WINDHOEK, Namibia  − Namibia launched its first strategic plan for developing the capacity of the National Statistics System (NSS) to produce, disseminate, and mainstream the use of statistics in all sectors of the economy on 5 July 2023.

The National Strategy for the Development of Statistics (NSDS) was formulated by the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA), with support from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the African Development Bank (AfDB), and PARIS 21. 

The plan will run from the financial year 2023/24 to 2026/27 and has been designed in line with the data requirements of the Fifth National Development Plan and other frameworks such as the African Union Agenda 2063 and the United Nations Agenda 2030. 

Namibia’s National Planning Commission Director General, Hon. Obeth Kandjoze, stated that the NSDS was formulated to ensure that the development of statistical capacity in the country responds to the development agenda in policy making.

Statistics are a vital part of the development of any country, and Namibia is no exception.

“Statistics are a vital part of the development of any country, and Namibia is no exception. They are needed for evidence-based decision-making and policy-making in order to provide qualitative and quantitative measures of the development process, to allow the people of Namibia to judge for themselves the implementation of policies and reforms, and to support economic management and the delivery of services,” Hon. Kandjoze stated in a statement read on his behalf.

Gift Malunga, UNFPA Namibia Representative, was also present at the launch. She echoed Kandjoze's remarks and emphasized that the NSDS will help monitor the implementation of national development plans, Harambee Prosperity Plans, Vision 2030, and the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

Malunga referred to the NSDS as “the tool we have all been waiting for,” stressing that the launch of the strategy is a significant milestone for Namibia, as it will play a major role in the development of quality statistics that will be comparable with the rest of the world and fulfill all scientific statistical standards.

She explained that Namibia is constrained by the unavailability of timely and quality data, and existing gaps in some key development indicators, that hamper the ability to monitor national developmental plans as well as continental and international reporting obligations.  

According to Malunga, the NSDS would ensure quality data is available and accessible to all on a timely basis and in the right format. Currently, government entities are not legally mandated to share data, and thus data is often not available to outside users.

“This is a hurdle that we must overcome. The NSDS has, therefore, come at an opportune time to help reduce bottlenecks and improve access to data,” Malunga said.

“UNFPA remains committed to ensuring the full dissemination and implementation of this strategy and calls upon everyone to do the same,” she concluded.