NRA Commissioner General Calls for Stronger Action on Gender Equality at AWITN 5th Anniversary

The Commissioner General of the National Revenue Authority of Sierra Leone, Mrs Jeneba J. Bangura, has called for stronger and more deliberate action to advance gender equality and women’s leadership in tax administration across Africa.

She made the call while delivering the keynote address at the 5th Anniversary Celebration of the ATAF Women in Tax Network (AWITN), where 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.

Mrs Bangura described the anniversary as both a celebration of progress and a renewed call to action, in line with the 2026 International Women’s Month theme, “Rights. Justice. Action. For All Women and Girls.” She urged stakeholders to advance women’s rights, promote gender equality, and support policies that empower women and girls across the continent.

Reflecting on AWITN’s establishment in 2021, she noted that the Network was created to address persistent inequalities in employment, income, and leadership. She highlighted the continued underrepresentation of women in senior positions across African tax administrations and called for more deliberate, data-driven reforms to accelerate lasting change.

Mrs Bangura reaffirmed AWITN’s commitment to its 2026–2030 Strategy on institutional transformation, data-driven insights, and women’s empowerment. She also commended member countries advancing gender-focused reforms and acknowledged the support of Mr Sam Shivute, whose advocacy helped increase signatories to the AWITN Pledge from 14 in 2024 to 23 in 2025.

On Sierra Leone’s efforts, Mrs Bangura reaffirmed her commitment to advancing women’s leadership, strengthening mentorship and professional development for female staff, and supporting reforms that create a more enabling environment for women to thrive. She concluded that sustained, collective action is essential to building a future where gender equality and domestic resource mobilisation go side-by-side.