Nairobi, Kenya – 17-19 February 2025 – Mobilizing political will for official statistics remains one of the most significant challenges to effective policy implementation in Africa. This is particularly critical in the context of implementing the African Charter on Statistics (ACS), the Second Strategy for the Harmonization of Statistics in Africa (SHaSA 2) and monitoring the progress of continental and global development agendas.
Despite the adoption of progressive policies and strategies by many countries, inconsistent political commitment has hindered their effective implementation. Challenges such as corruption, short-term political interests, inadequate institutional capacity, and weak accountability mechanisms continue to undermine efforts to address pressing issues, including poverty reduction, healthcare, education, climate resilience, and governance. Without sustained political will, ambitious development agendas such as the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) risk falling short of their targets. High-quality statistics are essential for evidence-based policymaking, enabling governments to prioritize impactful actions and allocate resources effectively. For instance, the use of official statistics in the APRM Governance Index helps policymakers identify and address governance gaps in their respective countries. Statistics provide the compelling evidence needed to advocate for meaningful policy changes and drive sustainable development.
It is in this backdrop that the African Union Institute for Statistics (STATAFRIC) organised a three-day meeting of the Specialized Technical Group on Mobilizing Political Will for Official Statistics (STG 16-MPW) in Niarobi, Kenya, form 17 to 19 February 2025. The primary objective of the meeting was to deepen understanding of the importance of mobilizing political will for official statistics among policymakers, civil society, and the private sector. The meeting also aimed to establish a minimum list of indicators for Agenda 2063 related to mobilizing political will. The event brought together representatives from AU Member States, AU Regional Economic Communities (RECs), pan-African and regional organizations, and international observers. The APRM Continental Secretariat was represented by Dr. Sampson Osei and Mr. Loot Janse van Rensburg.
During the session on experience sharing, Dr. Sampson Osei highlighted the APRM’s mandate, governance structure, and role in promoting the use of official statistics in its review processes. Over the years, the APRM has played a key role in encouraging Member States to enhance the capacity of national statistical bodies by increasing resources and adopting international statistical standards.
In a bid to mobilize political will, STATAFRIC and all relevant stakeholders were encouraged to leverage the APRM’s existing structures, processes, and the APRM Governance Index to achieve the goals set out in Agenda 2063. The APRM remains committed to supporting AU Member States in strengthening their statistical systems and fostering a culture of evidence-based governance.
The meeting underscored the critical role of political will in advancing Africa’s development agenda and reaffirmed the importance of collaboration among stakeholders to achieve sustainable progress.
For media inquiries or further information, please contact the APRM Continental Secretariat at: info@aprm-au.org.
