Shadows of group of people on a rocky surface.

Tax & conflict workshop and roundtable

Pathways to statebuilding – challenges and opportunities

Tax & conflict workshop and roundtable – pathways to statebuilding

Thu, 27 March 2025 08:30Fri, 28 March 2025 16:00

UNU-WIDER, in collaboration with the Inter-American Development Bank and the World Bank, hosts a two-day tax & conflict workshop and roundtable, ‘Pathways to statebuilding – challenges and opportunities’, to explore the fiscal foundations of governance in fragile settings.

The event examines how taxation—formal, informal, and extra-legal—shapes statebuilding in conflict-affected areas. Competition over revenue mobilization drives power struggles between state and non-state actors, influencing transitions from armed groups to governing bodies. The discussions highlight findings from UNU-WIDER’s From conflict to cohesion research area, alongside new work on criminal governance, to propose sustainable policy solutions.

The workshop focuses on rebuilding institutional and fiscal capacity in post-conflict states, where weak governance structures, financial constraints, and shifting donor priorities create significant challenges. High-level roundtables bring together experts, policymakers, and researchers to discuss pathways for strengthening bureaucracies, improving public financial management, and ensuring long-term stability.

Discussions take place under Chatham House rules to foster open and solution-oriented dialogue.

Day 1 Programme

08:30-08:40Welcome and introductions
08:40-09:00Project conceptual framework
09:00-10:30The role of revenue mobilization in contexts of violence and fragility
10:30-10:45Coffee break
10:45-12:15Building effective fiscal capacity in fragile settings
12:15-13:15Lunch
13:15-15:15Policy solutions to criminal governance
15:15-15:30Coffee break
15:30-17:00Session on building a database on armed group taxation
Day 2 Programme

10:30-11:00Welcome coffee
11:00-11:15Opening remarks
11:15-12:45Roundtable 1: Pathways to strengthening institutional and fiscal capacity in fragile settings: learning from past experiences
12:45-14:00Lunch
14:00-15:30Roundtable 2: The role of the international development cooperation in supporting institutional and fiscal recovery in fragile contexts
15:30-16:00Coffee and networking