ABSA holds first annual meeting

By Andrew Allimadi, Communication Officer,TRID/ESPD, ECA
10 May 2004

The first annual meeting of the Advisory Board on Statistics (ABSA) opened Monday 10 May at UNCC in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. In his opening remarks to the meeting, the Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa, Mr. K.Y.Amoako, welcomed all participants to ECA and reiterated the Commission’s commitment to statistical development in Africa. He pointed out that ECA is mandated by member States to “promote the development of statistics in support of economic, social and environmental development of the African region through capacity building activities, statistical policy development, harmonization and coordination.”

In this regard, ECA has prepared a document entitled: “Statistical Development in Africa: A Strategic Framework,” for ABSA to review. In addition, ABSA will also review the proposed 2004-2006 work programme of the statistics unit of ECA. Mr. Amoako invited ABSA members to scrutinize both documents closely, and said he looked forward to the outcome of the two-day meeting.

ABSA is comprised 15 experts drawn from national statistical offices, sub-regional organizations, statistical training institutes and data using agencies. It serves as an advisory body to ECA on statistical developments in Africa and on the direction the Commission’s work should take.