TAI Collaborative's Fiscal Space Platform Advances Fiscal Justice Worldwide
The Trust, Accountability, and Inclusion (TAI) Collaborative's Fiscal Space platform emphasizes the value of sharing strategies and lessons in advancing fiscal justice. This involves ensuring fairness in how public money is raised and spent, and who participates in decision-making processes.
Fiscal justice is not merely an abstract concept. It directly impacts the daily lives of individuals and families, affecting their access to essential services and opportunities. Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) worldwide play a crucial role in making fiscal justice a reality. They challenge regressive tax policies, demand budget transparency, and ensure local voices inform national priorities.
In May 2021, the Kenyan Peasants League and the Kenya Debt Abolition Network took legal action in Kenya. They challenged government loans from the International Monetary Fund, criticizing a lack of transparency and development benefits in the arrangements. This action reflects the deep understanding of fiscal policy that people most affected by these decisions often possess. They can drive solutions that reflect their communities' priorities.
The TAI Collaborative's Fiscal Space platform underscores the importance of sharing strategies and lessons in advancing fiscal justice. As governments face shrinking aid and tighter budgets, there's a risk of regressive fiscal responses. However, this also presents an opportunity to build fairer fiscal systems that reflect the needs and rights of all people. Lasting change in fiscal governance requires consistent engagement, coalition-building, and flexibility to adapt over time. For funders, this means investing in the institutional strength of organisations doing the slow, steady work of reform, with flexibility, patience, and recognition of cumulative results.
