UNDP aims to educate on taxation

By Rashida Rehmanjee  

Taxation is intricately linked to gender equality and is a fundamental foundation to address intersectional inequality challenges, said the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).  

By bringing the Country Engagement Plan (CEP) agreed by the Government of SriLanka (GoSL), the UNDP’s goal is to bring together national priorities on financing for development and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)with specific focus on taxation.  

UNDP will also support research and capacity development in the country on the   use of tax policies to achieve SDGs on Affordable and Clean Energy (SDG 7) and Gender Equality (SDG 5). CEP is demand-driven and focuses on the Ministry of Finance (MoF) and the revenue authority which are the central points for articulating national requirements   vis-a-vis taxation and development.  

An in-country UNDP SDGs Taxation Framework (STF) Diagnostic Evaluation mission took place from 21st - 25th August, with the mission evaluation report and findings being handed over today. The report was handed over to Shehan Semasinghe, State Minister of Finance.  

The goal of the mission was to promote a shared understanding of Tax and SDGs issues at the national level.