The Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) has officially launched a Secure Research Data Lab, a milestone initiative aimed at strengthening domestic resource mobilisation (DRM) and supporting the country’s broader development goals.
The new lab will give researchers controlled access to quality-assured, anonymised tax administrative data within a secure environment. By doing so, it will provide valuable insights to help shape effective tax policy and administration both in Zambia and beyond.
Speaking at the launch, ZRA Commissioner General Dingani Banda described the facility as a strategic investment that enhances the Authority’s ability to make smarter, evidence-based tax policy decisions. He emphasised that the lab will elevate the quality of public debate on taxation by grounding discussions in empirical evidence.
The establishment of the lab was made possible with support from the United Nations University – World Institute for Development Economics Research (UNU-WIDER). Research Fellow Amina Ebrahim noted that the initiative sets a strong foundation for long-term institutional collaboration and expressed UNU-WIDER’s continued commitment to Zambia’s inclusive growth and resilient financial management systems.
With its launch, the ZRA Research Data Lab becomes the third of its kind in Africa, following similar initiatives in South Africa and Uganda.
