Dar Es Salaam, the United Republic of Tanzania – The International Organization for Migration (IOM), the United Nations (UN) Migration Agency and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and other UN Agencies have joined the Government in celebrating the African Statistics Day (ASD) in Dar Es Salaam on 28 November 2019.

The ASD was adapted by the 16th Meeting of the UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) Conference of African Ministers responsible for Planning and Economic Development in May 1990.

It is an annual event celebrated on 18 November every year to raise public awareness of the important role which statistics play in all aspects of social and economic life of African countries and continent.

Every year, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in the United Republic of Tanzania joins other National Statistical Agencies in Africa to celebrate the ASD. In collaboration with other stakeholders, as a national coordinator of national statistical system, NBS coordinates ASD celebrations in the country.

In order to achieve ASD objectives, a week-long of awareness raising activities prior to the climax day involving main stakeholders and the general public are organized.

The ASD organizing committee which is comprised of NBS staff and representatives from producers and users of statistics prepare a program that is approved by NBS management.

The national forum on ASD brings together producers and users of statistics both at national and international levels including district council statisticians in the country.

The forum acts as a dialogue platform to discuss production of official statistics, their availability and accessibility.

The theme of this year is “Everyone counts: quality statistics for better management of forced displacement in Africa”.

It is in line with the theme of the African Union (AU) Summit 2019, that is: “The year of refugees, returnees and internally displaced persons: towards durable solutions to forced displacement in Africa”. 

This theme was chosen to raise awareness on the critical importance of disaggregated statistics when responding to the core concept of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), “leaving no one behind”, and specifically to the challenge of handling forced displacement in Africa.

This year’s theme makes the forum on ASD unique as it will bring the plight of the displaced persons to the attention of statisticians and alert them of their contribution towards better management of the problem on the continent.

For the above reason, NBS has invited IOM as the UN Migration Agency and UNHCR as the UN Refugees Agency as well as Community Based Organizations (CBO’s) and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO’s) including those dealing with refugees to support the facilitation and at the same time share their experiences and challenges in terms of measurements during the event.

Additionally, IOM and UNHCR were requested to participate in the national forum with the role of panelists together with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the School of Law of the University of Dar Es Salaam to discuss the theme of the ASD 2019.

The Minister of Finance and Planning of the United Republic of Tanzania, Honorable Mr Philip Mpango presided the ASD that was organized by the NBS led by the Director General (DG), Dr Ms. Albina Chuwa at the Julius Nyerere International Convention Centre in Dar Es Salaam while the IOM Chief of Mission (CoM), Dr Qasim Sufi represented IOM, UNHCR, and the UN Resident Coordinator (RC) a.i. The event was also attended by representatives from MoHA, the School of Law of the University of Dar Es Salaam, NGO’s, CSO’s, Public and Media.

“Achieving the SDGs will require an integrated approach to social, environmental and economic challenges with a focus on those who have been left furthest behind – and data is central to the integrated approach that is required”, stated Dr Qasim Sufi, IOM CoM to Tanzania in his opening remarks. “Data is crucial for achievement of the SDGs as well as national development priorities as it is critical for policymaking as well as for planning, monitoring and evaluation of development projects. Data can also shed light on inequalities and challenges that the population is experiencing – especially for the most vulnerable and marginalized among us”, he added.

For more information, please contact

Dr Qasim Sufi, IOM Chief of Mission to Tanzania at email qsufi@iom.int or telephone +255 682 563 796

or

Mr David Hofmeijer, Programme Coordinator, IOM Tanzania at email dhofmeijer@iom.int or telephone +255 699 674 975.