Pan African Federation of Accountants

What Pan African Federation of Accountants does

The Pan African Federation of Accountants (PAFA) is a not-for-profit membership federation established in May 2011 and headquartered in Midrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. Its membership comprises 57 professional accountancy organisations (PAOs) in 47 African countries plus five international affiliations, collectively representing more than 125,000 professional accountants across the continent. PAFA is recognised as a regional organisation and network partner of the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC), giving it continental standing in international accountancy standard-setting and PAO capacity building.

PAFA's portfolio centres on capacity building, standards harmonisation, and professional development rather than a unified software product. Core programmes include the African Professionalisation Initiative (API) for online learning aimed at public sector accountants, the PAO Development Programme for institutional strengthening, the Africa Accounting & Finance Research Call (ACAFRI) co-run with the African Accounting and Finance Association, a newly established Centre of Excellence for Sustainability, a sustainability learning platform powered by The ESG Exchange, and a contracted Online Examination Management System (OEMS) build for ICAG-Ghana. It also convenes the biennial Africa Congress of Accountants (ACOA).

Revenue is generated from two streams: recurring membership subscriptions paid by PAOs, and project-based grant funding from development finance institutions and donors. The most material recent funding event is a USD 5.4 million, three-year grant from the African Development Bank's Transition Support Facility for the Strengthening PAFA and Public Financial Management Resilience in Africa (SPRA) Programme, covering 23 countries. A 2025 strategic MOU with CPA Canada further extends PAFA's international development partnerships.

Name

Pan African Federation of Accountants

Legal name

Pan African Federation of Accountants

Website

https://pafa.org.za

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

PAFA is a not-for-profit federation of 57 professional accountancy organisations across 47 African countries, representing 125,000+ accountants. It builds PAO capacity, harmonises standards, and advocates for the African accountancy profession in global standard-setting, funded by member subscriptions and donor grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Accountancy Services

NAICS

Business Associations (813910)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), International Affairs (9721)

akta.pro primary industry

International Standards Development & Standardization Bodies (BPADANAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Technical Committees, Working Groups & Expert Panels (BPADANAB), Multilateral Diplomacy & International Representation (UN, Regional Bodies) (BPAIAIAC)

Keywords

• Professional accountancy organisations
• Accountancy capacity building
• Public financial management
• Sustainability integrated reporting
• Professional standards harmonisation

Headquarters

HQ city

Johannesburg

HQ country

South Africa

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Membership subscriptions: PAOs pay subscriptions to belong to PAFA. Member organisations are expected to pay subscriptions, abide by the PAFA constitution and by-laws, and fulfil membership obligations approved by the PAFA board.
2. Donor and development partner funding: PAFA receives grant funding from development finance institutions and donors such as the African Development Bank (approximately USD 5.4 million for the SPRA programme over three years). These funds support capacity-building and institutional strengthening projects.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

PAFA is a not-for-profit continental federation that strengthens the capacity and influence of the accountancy profession in Africa on behalf of its 57 member Professional Accountancy Organisations (PAOs) in 47 countries. It delivers capacity-building programmes (API, PAO Development Programme, SPRA), research initiatives (ACAFRI), standards leadership (Centre of Excellence for Sustainability, Technical Advisory Groups), diversity programmes (Women in Accountancy Forum) and convening events (Africa Congress of Accountants) to harmonise standards and professionalise accountants across the continent.

Product overview

PAFA operates as a not-for-profit federation offering a portfolio of professional development programmes, research initiatives, and capacity-building services rather than a unified software product. The core offerings include the African Professionalisation Initiative (API) for online learning, the PAO Development Programme for institutional strengthening, the Centre of Excellence (CoE) for Sustainability for standards leadership, the Africa Accounting & Finance Research Call (ACAFRI) for research funding, and the Forum for Advancing Women in Accountancy in Africa for diversity initiatives. Additionally, PAFA convenes the biennial Africa Congress of Accountants (ACOA) as the premier continental event. These offerings work together to advance professional standards, build institutional capacity, and strengthen the accountancy profession across Africa's 47 member countries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• African Professionalisation Initiative (API)
• PAO Development Programme
• Centre of Excellence (CoE) for Sustainability
• Africa Accounting & Finance Research Call (ACAFRI)
• Forum for Advancing Women in Accountancy in Africa
• Strengthening PAFA and Public Financial Management Resilience in Africa (SPRA) Programme
• Africa Congress of Accountants (ACOA)

