| Toward an African plan for the development of statistics Addis Ababa, 19 December 2008 (ECA) – African statisticians and development partners have established a blueprint to accelerate the formulation of plan for the development of statistics on the continent. Meeting in Addis Ababa Ethiopia for a 3-day workshop, some 100 delegates came out with a roadmap to assist African countries to develop their human resources in the area of statistics. This is necessary for the production of quality statistical information in support of their development agendas. Participants noted the need for a new crop of African statisticians for the 21st century and the involvement young statisticians in activities at continental level including the 57th Session of the ISI in Durban for greater exposition. They called on African regional organizations to streamline statistical activities in Africa and minimize the data compilation burden through the publication of an African Statistical Yearbook They urged the Statistical community to reflect on the prioritization of statistics among other sectors with respect to financial resource allocation at country level. They suggested a number of activities to ensure sustainability of the financing of statistical development at country level, including an exit strategy from external financing. In this regard, they recommended the institutionalization of collaboration between NSOs and research centers, the strengthening of dialogue with the STCs and ministries in charge of gender affairs. To ensure that the Kampala City Group is up and functioning by mid 2009, the workshop agreed that a small group would meet in January 2009 in Accra (as a side meeting of the Global Forum on gender Statistics) to discuss terms of reference and participation. The first meeting of the group is scheduled for June 2009 in Kampala , back-to-back with the USS annual conference. To initiate and sustain a Community of Practice for Gender Statistics, an e-forum discussion will be launched early 2009. The inclusion of gender statistics was also a major concern. The participants noted that gender mainstreaming will not be easy and requires support at the national, regional and international level. The development of policies and strategies to mainstream gender statistics in the NSDS requires a conceptual framework, methodology framework, and reference to gender classifications, gender indicators, and gender units in NSOs. The participants came to the conclusion that statistics should be prioritized among other sectors with respect to financial resource allocation at country level. They also recommended the re-establishment of the STPA to assist African countries to develop their human resources by transferring knowledge, broadening and deepening strategic skills thereby enhancing the capacity of African countries to produce quality statistical information in support of their development agendas To reach the overall goal of NSDS a number of events has been planned for the coming year: • 2nd Global Forum on Gender Statistics, January 2009, in Accra Ghana • 40th session of the UN Statistical Commission, march 2009, New York , USA • 4th Africa Symposium for Statistical Development, 9-13 February 2008, Luanda , Angola • 57th session of ISI, August 2009, Durban , South Africa • 5th Africa Symposium for Statistical Development, November 2009, Dakar , Senegal • 10th Anniversary of PARIS21 Consortium, November 2009, Dakar , Senegal The NSDS workshop was preceded by a Gender Statistics workshop that took place 15-16 December 2008 in Addis Ababa .
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