The African Tax Administration Forum (ATAF) is inviting applications for its Internship Programme, offering students, recent graduates, and young professionals an opportunity to gain practical experience in tax administration, governance, public policy, research, monitoring and evaluation, and corporate support services.
The internships are based in Pretoria, South Africa, and provide participants with hands-on exposure to the work of Africa’s leading tax organization while contributing to initiatives that strengthen domestic resource mobilisation across the continent.
About ATAF
The African Tax Administration Forum (ATAF) is the leading continental organization dedicated to strengthening tax administration in Africa. Bringing together 45 member states, ATAF works to promote fair, efficient, and modern tax systems that enhance domestic resource mobilisation, improve tax administration, and reduce reliance on external financing.
Interns will join a multicultural team working alongside specialists who support governments in tax reform and contribute to shaping international tax policy that reflects African priorities.
Internship Areas
Successful applicants will be placed in departments that align with their academic qualifications and career interests.
Available internship areas include:
- Governance
- Monitoring and Evaluation
- Domestic Resource Mobilisation
- Domestic Tax
- International and Cross-Border Taxation
- Capacity Enhancement
- Applied Tax Research and Statistics
- International Relations
- Corporate Support Services
Learning Opportunities
Interns will gain practical workplace experience while working with subject matter experts across ATAF’s various departments.
Governance
Participants assigned to governance-related functions may gain exposure to:
- Enterprise Risk Management frameworks
- Governance and compliance
- Risk assessment methodologies
- Risk reporting and dashboard development
- Corporate governance practices
- Governance structures within international organizations
Domestic Tax and Capacity Enhancement
Interns may support activities related to:
- Direct and indirect taxation
- Tax policy and legislative guidance
- Technical assistance to revenue authorities
- Capacity-building programmes
- Professional training initiatives
- Domestic tax standard-setting engagements
International and Cross-Border Taxation
Successful candidates may contribute to work involving:
- International taxation
- Corporate taxation
- Tax policy and legislation
- Exchange of Information (EOI)
- Global tax standards
- Applied tax research and statistics
International Relations
Interns working in international relations may assist with:
- Technical assistance programmes
- Collaboration with African revenue authorities
- Engagement with regional and international tax organizations
- Partnership management with development partners
- Strategic institutional collaborations
Monitoring and Evaluation
Interns in monitoring and evaluation will gain experience in:
- Refining performance indicators
- Data collection methodologies
- Data cleaning and analysis
- Quantitative and qualitative research
- Reporting and dashboard development
- Data visualization
Corporate Support Services
Corporate support interns may work in areas including:
- Office administration
- Records management
- Data capturing
- Event planning
- Logistics coordination
- Procurement
- Budget administration
- Financial management
- Marketing support
Eligibility Requirements
Applicants should possess or be completing a minimum NQF Level 7 tertiary qualification in one of the following or related disciplines:
- Risk Management
- Internal Audit
- Accounting
- Financial Management
- Governance
- Public Finance
- Taxation
- Economics
- Public Administration
- International Relations
- Public Policy
- Development Studies
- Human Resources
- Office Administration
ATAF also encourages Master’s and PhD students specializing in tax-related fields to apply for placements within its tax specialist departments.
Experience
No prior professional work experience is required.
However, applicants with previous internships, volunteer work, or workplace exposure may have an added advantage during the selection process.
Internship Benefits
Successful candidates will receive:
- Practical work experience within an international organization
- Mentorship from experienced tax specialists and professionals
- Exposure to regional tax policy and governance initiatives
- Professional development opportunities
- A monthly stipend
Why Apply?
The ATAF Internship Programme offers aspiring professionals an opportunity to:
- Build practical skills in tax administration and public finance
- Work alongside leading African tax experts
- Develop experience in governance, research, and policy
- Expand professional networks across Africa
- Contribute to strengthening domestic resource mobilisation and sustainable development
Conclusion
The African Tax Administration Forum Internship Programme provides an excellent opportunity for students, graduates, and early-career professionals seeking practical experience in taxation, governance, policy, and international development. Through structured departmental placements and mentorship from experienced professionals, interns will gain valuable knowledge while contributing to initiatives that strengthen tax systems across Africa.
