Abuja – The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Thursday sensitised Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to track support from donor agencies provided for statistical activities in the country.
Speaking at a Stakeholders’ Interactive Session on: “ Country Report on Support to Statistics (CRESS)’’ in Abuja, Dr Yemi Kale, Statistician-General said it was important to monitor support from development partners.
He said that the development partners had been complementing the efforts of government in the production of statistics in the country.
“These include among others partners as the World Bank, UN Development Programme (UNDP), UNICEF, UN Fund for Population Agency (UNFPA), African Development Bank and European Union.
“Also, UN Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), UN Women, Department for International Development (DFID), World Health Organisation.
“Others are Partnership in Statistics for the Development in the 21st Century (PARIS 21) and United States Aid for International Development (USAID)
“In effect, even though the support from these partners cut across different activities, it is important that they are well tracked and monitored.
“It is important we track the support so that we can have a clearer picture of the support, its objectives and achievements, as well as we identify any existing gaps and challenges.’’
He, however, commended PARIS 21 for this laudable initiative in tracking support to statistics through CRESS project.
According to him, the NBS in collaboration with PARIS 21 has initiated a monitoring mechanism for support to statistics among relevant agencies.
Mr Simon Harry, Head of Department, Corporate Planning and Technical, NBS in his presentation on “Overview of CRESS,’’ said CRESS was an initiative of Paris 21.
Harry said that it was developed under the platform of the UN fundamental principles of official statistics.
He said the CRESS would help the MDAs to know the level of support that were coming to the country both domestic and international.
“ We need coordination so that we will not be providing conflicting statistics and also for partners to complement government efforts,’’ he said.
Harry explained that Paris 21 declaration emphasised on the need for donors to harmonise their support so that there would not be duplication of support in a country.
“CRESS is to see that all the stakeholders are working together for the purpose of ensuring transparency in gathering credible statistics.
“It identifies and informs policymakers and partners of the volume and modalities of financing statistics in the country.
“It strengthens and enhances coordination and level of engagement of the National Statistics Office and other data producers within the National Statistical System.
“It monitors the needs of financing statistics in terms of institutional human and physical capacity development.’’
Harry said countries such as Benin, Senegal, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ghana and Malawi had adopted CRESS project.
He said that CRESS had made those countries to identify gaps in their system and made them to call for more support to fill those gaps. (NAN)
