African Union Commission Chairperson H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf has reaffirmed the importance of strengthening Africa’s statistical capabilities to support evidence-based policymaking and sustainable development during a visit to the Pan-African Statistical Training Centre (PANSTAT) in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.The Chairperson met with PANSTAT staff and underscored the need for African countries to develop the capacity to produce and use their own statistical data in decision-making. He also acknowledged the challenges facing the centre, including institutional and financial constraints, and called for continued work despite these difficulties.
PANSTAT, established to complement existing African schools and universities in statistics and demography training, has a mandate structured around coordination and harmonisation of training, accreditation of schools and training centres, and capacity building. The centre is designed to ensure that statistical training across Africa meets harmonised standards and curricula, working in collaboration with the Association of African Statisticians.
The visit reflects the African Union’s broader push to anchor statistics in Africa’s development agenda. The AU has emphasised the importance of reliable statistical information for implementing initiatives such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and has committed to the full operationalisation of PANSTAT and the African Union Institute for Statistics (STATAFRIC).
The Chairperson’s message underscores the link between strong statistics and effective governance. Without reliable data, African countries cannot accurately measure progress, target interventions or hold institutions accountable. Strengthening statistical capacity is therefore a prerequisite for sustainable development and informed decision-making.
The Chairperson also expressed appreciation to the government of Côte d’Ivoire for its continued support of PANSTAT and other African Union structures hosted on its territory, including the AU Liaison Office. This partnership is seen as crucial to implementing the AU’s continental mandates.
For Africa, the challenge is to move from rhetoric to operational reality, ensuring that PANSTAT and STATAFRIC are fully functional and adequately resourced. The visit signals political commitment at the highest level, but turning that commitment into capacity will require sustained investment and institutional support.
For African statisticians and policymakers, the message is clear: data is not just a technical tool, but a foundation for sovereignty and development. Strengthening statistical capacity is a step towards ensuring that Africa’s development agenda is driven by evidence rather than assumption.
Africa Presents is a Pan-African digital magazine and monthly publication covering politics, business, economy, culture, tech, and the stories shaping Africa and its diaspora. Visit africapresents.com and follow @AfricaPresents for daily coverage and monthly themed magazine editions.
Leave a comment