Quantifiable outcome

• 57 PAOs in 47 countries representing 125,000+ professional accountants
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• African Accounting and Finance Association (AAFA)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 January 2026PAFA and AAFA jointly launched the 2026–2027 Africa Call for Accounting and Finance Research Initiative (ACAFRI), a flagship programme designed to promote African-led, evidence-based research that informs professional practice, regulation, and public policy across the continent. Three research projects will be funded with up to USD 9,000 per project, with findings presented at the 2027 Africa Congress of Accountants in Dakar, Senegal.
• CPA CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 December 2025CPA Canada and PAFA signed a strategic MOU to enhance collaboration and capacity building in the accounting profession across Africa. The partnership aims to improve regional professional education, promote international standards, and facilitate knowledge exchange between the two organisations.
• International Federation of Accountants (IFAC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPAFA is recognised as a regional organisation and network partner by IFAC. It represents the voice of the accountancy profession in Africa in international standard setting and supports PAOs in Africa to ultimately become members of IFAC.
• CREFIAF (Comité de Régulation et de normalisation des Interventions des Auditeurs et Experts Comptables Francophones)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPAFA partners with CREFIAF to support the rollout of the African Professionalisation Initiative (API) in Francophone Africa, including contextualisation of the programme and ensuring successful implementation in French-speaking countries.
• SAIPA (South African Institute of Professional Accountants)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSAIPA mentored ONECCA Algeria in its journey to achieve IFAC Associate membership in 2024, demonstrating PAFA's support ecosystem where established PAOs mentor emerging ones.
• ICPAK (Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerICPAK mentored OPC Burundi in achieving IFAC Associate membership in 2024, supporting the growth of the accountancy profession in Kenya and across the African continent.
• ONECCA-Cameroon (Ordre National des Experts Comptables du Cameroun)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerONECCA Cameroon mentored ONECCA Gabon in achieving IFAC Associate membership in 2024 and committed to working to ensure all PAOs within the CEMAC region achieve IFAC membership.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• International Federation of Accountants (IFAC): IFAC is the global federation for the accountancy profession and serves as PAFA's apex body. PAFA is a recognised regional organisation and network partner of IFAC, directly comparable as a federation of national PAOs setting standards, providing capacity building, and advocating at international platforms.
• Accountancy Europe: Accountancy Europe is the regional federation representing 51 professional accountancy bodies across Europe. As a comparable continental PAO federation providing thought leadership, technical guidance, and policy advocacy, it is structurally the closest peer to PAFA outside Africa.
• CREFIAF: CREFIAF is the regulatory and standard-setting body for Francophone African PAOs. It is a strategic PAFA partner for API rollout in Francophone Africa and directly comparable as a sub-regional accountancy federation operating in the same geography and serving the same profession.
• African Accounting and Finance Association (AAFA): AAFA is the continental academic association promoting accounting and finance research in Africa. PAFA partners with AAFA on the ACAFRI research initiative; both operate at the Africa-wide professional level covering the same profession and sharing an evidence-based mandate.

Broad incumbents

• CPA Canada: CPA Canada is one of Canada's national PAOs with global capacity-building programmes. PAFA signed a strategic MOU with CPA Canada in 2025 and they are directly comparable as professional accountancy bodies delivering education, standards advocacy, and international development programmes.
• AICPA (American Institute of Certified Public Accountants): AICPA is the largest national PAO in the United States with a global reach through its CIMA and international affiliations. Comparable to PAFA as a professional accountancy membership organisation focused on standards, learning, and member services, although operating at much greater scale and outside Africa.
• ICAEW (Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales): ICAEW is a major UK chartered accountancy body with worldwide membership and strong presence in Africa. Comparable as a PAO delivering qualifications, advocacy, and continuing professional development, and as a member of the international accountancy ecosystem alongside PAFA.

Regional players

• South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA): SAICA is South Africa's chartered PAO and a PAFA board member (Patricia Stock). It is comparable as a national PAO with strong standards-setting influence in the region, and SAICA mentors other PAOs (e.g., ONECCA Algeria) under PAFA's umbrella.
• Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya (ICPAK): ICPAK is Kenya's national PAO and a PAFA board member. Directly comparable as an East African PAO delivering capacity building, examinations, and standards advocacy under PAFA's regional coordination.
• Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN): ICAN is Nigeria's national chartered PAO and a PAFA board member. Comparable as one of Africa's most established PAOs with significant continental influence, and integral to PAFA's standards harmonisation and capacity-building mission.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/PAFAAfrica
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/panafrican-federation-of-accountants
• Xx.com/PAFA_Africa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles24 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Pan African Federation of Accountants