.
Reports on the reform of the AU since 2007 have consistently highlighted the need for the organisation to focus on priority areas rather than spreading itself too thinly. The resource-constrained AU embarks on many superfluous, if noble, projects and programmes. These projects are often poorly executed and at times abandoned halfway.
The AU has to explore ways to delegate to, or rather cooperate with, existing institutions, including civil society organisations, to attain its mandate. Effective cooperation with state and non-state actors will reduce the duplication of efforts and the number of ineffective silo projects in the continent.
If successful, the new funding mechanism will elevate the status of the AU as an equal partner to the UN and powerful regional bodies such as the European Union. It will also go a long way to address concerns over the ‘capture’ of the AU by powerful countries such as France, Britain, the United States or China.
