Casablanca Hosts African Forum on Administrative Data to Enhance Governance and Accelerate Development
Follow-up
The continental forum on administrative data sources kicked off yesterday, Wednesday, in Casablanca, as part of the second version of the African Statistical Program (PAS II). It will continue until July 11 under the theme “Leveraging Administrative Data in Africa: Breaking Isolation to Accelerate the 2063 and 2030 Agendas.” This event aims to highlight the pivotal role of administrative data in strengthening democratic governance and comprehensive development across the continent.
Jamal Al-Azizi, Director General of Statistics and National Accounting at the High Commission for Planning, emphasized the strategic importance of developing the use of administrative data within African statistical systems during his speech. He called for establishing an integrated system based on collaboration, trust, and the unification of efforts among data-producing institutions.
Al-Azizi explained that this data, which has often been used solely for administrative purposes, has now become a promising lever for improving the regularity, accuracy, and speed of statistical indicator production. He expressed concern that less than 30% of official statistics in Africa are based on administrative data, compared to more than 70% in Europe, urging collective mobilization to overcome obstacles such as fragmented information systems and weak compatibility between institutions.
For his part, Abdu Diouf, Director General of the National Agency for Statistics and Demography in Senegal, affirmed that administrative data, along with surveys, serve as a primary source for statistical production, given their advantages in terms of speed, accessibility, and comprehensive coverage. He noted that high costs and long durations present challenges for traditional survey methods.
The forum is supported by the European Union and organized collaboratively by Expertise France and STATAFRIC. It features extensive participation from officials and experts from African Union member states, as well as representatives from European statistical institutions, international organizations, and technical cooperation agencies.
