Building on the success of pilot programs in Burkina Faso and Ghana, IFAC is expanding its efforts to strengthen public sector accountancy in Africa with the support of a $1M Grant from the Global Fund with private sector support.  

Over the next two years, the program will continue activities in Burkina Faso and Ghana and expand to Tanzania and Togo. IFAC, with the help of the grant and its long-time collaborator in the region, the Pan African Federation of Accountants (PAFA), will strengthen professional accountancy organizations (PAOs), develop the public sector accountancy workforce, and improve public financial management (PFM) systems in all four countries.  

IFAC announced the grant at the Annual General Meeting of the PAFA General Assembly held alongside the Africa Congress of Accountants 2025 in Kigali, Rwanda. 

This initiative contributes to the work of the African Professionalization Initiative (API), a continent-wide partnership between the accountancy profession, accountants general, and Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs). The API aims to provide the tools needed to professionalize the public sector accountancy workforce across Africa. 

Lee White, IFAC Chief Executive Officer said: “This grant, with the implementation support of our partner PAFA, will allow us to continue to address the shortage of qualified professionals in the public sector by developing and implementing comprehensive and sustainable training programs that build technical expertise, ethical standards, and leadership skills. Professionals with this background contribute to better PFM and they’re leaders in the fight against corruption on the continent.” 

Alta Prinsloo, PAFA Chief Executive Officer said: “The success of our initiatives in Burkina Faso and Ghana demonstrates the impact that can be achieved when local leadership, a strong continental partner like PAFA, and a global body like IFAC work together. With support from the Global Fund, we are well positioned to expand this collaborative model to Tanzania and Togo – strengthening PFM and ultimately creating sustainable value for the citizens of Africa.” 

Adda Faye, Chief Financial Officer at the Global Fund said: “The Global Fund invests in strategic partnerships with organizations such as IFAC and PAFA to help countries strengthen their public health systems, making them more transparent, efficient, and self-sustaining. These investments not only enhance the impact of health outcomes but also contribute to the development of resilient and sustainable health systems. Our partnership is a demonstration of the Global Fund’s commitment to aid effectiveness and long-term sustainability of our programs. We are proud to continue our collaboration with IFAC and PAFA in driving progress—supporting countries in strengthening public financial management through well-equipped and capable human resources.” 

The expanded program will focus on strengthening national PAOs in Tanzania and Togo, embedding professional learning programs, and enabling public sector institutions to recruit and retain qualified professionals who can lead on integrity, performance, and good governance.