This year’s World Day of Social Justice is unfolding against a backdrop of shrinking development of finance and growing uncertainty. For many African countries, the sudden withdrawal of key external funding streams has exposed the fragility of social-sector financing and emphasised the urgent need for sustainable, domestically driven solutions.
Social justice is not an abstract principle. It is reflected in whether children can access education, whether hospitals are adequately funded, whether workers earn dignified wages, and whether governments have the resources to respond to crises. Inclusion cannot exist where systems are underfunded, and inequalities continue to widen.
The theme for 2026, “Renewed commitment to social development and social justice,” calls for strengthened global solidarity, stronger multilateralism, and accelerated efforts toward the Sustainable Development Goals.
Tax Justice Network Africa (TJNA) joins civil society organisations, governments, and intergovernmental bodies in marking this important day. A renewed commitment to social justice must begin with ensuring that African governments are able to mobilise domestic resources sustainably, reducing reliance on external aid that can be threatened by geopolitical shifts.
TJNA’s Executive Director, Ms. Chenai Mukumba, stresses that the events of the past year highlight the urgency of domestic solutions: “The collapse of donor-funded programmes across the continent is a clear signal that Africa cannot build resilient social systems on external financing. Tax justice is not just a revenue issue, it is a social justice imperative that ensures African states have the resources to protect their people.”
TJNA calls for strengthening domestic tax laws to curb tax avoidance, reducing IFFs through enhanced transparency, investing in public services to rebuild systems strained by aid cuts, and ensuring that ongoing negotiations lead to a fairer international tax architecture that respects Africa’s sovereignty.
TJNA reaffirms its commitment to a just, self‑reliant, and integrated Africa—one where fairness and integrity guide governance and where every individual has access to the services and protections necessary to thrive.
For more information about TJNA and its work on tax and equity, please contact Ishmael Zulu at izulu[@]taxjusticeafrica.net.
