WHAT: High-Level Workshop on the Implementation of the 2025 System of National Accounts (SNA) and Balance of Payments Manual (BPM7)

WHEN: 31 March - 02 April 2026

Time: 9:00 AM

WHERE: African Union Headquarters, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Speakers

• Mr. Adoum Gagoloum, STATAFRIC
• Mr. Jim Tebrake, Deputy Director, IMF STA
• Representative of the African Centre for Statistics, UNECA
• Mr. Shantanu Mukherjee, UNSD
• Mr. Bereket Fesehatsion Tesfamariam, State Minister, Ministry of Planning and Development, Ethiopia

Background

The African Union Institute for Statistics (STATAFRIC) is the African Union’s specialized body responsible for advancing harmonized and high-quality statistics across the continent. Since its first continental engagements, it has supported Member States in strengthening statistical systems, promoting international standards, and enabling evidence-based policymaking.

This work is especially critical as the global statistical community introduces the 2025 System of National Accounts (2025 SNA) and the Balance of Payments Manual, seventh edition (BPM7), updated frameworks designed to better reflect digitalization, globalization, and the growing role of intangible assets. While these standards will improve the quality and comparability of data across Africa, their adoption requires significant technical capacity, resources, and stronger data systems, underscoring the need for coordinated continental support.

Objectives

• To support African countries in preparing for the adoption and implementation of the 2025 System of National Accounts (2025 SNA) and BPM7.

• To strengthen understanding of updated international standards in macroeconomic statistics, including measurement of digital economy activities, global value chains, financial flows, and intangible assets.

• To enhance the capacity of National Statistics Offices and Central Banks to produce high-quality, modern economic statistics.

• To facilitate knowledge sharing, peer learning, and collaboration among African Union Member States and international partners.

• To promote harmonization of statistical methodologies across the continent.

• To support evidence-based policymaking and economic planning aligned with Africa’s development priorities, including Agenda 2063.

Expected outcomes include

• Improved readiness and strategic direction among African countries for implementing the 2025 SNA and BPM7 frameworks.

• Strengthened statistical capacity and institutional resilience within participating countries.

• Enhanced quality, comparability, and reliability of macroeconomic data across Africa.

• Better alignment of national statistical systems with global standards and evolving economic realities.

•Increased coordination and partnerships between African institutions and international organizations (IMF, UNECA, Eurostat, OECD, UNSD, World Bank).

• Greater availability of robust economic data to support policymaking, development planning, and monitoring of Agenda 2063.

Participants include

• Three officials from each member country: Director General (Chief Statistician or Deputy Chief Statistician)
• Director of the Economic Department/Division
• High-level official in charge of Macroeconomic Statistics from the Central Bank.

Interpretation

English, French, Arabic and Portuguese will be the medium of communication during the meeting, and simultaneous translation will be provided.

Media

Media are invited for coverage of the opening session

For Media, please contact:

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

Godstime Gaius | Information and Communication Directorate | African Union Commission | Email: GaiusG@africanunion.org