The African Statistical Newsletters are the regular publication of United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, African Centre for Statistics.
Note from Mr. Oliver Chinganya, Director of African Centre for Statistics
The African Centre for Statistics revived the publication of the African Statistical Newsletters in 2008 under the leadership Prof. Ben Kiregyera with the aim of providing a platform for sharing knowledge and information about statistical methodologies and their application to solve practical problems in Africa. The intention was to cover all activities and news deemed to be of interest to the African statistical community, ranging from statistical advocacy to institutional development including capacity building and technical assistance, to specific statistical activities like censuses and surveys. Unfortunately over the years especially after the 2013 when the African Centre for Statistics did not have a Director until April 2016, the African Statistical Newsletter lost focus and concentrated mainly on reporting statistical events.
This edition is picking on the ideals and objective of the Newsletter at inception, thus to provide a forum to countries, regional economic groupings and development partners to showcase and highlight various statistical activities taking place on the continent of Africa. It also provides a vehicle for individual statisticians to share experience, exchange ideas and solutions.
The African Statistical Newsletter will continue to be published on a quarterly basis. It covers a number of areas, but mainly on emerging issues within the realms of data revolution, big data, open data initiatives as well as the issues around the agenda 2030 on Sustainable Development and Agenda 2063 and activities being undertaken in countries.
This new issue will cover topics on the stepping of the ECA Chief Executive Officer civil registration and vital statistics, statistical training center, statistical associations, the highlights of the book on the emerging data revolution appointments and retirement of heads of national statistical office, and upcoming events.
It is with great pleasure that I want to thank all those who have contributed articles to this revived African Statistical Newsletter. I also want to thank the Editorial Board and the members of staff at the African Centre for Statistics who have worked so tireless to bring back the spirit of the Newsletter. I hope you find this edition interesting and that you will continue to submit articles for the next edition and the subsequent ones.
