By Kudakwashe Mugari
Deputy National Editor
THE Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa has agreed to fast-track implementation of its new Regional Strategy for the Development of Statistics (RSDS) 2026-2030 as part of efforts to build a harmonised and reliable regional statistical system to guide evidence-based decision-making.
The outcome was reached at the 17th COMESA Committee on Statistical Matters (CCSM), which opened here in Zambia.
The two-day hybrid meeting, which ends today, brings together Heads of Statistics from National Statistical Offices and Central Banks from all 21 Member States.
The Committee, which is COMESA’s main statistical body, is reviewing progress in implementing the RSDS 2026-2030 across its six pillars, including achievements, challenges, gaps and areas requiring further intervention.
Other outcomes expected from the meeting include an assessment of how statistical programmes are contributing to the COMESA Medium-Term Strategic Plan (MTSP) 2026-2030 and the broader regional integration agenda.
The meeting will also consider findings of the Regional Statistical Production and Capacity Assessment to determine capacity gaps and priority needs that should inform implementation of the new strategy.
Priority statistical programmes under review include trade, prices, national accounts, agriculture, food security, migration, infrastructure, gender and social statistics, as well as technological transformation through COMSTAT, ODP 2.0, SDMX, databases and automation.
Delegates are also deliberating on methodological innovation and emerging statistical needs, including harmonised methodologies, administrative data integration, geospatial statistics, artificial intelligence and other new data sources.
The meeting is also expected to agree on priority actions to improve data timeliness, completeness, quality and comparability and strengthen coordination among Member States, the Secretariat and development partners.
Development partners attending include the African Development Bank (AfDB), African union Commission (AUC), SADC, European Union (EU), PARIS21, Statistics Norway, Statistics Sweden and the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA).
Officially opening the meeting, COMESA Assistant Secretary General for Programmes, Ambassador Dr Mohamed Kadah, said the new strategy provides an opportunity to build on progress made while responding to new demands.
“The new strategy provides an opportunity to build on progress made while responding to persistent challenges and new demands on our statistical systems.
However, challenges such as delays and gaps in data submissions, differences in institutional and technical capacity, limited human and financial resources, a fragmented statistical system and difficulties in institutionalising harmonised methodologies among others still remain,” he said.
The RSDS 2026-2030 provides the strategic framework for strengthening the COMESA Statistical System and ensuring access to harmonised, timely, reliable and policy-relevant statistics to support implementation and monitoring of the MTSP and advance regional integration.
