The African Union Institute for Statistics (AU STATAFRIC) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) successfully concluded a three-day high-level meeting on the 2025 System of National Accounts (SNA) and Balance of Payments and International Investment Position Manual, 7th Edition (BPM7), held in collaboration with United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD) and the support of the World Bank (WB).

The meeting brought together distinguished representatives from the National Statistics Offices (NSOs) and from the Central Banks of Member States, but also Regional Economic Communities (REC’s) and regional specialized organizations. The meeting aimed to discuss the transformative impact of the new statistical standards on Africa’s economic landscape and prepare African countries in the implementation process of the SNA2025 and BPM7.

The meeting was official opened by H.E. Bereket Fesehatsion Tesfamariam, State Minister of Ethiopia’s Ministry of Economy and Planning. He remarked “Africa stands at a pivotal moment where adopting SNA 2025 and BPM7 can transform statistical systems strengthen data quality, and drive evidence-based policy making. Through collaboration, innovation and reform, we can build resilient, integrated and future ready systems or sustainable development.

The high-level meeting acknowledged the significant progress made by many African countries in implementing the 2008 System of National Accounts (SNA) and Balance of Payments Manual (BPM6), while also recognizing persistent challenges such as limited capacity, competing priorities, and delays in key surveys, underscoring the need for sustained support, peer learning, and tailored approaches.

Participants highlighted the importance of strong institutional coordination, adequate resources, and political commitment, emphasizing that implementation is a continuous and evolving process requiring long-term engagement.

The meeting showcased the IMF’s implementation tools and self-assessment frameworks as critical resources, enabling countries to assess their alignment with new standards, identify gaps, and prioritize investments in statistical infrastructure.

Modernizing data collection systems, improving inter-institutional data sharing, and integrating new data sources, including administrative and emerging data were identified as essential steps for successfully adopting the 2025 SNA and BPM7. Finally, collaboration both within countries and across the continent was emphasized as a cornerstone of success, requiring close coordination among national statistical offices, central banks, ministries, and other stakeholders, alongside continued support from continental and international partners.

In his closing remarks, the representative of the African Union for Statistics (AU STATAFRIC) emphasised that "time is not on our side." With each revision cycle of the System of National Accounts spanning approximately 15 years, the window for full implementation is already limited. Countries were urged to:

• Develop realistic, country-owned implementation plans based on self-assessment results and aligned with national and regional priorities.
• Strengthen legal and institutional frameworks to enable access to administrative and new data sources.
• Invest in capacity building human, technical, and technological to ensure the sustainability of statistical production systems.

The AU STATAFRIC reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Member States in this transition. The organization will continue to collaborate with the IMF, UNECA, AfDB, UNSD, and other partners to provide coordinated support, promote knowledge sharing, and strengthen regional cooperation.

The AU STATAFRIC extended their gratitude to:

• The IMF Statistics Department for its technical leadership and development of practical implementation tools.
• UNECA, UNSD, the World Bank, OECD, and all partners for their continued collaboration.
• Member States and Regional Economic Communities (RECs) for their openness in sharing experiences, challenges, and lessons learned.

The implementation of the 2025 SNA and BPM7 is not just about improving statistics—it is about strengthening Africa’s ability to understand its economies, inform policy decisions, and support sustainable and inclusive development. The meeting concluded with a call for urgent, purposeful, and determined action to ensure a timely and successful transition.

For more information, please contact:

Jabulani Sithole |Communication Specialist| African Union Commission |Email: SitholeJ@africanunion.org

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