The Government of South Sudan has launched two major initiatives aimed at enhancing revenue collection and financial accountability: the South Sudan Institute of Revenue Administration (SSIRA) and the second phase of the Non-Oil Revenue Mobilisation and Accountability Project (NORMA II). The launch event, held near Juba on July 25, marked a significant step in the country’s efforts to strengthen its public financial management. Funded by the African Development Fund with a budget of $8.6 million, the project will work on improving tax administration, encouraging compliance, and developing alternative revenue sources. SSIRA will play a key role in delivering training programs and building capacity in tax administration.
NORMA II follows the first phase of the project launched in 2017, which focused on foundational reforms for domestic revenue mobilization. It further supports financial controls, transparency, and accountability measures in alignment with broader tax administration improvements. During the launch, South Sudan’s Finance Minister and Planning Minister, Marial Dongrin Ater, praised the project as a vital partnership with the African Development Bank, emphasizing its importance in establishing the country’s National Revenue Authority. He noted that despite oil contributing the majority of GDP and government revenue, the country’s dependence on oil has made its economy vulnerable to global price fluctuations and production instability.
Minister Ater highlighted the success of NORMA I, which boosted non-oil revenue collections from about $154,000 in 2017-2018 to more than $217 million in 2024-2025. While non-oil revenue still makes up only 6% of GDP—below the regional average of 13%—this represents substantial progress from just 2% in 2024. The aim is to continue raising this figure through sustained reforms and capacity building.
Simon Akuei Deng, Commissioner General of the South Sudan Revenue Authority, described SSIRA as a strategic investment in human capital. He emphasized its role as a center for continuous professional development that will promote institutional learning and evidence-based policy making aligned with national priorities.
Abdoulaye Coulibaly, Director of the Governance and Economic Reforms Department at the African Development Bank, reaffirmed the Bank’s commitment to supporting South Sudan’s economic diversification. He expressed the institution’s intent to help the country move away from oil dependency and toward long-term structural transformation.
A panel discussion held during the event focused on South Sudan’s broader tax reform efforts, particularly in fragile and transitioning states. Participants included stakeholders from government, civil society, academia, the private sector, and development partners. They addressed challenges such as implementing digital taxation in a fragile economic environment with a limited private sector and institutional weaknesses.
Civil society representative Edmund Yakani stressed the need for trust-building between citizens and tax authorities. He called for consistent publication of revenue data, awareness campaigns, and regular engagement forums to encourage public participation and transparency. In conclusion, Minister Ater acknowledged that while progress has been made, South Sudan still has significant ground to cover. However, with the implementation of NORMA II, the country is positioning itself closer to achieving its non-oil revenue goals.
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