The Hidden Billions: Tax expenditure reform for sustainable finance
As national budgets tighten and overseas development aid shrinks, the global search for sustainable finance has reached a critical turning point. At the FCDO Global Partnership Conference, IISD Tax and Sovereign Debt Director Alexandra Readhead will deliver a feature talk revealing how the hidden tax expenditures can be harnessed to create immediate fiscal space and steer investment toward a green, inclusive future.
At the FCDO Global Partnership Conference in London, IISD Tax and Sovereign Debt Director Alexandra Readhead will take the stage at 11 a.m. BST to deliver a feature talk, "The Hidden Billions: Tax Expenditure Reform for Sustainable Finance."
Drawing on her work with IISD and the Coalition on Tax Expenditure Reform (COATE), an initiative by five leading policy organizations launched at FfD4, Alexandra will discuss why tax expenditure reform should be the next practical step governments take to free up money for development and climate.
Governments often provide tax breaks and credits to attract investment, but without proper evaluation, they often become hidden costs that often rival or exceed national health and education budgets. Alexandra will outline how governments can move from hidden to harnessed, turning these overlooked billions into targeted tools for green industrial development, gender inclusion, and economic resilience.
This talk comes at a critical juncture for international development. As debt pressures mount and overseas development aid shrinks, the search for sources of funding for development and climate has intensified.
About the Conference
The Global Partnerships Conference, co-hosted by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and the Republic of South Africa, brings together a diverse coalition of governments, investors, and civil society to build modern partnerships that drive inclusive development and reduce long-term dependence on aid.
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