The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) is applauding Ethiopia's ongoing efforts to strengthen its national statistics system. The move is seen as a critical step toward making more informed, evidence-based policy decisions, particularly as the continent focuses on achieving food sovereignty.

During an interview with the Ethiopian News Agency (ENA), Tinffisi Joseph Ilboudo, the head of the African Centre for Statistics at the ECA, highlighted the foundational role of accurate data in sustainable development. He noted that organized statistical information across key sectors—including agriculture, health, education, and demography—is essential for crafting effective development plans and policies.

Ilboudo specifically praised Ethiopia's "encouraging work" in using data management to bolster its food security efforts. He emphasized that for Africa to achieve the ambitious goals of Agenda 2063, it must close a critical gap in strong data and statistics, particularly within the vital agricultural sector.

"To understand the food consumption needs of the population, our production capacity, and the gap between supply and demand, we need compiled data," Ilboudo explained. He urged African nations to prioritize strengthening their statistical systems through data collection, analysis, and validation to ensure food sovereignty.

This effort, he said, requires leveraging the continent's youth and implementing technology-assisted processes. Furthermore, he underscored the need for greater cooperation among African countries to build a robust and continent-wide data management system.

The ECA's African Centre for Statistics is actively working to build capacity in this area, aiming to create a powerful data hub that includes comprehensive agricultural statistics, ENA reported.