Over the past decade, Domestic Resource Mobilisation (DRM) has increased in significance as a strategically important financing development approach. A number of African countries have recorded significant increases in DRM, resulting in corresponding increases in the resources available to their governments to drive their economic development agenda. Effective DRM can strengthen the continents ownership over its development strategies and at the local level, enhance the social contract and accountability between governments and their citizens. This paper reviewed the key constraints for DRM in Africa and used a case study approach to analyse different DRM interventions, draw appropriate lessons and formulate policy recommendations. Key findings: Addressing illicit financial flows is one important dimension for DRM. Based on evidence from the Ethiopia case study, the paper underscores the importance of adopting a multifaceted approach to curbing illicit financial outflows given the complexities and the diverse motivation of the actors. Furthermore, the paper highlighted the lack of capacity in tax collection as a major constraint for African countries in mobilizing domestic resources. Main lesson: The key lesson learnt from the case study is that it is not enough to initiate policy reforms and rules without sustained leadership commitment and availability of the requisite capacity (both institutional and human) to implement and enforce the provisions. Recommendations: Adopting and implementing tax reforms and related multi-faced approaches to curbing illicit financial flows, is critically important for African countries to improve domestic resource mobilization. Pan African institutions such as ACBF, AfDB, UNECA and AU as well as regional economic communities are expected to facilitate the development of fit-for-purpose policies and help build competencies and skills especially in tax collection and administration to ensure effective implementation of DRM policies and programs across Africa.