Supporting implementation of Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics in the African region

Abstract

The Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics (the Principles) are the overarching standards for official statistics across countries and for the global statistical system. The Principles were adopted by the UN Statistical Commission in 1994 and endorsed by the UN General Assembly in January 2014. They provide a compass and point of reference for all official statistical work and operations in all countries. As such, statistical personnel engaged in official statistics are expected to know them well and to apply them all the time in their work.

In the African region, the importance of the Principles is very well recognized and the Principles are viewed as the cornerstone for official statistical work and operations, as well as the basis for the public to have confidence in official statistics. There are different initiatives through which implementation of the Principles is supported in Africa including through: National statistical legislations, Statistical training programmes, Codes of Practice, African Charter on Statistics, Strategy for the Harmonization of Statistics in Africa, and Strategic planning for statistical development. This paper outlines these initiatives and shows how they support implementation of the Principles in Africa.