Zanzibar statistical forum in-offing
PLANS are underway by the government to establish ‘Zanzibar Statistical Forum (ZSF)’ in order to strengthen partnership for better coordination of statistics in the Isles and promote its use.
This was revealed at the introductory meeting organized by the Office of Chief Government Statistician (OCGS-Zanzibar) to stakeholders’ who support the plan promising full engagement as they discussed how to make the forum stronger and effective in statistics collection and management.
Zanzibar Minister of State, President’s office- Finance and Planning Dr Saada Mkuya Salum who officiated the meeting for the ZSF establishment plan backed by the United Nations Population Fund-UNFPA said that quality data has become more imperative at this time when countries including Tanzania work hard to meet the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“Given the central role of data in development planning, there is a need to ensure that the data provided are of high quality, available, and provided on a timely basis. Therefore, coordination among stakeholders working in data and statistical fields is of paramount important to leverage capacities in financing, expertise and innovation among partners,” Ms Salim said.
During the meeting held here yesterday, Finance and Planning Minister emphasized commitment to stakeholders- government institutions/agencies, non-state actors, researchers, academic institutions, civil societies, and development partners so as to achieve the ZSF objectives.
The objectives include create a platform for increasing coordination and identification of areas of synergies, complementarily, integration and communication and advocacy among data producers and users at different levels in Zanzibar; and provide an opportunity to explore the possibility of embracing the big data opportunities and the way of integrating it into official statistics.
Dr Azzah Amin Nufly from UNFPA said that establishment of ZSF is a historical development in data management urging to sustain the forum by having a workable annual work plan, and also having a platform /portal for networking including with data agencies in other countries, and the UN World data Forum.
Mr Rob Swinkels- Senior Economist from the World Bank said the World Bank actively supports and funds the development of statistics all over the world. That is because governments need to know the effect of shocks on the economy and people’s incomes and lives because only then can it adopt appropriate measures. And then use data to assess whether these measures work.
He said that the World Bank is investing heavily in statistics in Africa, funding the implementation of the African Union Strategy for Harmonization of Statistics in Africa (SHaSA2) 2017-2026. SHaSA2 is a continent-wide initiative addressing constraints in statistical production, harmonization and availability to promote the regional integration agenda.
The Bank officer said it is implemented using a cascading approach whereby regional economic blocs and countries develop more specific regional and national strategies for the development of statistics, consistent with the higher-level strategies and frameworks.
