PAFA signs MOU with SAAA-Zimbabwe to implement Accounting Technician Qualification for Africa: PAFA CEO calls on all PAOs in Africa to embrace Accounting Technicians

Johannesburg, South Africa,  29 November 2024 - The Pan African Federation of Accountants (PAFA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Southern Africa Association of Accountants (SAAA) to implement the Accounting Technician Qualification for Africa (ATQA) in Zimbabwe.

The ATQA was developed by the World Bank as a public good designed for adoption by African countries to help build a skilled workforce of accounting technicians for both the private and public sectors. PAFA has been authorised by the World Bank to offer the ATQA to professional accountancy organisations (PAOs) in countries seeking to deliver a high-quality technician-level qualification.

Speaking at the official MOU signing ceremony, The PAFA CEO, Alta Prinsloo, said that PAFA’s plan to advance ATs is a critical initiative aimed at equipping individual accountants at all levels with essential accountancy skills to address key challenges of governance, transparency, and accountability in the public and private sectors, including addressing corruption and economic crime. She said that the initiative is not just about enhancing technical proficiency; it is about fostering economic growth, improving governance, and increasing foreign investment.   The PAFA CEO concluded her message issuing: A Call to all PAOs in Africa to embrace the Accounting Technician Qualification as way of enhancing the service of the accountancy profession to benefit the public sector, private sectors and all the economies and markets in Africa.  

PAFA welcomes: The Somali Institute of Certified Public Accountants (SICPA) – as an Associate and;

The Institute of Administration and Commerce (IAC) Zimbabwe - upgrading from Associate to Member

Johannesburg, South Africa, 21 November 2024 – PAFA is delighted to welcome SICPA into the PAFA family as an Associate and IAC Zimbabwe upgrading from Associate to Member. SICPA’s and IAC Zimbabwe’s applications were approved at the October 2024 PAFA Board meeting. PAFA’s membership now comprises 58 professional accountancy organisations in 47 African countries and five international affiliations.

PAFA is aware that the accountancy profession could contribute more effectively to the African continent’s development if national professional accountancy organizations are supported by a functioning continental organisation. Accordingly, along with other members and associates, PAFA is committed to supporting SICPA’s and IAC Zimbabwe’s continuing development to effectively serve the public interest in Somalia, Zimbabwe and Africa.

About PAFA The Pan African Federation of Accountants (PAFA) is the continental body representing Africa's professional accountancy organisations and an International Network Partner of the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC). Our vision is: “Sustainable value creation to benefit the citizens of Africa’’ and our mission is: “To strengthen the capacity and influence of the accountancy profession in Africa to enhance trade, the quality of services, and trust in institutions.

The Pan African Federation of Accountants (PAFA) is calling for proposals from experienced consultants to support the implementation of its Sustainability Centre of Excellence (CoE) strategy. 

Johannesburg, South Africa, 19 August 2024 – The Pan African Federation of Accountants (PAFA) is pleased to announce that its Board has officially approved a pioneering strategy to establish a Centre of Excellence (CoE) for Sustainability. This initiative marks a significant milestone in PAFA’s mission to promote good governance, transparency, accountability, and sustainable value creation across Africa. The CoE is poised to play a crucial role in advancing the adoption and implementation of the IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards of the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) throughout the continent.

IFAC is establishing its Young Leaders Collective to provide our profession with the opportunity to learn from the perspectives of early career professional accountants, as well as students and future or aspiring accountants. Being part of the Collective will provide younger professionals and students with the opportunity to learn more about the challenges and opportunities facing our profession, while sharing their insights as our profession’s future leaders. See attached document for more information. Closing date is 31 May 2024.

Action: We are asking PAOs to encourage talented accounting students and young professionals to apply. Please provide individuals you believe are excellent candidates with a letter of recommendation for them to include in their application. Young professionals and students in countries where the PAO is not yet an IFAC member can also become a part of this collective with a letter of recommendation from PAFA. If this is the case, please contact PAFA for further assistance.

The IFRS Foundation and the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), a department of the Government of the United Kingdom, have entered into an agreement to build capacity to support the adoption and implementation of the ISSB Standards in Africa. As representative of the accountancy profession in Africa, the IFRS Foundation has engaged PAFA to assist in this regard.

You heard about the PAFA 10-Year Review at the 2021 – 2023 Annual General Meetings. After careful consideration of all matters, we are finally able to share the recommendations approved by the PAFA Board for stakeholder consultation. Please see the attached Consultation Paper. To learn more, join a virtual information session on either 31 January 2024 or 7 February 2024. Please note that only online submissions will be considered; make your online submission via this link [English] [French] [Portuguese] by 16 February 2024. Please write to AltaP@pafa.org

The International Federation of Accountants (IFAC), Gavi – The Vaccine Alliance, and The Global Fund have selected the Institute of Chartered Accountants Ghana (ICAG) inter alia to strengthen accountancy capacity in the health sector in Ghana under the IFAC, GAVI – The Vaccine Alliance, The Global Fund, and USAID Memorandum of Understanding. As representative of the accountancy profession in Africa, IFAC has engaged the Pan African Federation of Accountants (PAFA) to manage the implementation of the project during 2023 – 2024.

The Council of the Insititute of Chartered Accountant in Malawi has appointed CA. Noel Zigowa as new CEO, effective 3rd July 2023. PAFA extends its warmest congratulations to Noel on his appointment as the new CEO of ICAM. 

The Council of the Chartered Governance and Accountancy Institute
in Zimbabwe elected new office bearers for 2023 -2024 at their annual general meeting.

The International Federation of Accountants (IFAC), Gavi – The Vaccine Alliance, and The Global Fund have selected Ordre National des Experts Comptables et des Comptables Agréés du Burkina Faso (ONECCA-BF) inter alia to strengthen accountancy capacity in the health sector in Burkina Faso under the IFAC, GAVI – The Vaccine Alliance, The Global Fund, and USAID Memorandum of Understanding. As representative of the accountancy profession in Africa, IFAC has engaged the Pan African Federation of Accountants (PAFA) to manage the implementation of the project during 2023 – 2024.

The Botswana Institute of Chartered Accountants signs a memorandum of understanding with the African Professionalisation Initiative (API) to implement the API programmes to professionalise accountants and auditors in Botswana. 

The CEO of BICA, Madam Verily Molatedi had this to say;
“Professionalisation is important for strengthening of capacity for PFM reforms. BICA will play a key role in supporting public sector professionalisation. The Auditor general and accountant general fully support professionalisation for the public sector in Botswana. There is a lot of expectations from governments in terms of being able to enhance good finance governance for the benefit of common citizens”.