THE AFRICAN CENTRE FOR STATISTICS
Better Statistics for Better Development Outcomes
“Although progress has been made over the last decade or so, there are still challenges facing many national statistical systems, especially now in the light of the need to provide information and statistics to inform the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development and the African Union Agenda 2063.
However, these global and regional requirements have also paved the way to galvanise support and mobilize the resources needed to build sustainable statistical systems”
Oliver Chinganya
Director of the African Centre for Statistics, UNECA
WHO WE ARE
Statistics are a core element of the development process. They provide a basis for good decision-making, remain essential to manage the effective delivery of basic services and are indispensable for accountability, transparency and democracy.
In 2005, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) analyzed its role in statistical development and a year later created the African Centre for Statistics (ACS). The revitalization of statistics was meant to enable UNECA to play a major role in statistical development in Africa and contribute towards better economic management and tracking of progress towards the achievement of national and international development objectives.
The African Center for Statistics aims to be the first port of call for member states seeking original data to inform policy decisions. ACS’ long term objective is to serve as a regional service centre for data on economic, social, demographic, geospatial information and environmental conditions in African countries. The establishment of ACS has allowed UNECA to reshape the statistical development agenda on the African continent.
Five Core Functions
of the African Centre for Statistics
Economic Statistics and National Accounts
Data Technology
Demographic and Social Statistics
Geo-information and sectoral statistics
Statistical Development
WHAT WE DO
The African Centre for Statistics
Conducts research
– on statistical concepts, methods and standards to support governments and regional institutions in the production and use of quality statistics in support of development efforts
–
Promotes statistical harmonization
– across African countries through the adoption of international statistical norms, standards and classifications, and adaptation to regional and national realities
Designs and implements regional programmes
– that are well coordinated across African countries. As part of this process, UNECA produces and uses quality statistical information to identify and define priority issues and undertake policy design, analysis, planning, and the monitoring and evaluation of development activities
Supports member states
– in harnessing information and communication technologies (ICTs) to improve data collection, processing, analysis, dissemination and archiving capabilities, as well as facilitating access to national, sub-regional and regional databases
– in harnessing and setting up geoinformation systems
– in establishing efficient statistical infrastructures in the collection, processing, analysis, dissemination and archiving of statistics in various areas
– in undertaking statistical operations, including censuses, surveys and record keeping of administrative data
– in advocating for resource mobilization to conduct statistical and geospatial information activities
PRIORITY AREAS OF STATISTICS
POPULATION AND HOUSING CENSUSES
CIVIL REGISTRATION AND VITAL STATISTICS
SOCIAL STATISTICS
GENDER STATISTICS
ENVIRONMENTAL STATISTICS
INTERNATIONAL TRADE STATISTICS
ECONOMIC STATISTICS
FOOD SECURITY, SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT STATISTICS
GEOSPATIAL INFORMATION MANAGEMENT
NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF
STATISTICS
HOW WE WORK
Capacity Building
Thematic based statistical data models Modernizing statistical systems
Statistical training programmes
Inter-Governmental Processes
United Nations Statistical Commission
– An apex entity of the global statistical system, which brings together Chief Statisticians from member states around the world
Statistical Commission for Africa (StatCom-Africa)
– Regional forum of discussion and decision by National Statistical Offices
United Nations Global Geospatial Information Management
– Forum of discussion and decision making by national mapping agencies
Statistical Products
UNECA statistical database (StatBase)
– Repository of Development information – Compilation and dissemination of data on
various socio-economic indicators of African countries
– ecastats.uneca.org/statbase/
Africa Statistics Flash
– A glimpse of what is going on in Africa on issues relating to the economy, trade, external debt, investment, price levels, inflation, population, school enrolment, etc.
Africa Statistical Yearbook
– Yearly publication on the performance of African countries on several economic and social indicators for policy-makers, researchers and other users
Visit the ACS website: www.uneca.org/acs
For more information, please contact:
African Centre for Statistics Economic Commission for Africa P.O. Box 3001 Addis Ababa Ethiopia
Tel : +251-11-544-3050 Email: statistics@uneca.org
@ECA_Official
This brochure was created with support from the Secretariat of the Partnership in Statistics for Development in the 21st Century (PARIS21).
