EU to use AU certified statistics on Africa as they collaborate to improve quality

The European Union says it would use statistical data on Africa that has been certified by the African Union Commission.

Making a presentation at the ongoing Africa Statistical Conference (StatCom 2014) in Tunis, Tunisia, Pieter Everaers of EUROSTAT, said the EU organization would share its experience of statistics linked with integration and how to harmonize national statistical systems into one with the African organization.

According to Everaers, the EU would be doing so bearing in mind the African context and relevance of the statistical data.

The EU, he said was prepared to assist the continent’s statistical bodies and institutions in their efforts to improve the quality of statistical data on the continent.

“Quality means the availability, reliability, comparability, accuracy and timeliness,” he said.

He said the EU would offer support in the setting up of effective ways of working within the African Statistical System, build capacity of the people and institutions, facilitate the transfer and uptake of good practice and common tools.

Other areas the EU would support he said, are providing resources for the development and roll out of continent wide tools and approaches, maintenance and training for common statistical tools, the creation of a data centre at the AU level and communication channels such as websites and publications.

He also noted that the EU would assist in the setting up of the AU Statistical Institute.

The First Joint Session of the Committee of Directors General of National Statistics Offices and the Statistical Commission for Africa under the theme “Agriculture and Food Security in Africa” took off on December 8, and would come to a close on December 12, 2014.

By Emmanuel  K. Dogbevi, in Tunis, Tunisia