TANZANIA TO CHAIR AFRICA STATISTICS BODY FOR THE PERIOD OF TWO YEARS
The Statistics Commission for Africa (StatCom- AFRICA), on its sixth meeting held from 3rd – 4th October, 2018, has unanimously elected Tanzania to chair the forum for the period of 2018-2020.
The meeting which took place in Ethiopian Capital, Addis Ababa was officially opened by President of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, His Excellency Mr. Mulatu Teshome Wirtu who underscored the importance of high quality statistics as a basis for the design and implementation of evidence-based policies at all levels.
The sixth meeting of the Statistical Commission for Africa was organized in the context of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and agenda 2063: The Africa We Want of the African Union and was under the “Enhancing National Statistical System Capacity to Support Policies for Africa’s Economic Diversification and Industrialization”.
StatCom - Africa is the highest entity of the Africa Regional Statistical System and the highest decision making for Africa Statistical activities. It brings together Africa statistical community including heads of national statistical offices, regional statistical training centres, high levels experts and development partners supporting statistical development in Africa.
Tanzanian delegation to the meeting was led by Director General of National Bureau of Statistics Dr. Albina Chuwa. Others were Rector of Eastern Africa Statistical Training Centre Dr. Frank Mkumbo and acting director of economic statistics at NBS Daniel Masolwa.
During the meeting, delegates discussed the need for economic statistics in decision-making and for informing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The meeting also called member countries to commit more resources in conducting timely surveys necessary for compiling reliable economic statistics to facilitate effective policy making and decision-making.
The opening of the meeting was also graced by remarks from the Deputy Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) Dr. Abdallah Hamdok; the Chief of the National Accounts and Economic Statistics Section of the United Nations Statistics Division, Greg Scott, and Director of the Statistics Department of the African Development Bank, Charles Leyeka Lufumpa.
The Statistical Commission for Africa was established in 2005 at the joint Annual Meeting of the African Union Conference of Ministers of Economy and Finance, Planning and Economic Development. The Commission operates within the framework of the United Nations policies and procedures, and is subject to the oversight of Economic Commission for Africa Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development.
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