E-Tax

Focus area for ASToN

Bamako’s chosen policy area is E-Tax

Bamako wants to address the sale of vehicle tax stickers. Stickers show that drivers have paid their tax for the year, and are normally sold between the months of January and March, after which drivers are usually fined for not displaying one.

However, the procedure for sale of these stickers generates frustration, because the points of sale are not able to deal with the sheer level of demand that comes from roughly 500,000 motorbike owners a year. During the period of sale there are often kilometre-long queues to buy permits, which causes a lot of wasted time and frustration and often means people resort to buying forged copies of motorbike vehicle stickers. The effect on revenue is noticeable. Revenue generated by vehicle sticker sales is far lower than would be expected for the amount of vehicles on the road, pointing to a system that is opaque and undersubscribed. An improvement of the vehicle tax system would be measurable by an increase in tax revenue and improved satisfaction from those purchasing vehicle stickers.

Findings: the starting point for addressing these problems

The following findings set out the starting point for Bamako as they work to address E-Tax. Based on research conducted over the course of Phase 1, they describe the interlinked strengths and challenges that need to be taken into account.

The District of Bamako has identified a very concrete problem that has potential for digital technology to relieve. Recent partnerships to establish digital systems at Points of Sale in markets bodes well for the ability of the city authority to make similar ones. The spillover effects of the project on increased taxation are strong, and may let the authority invest more in their financially lacking public services or human resources.

While citizens are ready, keen and equipped to participate in digital services, and there is strong political backing from the mayor, there have been difficulties in realising projects. This is due to an overall lack of resources, as well as low enthusiasm in the communes to engage with a digital project.

The communes and the District authority tend to be fragmented, and services that do have a technical component are not connected to one another. There is an opportunity for the District of Bamako to create a clear digital strategy and vision to mobilise these actors.

The town hall has a low level of computer equipment and internal digital systems. This is being addressed somewhat by putting internet connectivity in every council office, and the project to create a local intranet for the local authorities. However, a full digital audit has never been completed, and resources available to the local authority are severely lacking.

Many local government departments have no internet connection, and have very little in the way of digital hardware or infrastructure. The electricity required to maintain digital systems and infrastructure for the communes is also of concern.

As owner of projects for regional development, the RDA has solid technical expertise, and strong experience forming partnerships with a wide range of actors, including finding new opportunities for funding. However, it is only now that the Agency has begun working on a digital-specific project, and does not have its own IT department.

Next steps

The District of Bamako does not have a plan for digital transformation until it joins ASToN, which it hopes will be a springboard for its materialisation.

Local authority departments involved in the project

Stakeholders involved in the ASToN Local Group

Participating in the ASToN network