Dependable information and statistics are crucial for knowledgeable decision-making if Africa is to attain sustainable improvement, stated Oliver Chinganya, the outgoing African Centre for Statistics Director, throughout his farewell remarks on the ninth Statistical Fee assembly in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Mr. Chinganya underscored the vital position statisticians play in producing and delivering dependable information and statistics that meet current and future improvement wants.
Reflecting on his tenure on the helm of the African Centre for Statistics (ACS), Mr. Chinganya stated he led the Centre at a vital juncture when dependable, correct, and well timed information elevated in urgency as Africa confronted quite a few challenges starting from excessive debt ranges, local weather change and meals safety to lack of higher information to tell coverage selections.
“Our position was to make sure that nationwide statistical programs had been as much as the duty of offering dependable information crucial for knowledgeable decision-making, each for nationwide governments and for world reporting, such because the Sustainable Improvement Targets,” stated Mr. Chinganya whose profession has seen him serve in numerous capacities on the Worldwide Financial Fund, the World Financial institution, and the African Improvement Financial institution earlier than becoming a member of the ECA.
At one level throughout his tenure on the ECA, Mr. Chinganya concurrently headed the Know-how, Local weather Change and Pure Assets Division and the African Centre for Statistics, experiences he stated made him extra conscious of the necessity for resilient information programs to handle rising world challenges.
Stressing that the ACS has amplified Africa’s voice within the world statistical neighborhood, Mr. Chinganya additionally emphasised the position of collaborations and partnerships in assembly world greatest practices and contributing to the worldwide statistical agenda.
He famous that the statistical panorama has modified with the entry of many gamers and actors, not all of whom are statisticians.
“The brand new actors whom I name “information lovers”, have the sources and capability to supply information in actual time and will not be bothered about information validation processes,” he stated lamenting that the ‘information lovers’ had been simply listened to by governments due to the way in which they introduced information and supplied fast fixes.
Lamenting the poor coordination amongst different producers of information and lack of funding within the information worth chain by governments, he stated there’s a problem of elevated information demand which isn’t matched by present capability and a speedy change of expertise.
“The COVID-19 pandemic positioned unprecedented pressure on our programs, revealing gaps in our capacity to gather well timed and important statistics throughout crises, ” he stated, emphasizing that the problem introduced alternatives for inventive approaches in measurements and bolstered the significance of investing in sturdy and resilient information infrastructures.
Calling for stronger management in Nationwide Statistical Workplaces, Mr. Chinganya urged leaders to proceed investing of their groups and fostering regional cooperation.
“The info we produce isn’t just for in the present day—it’s the legacy we depart for future generations,” he urged, calling on worldwide Improvement Companions to deepen engagement with African statistical programs.
I envision an African statistical neighborhood that’s sturdy, progressive, and influential on the worldwide stage. I see a continent the place information drives improvement, informs coverage, and empowers residents. Attaining this imaginative and prescient would require continued dedication, collaboration, and the nurturing of latest expertise.
Highlighting that the statistical panorama has advanced quickly with new applied sciences and methodologies, Mr. Chinganya stated a visionary, adaptable Director of the ACS is required who embraces technological developments equivalent to leveraging huge information and synthetic intelligence.
“I’m assured that with the precise management, the African Centre for Statistics will proceed to thrive and make vital contributions to the event of our continent,” stated Mr. Chinganya, paying tribute to the employees on the ACS, nationwide statistical places of work specialists from ECA member states and Africa’s statistical elders.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Financial Fee for Africa (ECA).