LoGRI Chair Wilson Prichard Delivers Keynote Address at AMALI 2024 Reunion in Nairobi, Kenya

Wilson Prichard, Chair of the Local Government Revenue Initiative delivered the keynote address at the African Mayoral Leadership Initiative (AMALI) reunion event in Nairobi, Kenya this October. His presentation was titled “Strengthening Revenue Mobilization to Deliver Transformative Changes in Your Cities.”

AMALI: Empowering African City Leaders

AMALI, anchored at the African Centre for Cities at the University of Cape Town, supports African mayors and governors in creating transformative change. The program provides a year-long mentorship and guidance initiative to help leaders develop strategic plans for public initiatives.

Professor Prichard, an advisory board member for AMALI, was invited to address the 2024 cohort during their three-day immersive reunion.

Key Insights from the Address

Professor Prichard highlighted the critical role of taxes in building fiscal autonomy and social contracts. He shared actionable strategies for local revenue reform, including:

• Simplifying Revenue Models: Adapting systems to align with local capacity and resources.

• Tying Revenue to Public Services: Using tax revenues to visibly improve public services and enhance trust.

• Central-Local Collaboration: Engaging central governments for high-level support in revenue initiatives.

Dr. Prichard underscored these points by sharing the successes of the LoGRI-supported property reform project in Freetown, Sierra Leone’s, which tripled revenue collection while improving systemic fairness and transparency.

A Platform for Shared Learning and Collaboration

The AMALI 2024 reunion brought together prominent leaders, including Kenyan President William Ruto, Nairobi Governor Sakaja Johnson, and Kajiado Governor Joseph Ole Lenku. Discussions centered on urban development, sustainable investment, and the role of leadership in driving economic growth across Africa.