Source: African Union (AU.net)
Members of the bureau of the Committee of the Directors general of the National Statistics offices together with the representatives from the African Union Institute for Statistics (AU STATFRIC) represented by Mrs. Botho Kebabonye Bayendi, Ag. Executive Director; and Dr Jose Awong Alene, Ag. Head of Division Statistics System coordination and innovation, of the African Union Commission (AUC), are taking part at the 56th session of the United Nations Statistical Commission, held from 4 to 7 March 2025 at the UN Headquarters in New York. The session was preceded by a consultative meeting of the bureau of the Committee of the Directors General of the National Statistics Offices (CoDGs) and the Statistical Commission for Africa (StatCom-Africa) which took place on 3rd March 2025, at the Mandela Conference Hall of the Permanent Observer Mission of the African Union to the United Nations. The meeting was aimed at reviewing the oral statements on the Africa Common Position (ACP).
Welcoming the participants to the 56th session of the United Nations Statistical Commission R. Li Junhua, UN Under Secretary General (USG) for Economic and Social Affairs, stated that “to ensure that progress on data and statistics is inclusive, our efforts must be underpinned by sound and trusted forms of data governance and sufficient capacity development”. He said the Commission will consider among others, two important resolutions: The 2030 World Population and Housing Census Programme and the System of National Accounts 2025, noting that these two programmes have a rich history, and they remain highly relevant in measuring the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, and are fundamental to the monitoring needs of the 2030 Agenda.
“As digital transformation progresses, it is important that the Statistical Commission maintains its focus in maintaining and setting new internationally agreed-upon standards and methodologies…. I am confident that the Commission’s work will strengthen engagement in wider UN processes, including the three major conferences that UN DESA will organize in coming months, namely the Third UN Ocean Conference in June in France; the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development in July in Spain; and the Second World Summit for Social Development in November in Qatar. Data governance and capacity development are expected to feature prominently in these major conferences”. Concluded USG Junhua.
It is worth noting that the UN Statistical Commission is the highest body in the international statistical system where global statistical standards are considered and approved. In the framework of the 56th session, it is important for African countries to speak with one voice and harmonize their contributions to the deliberations on agenda items for discussion and decision. Countries were requested based on their areas of interest to prepare and present an Africa Common positions during the Commission session.
