Statistics are essential to the development, planning, execution, monitoring, assessment, and reporting of policies. It is against this backdrop that, the 18^th Session of the Committee of Directors-General of the National Statistics Offices (CoDGs), opened on December, 9, 2024, on the theme “Contribution of statistics to Educate an African, fit for the 21^st Century: Building resilient education systems for increased access to inclusive, lifelong, quality, and relevant learning in Africa”.

In her opening remarks, on behalf of H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat, AUC Chairperson (AUC), Mrs. Botho Kebabonye Bayendi, Director of Office of Strategic Planning and Delivery and Acting Executive Director of the African Union Institute for Statistics (STATAFRIC), emphasized the critical role of statistics in Africa’s development, focusing on harmonization, data quality, and capacity building to achieve the African Union Agenda 2063 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). “The continental development is driven by the African Union Agenda 2063 that envision to build an "integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa led by its people and representing a dynamic force on the international scene” and the implementation of the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in September 2015. To implement these development programs at national, regional and continental levels and ensure their success, there is a need for reliable and harmonized statistics in all the domains,” noted Mrs. Botho Kebabonye Bayendi.

Also speaking at the opening ceremony, the Vice President of The Gambia, H.E. Mr Muhammad B. S. Jallow, emphasized the importance of modernizing statistical systems, leveraging fit-for-purpose data to address education challenges, and fostering collaboration to achieve Agenda 2063 and SDG 4. Mr Jallow highlighted The Gambia’s progress in data modernization and called for unified efforts to produce reliable, timely, and high-quality statistics across Africa. “Modernizing our data ecosystems is essential for producing timely, accurate, and relevant statistics that reflect Africa's unique challenges and opportunities. Leveraging advanced data collection methods such as digital surveys, mobile data collection, and administrative systems will significantly enhance the quality and relevance of our statistics. I implore all African nations to prioritize investments in statistical modernization, as this is critical for achieving sustainable development goals and driving economic growth,” underlined H.E. Mr Muhammad B. S. Jallow.

Meanwhile, the main objectives of the CoDGs are to focus on ways for producing sound statistics including those relevant to help guide decision makers for building resilient education systems, for increased access to inclusive, lifelong, quality, and relevant learning in Africa. This includes:

(i) Providing a forum for member states to review and advise on the statistical programmes of the pan-African organisation based on the guidelines of the Strategy for the Harmonization of Statistics in Africa (SHaSA 2) , and ensure their synergy and alignment to the needs of AU Member states;

(ii) Working towards the achievement of the Continental Education Strategy for Africa 2016 to 2025 and education-related targets of the Sustainable Development Goals, in particular, SDG 4;

(iii)Discuss challenges faced in producing data for Agenda 2063 STYIP/2030 SDGs;

(iv)Discussing statistical coordination mechanisms and their implementation in the continent; and

(v)Assessing progress, identifying problems, and proposing solutions to existing and emerging issues on statistical development in Africa.

For further information, please contact:

1. Ms. Esther Azaa Tankou | Head, Media and Information Division | Information and Communications Directorate, AUC, Communication Adviser, Permanent Observer Mission of the AU to the UN | E-mail: yamboue@africa-uinon.org , Tel: +251911361185 / +1 3478127195 (WhatsApp)
2. Mrs. Botho Kebabonye Bayendi |  Director of Office of Strategic Planning and Delivery and Acting Executive Director of STATAFRIC, African Union Commission | Email: bayendib@africa-union.org
3. Mr. Gamal Eldin Ahmed A. Karrar | Senior Communication Officer | Information and Communication Directorate, African Union Commission | E-mail: GamalK@africa-union.org

Information and Communication Directorate, African Union Commission I E-mail: DIC@africa-union.org
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