ITJA INTERMEDIATE LEVEL COURSE-2026

Course Description

The International Tax Justice Academy (ITJA) Intermediate Level Course is designed to strengthen the technical, practical, and analytical capacities of civil society actors and media practitioners working on tax justice and related development issues.

Through interactive learning sessions, case studies, practical exercises, peer learning, and expert-led discussions, participants will deepen their understanding of key tax justice themes, including domestic resource mobilisation, international taxation, tax transparency, extractive sector taxation, health taxes, illicit financial flows, tax expenditure, policy advocacy, and collaborative approaches to advancing tax justice.

The course is delivered through a blended learning approach comprising virtual and in-person sessions. The virtual phase introduces participants to the key concepts and learning themes while preparing them for deeper engagement during the face-to-face workshop. The in-person phase provides opportunities for practical application, critical analysis, experience sharing, networking, and collaboration among participants and facilitators.

Upon successful completion of the course, participants will join a growing network of tax justice champions committed to advancing equitable, transparent, and accountable tax systems across Africa and beyond.

Course Objectives

The Intermediate Level Course seeks to strengthen participants' understanding of contemporary tax justice issues while enhancing their capacity to analyse, communicate, and advocate for equitable tax systems. Specifically, the course aims to:

1. Deepen participants' understanding of key tax justice concepts, policies, and emerging issues at national, regional, and global levels.
2. Strengthen participants' analytical and practical skills to interpret and engage with tax justice debates and policy processes.
3. Enhance the capacity of civil society actors and media practitioners to undertake evidence-based advocacy, reporting, and public engagement on tax justice issues.
4. Promote collaboration and interdisciplinary engagement between civil society and media practitioners.
5. Build a sustainable network of tax justice champions capable of applying and cascading learning within their respective jurisdictions.

What Will I Learn

Upon successful completion of the course, participants will be able to:

• Explain and critically analyse key tax justice concepts and their implications for sustainable development.
• Assess the role of domestic resource mobilisation in financing public services and development priorities.
• Understand the structure and implications of the global tax architecture for African countries.
• Analyse tax-related illicit financial flows and corporate tax avoidance practices.
• Examine taxation issues within the extractive sector and emerging areas such as critical minerals, climate finance, and environmental taxation.
• Assess the role of health taxes and their relationship to public health outcomes and inequality.
• Understand key aspects of international taxation, including transfer pricing, permanent establishment, tax treaties, and tax transparency.
• Analyse tax expenditures and harmful tax incentives and their impact on domestic revenue mobilisation.
• Apply practical advocacy and communication approaches to advance tax justice campaigns.
• Strengthen collaboration between media practitioners and civil society actors in advancing tax justice objectives.
• Develop practical action plans for applying course learning within their organisations and jurisdictions.
• Become part of a growing network of tax justice practitioners committed to advancing tax justice across Africa.

Target Audience

The course is intended for:

• Civil society practitioners working on governance, accountability, public finance, development, extractives, health, economic justice, and related fields.
• Journalists and media practitioners interested in reporting taxation, public finance, economic governance, and accountability issues.
• Researchers, advocates, trade union representatives, and other social change actors with a foundational understanding of tax justice and a demonstrated interest in advancing equitable tax systems.

Materials Included

Participants will have access to:

• Session presentations and learning slides.
• Reading materials and reference resources.
• Case studies and practical exercises.
• Learning videos and supplementary multimedia resources.
• Reflective learning activities.
• Session-specific quizzes and assessments.
• Access to the Learning Management System (LMS).
• Networking and peer-learning opportunities through the ITJA community.

Requirements to Undertake the Course

To participate in the Intermediate Level Course, applicants should:

1. Have successfully completed an ITJA Foundation Level Course or an equivalent introductory tax justice training recognised by TJNA; or
2. Demonstrate foundational knowledge or practical experience in taxation, public finance, governance, journalism, advocacy, development, or related fields;
3. Be actively engaged in civil society, media, academia, trade unions, or related sectors;
4. Complete the official participant application and registration process

Overall Assessment

The programme content supports an intermediate-level competency framework focused on:

• Knowledge strengthening,
• Practical application,
• Sector-specific specialisation (CSOs and journalists),
• Policy engagement,
• Collaboration and networking.