Since 1964, Burundi has had a National Institute of Statistics, the institution responsible and mandated to co-ordinate official data and statistics. In 2000, the institute was key in establishing statistical departments within all ministries. These departments were tasked with collecting and managing sector-specific data, which had to be submitted to the National Institute for approval and synthesis. This process ensures the production of official national data, which can then be published and used for research purposes. However, several challenges have affected data collection, analysis, and interpretation. Data was primarily collected using hard copy forms, which posed a high risk of loss. Analysis was done using Excel, but interpreting the findings was difficult due to a shortage of skilled statisticians at the time. Most of the available workforce consisted of economists, mathematicians, and professionals from other fields, limiting the capacity for thorough statistical analysis.
Overview of Advancements in Statistical Literacy in Burundi
From 2005 to 2009, the World Bank supported the training of a cohort of 40 Burundian engineers in statistics at the University of Burundi. Additionally, institutions such as the World Bank, the African Development Bank, and the African Union provided support for staff members to participate in short-term training programs at international centers like Institut de Formation et de Recherches Démographiques (IFORD) in Cameroun, Ecole Nationale de Statistique et d’Economie Appliquée in Senegal, and Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Statistique et d’Economie Appliquée (ENSEA)in Ivory Coast.
The Role of Young Statisticians in Promoting Statistical Literacy in Burundi
Since 2010, many initiatives have been launched to promote statistical literacy and make data more comprehensible. In 2013, the first association of professional statisticians in Burundi, called APROSTAB, was established. Its primary goal was to raise awareness among the public, businesses, NGOs, and other sectors about the importance of data in decision-making. In 2015, a student club focused on statistics was formed at Lake Tanganyika University in Bujumbura, known as 'Club Statistique de l’Université du Lac Tanganyika.' Its mission was to promote research and innovation in statistics, particularly by building students’ capacities in using modern statistical and technological tools To make data more accessible, several national institutions, including the National Institute of Statistics of Burundi (INSBU), the Burundi Revenue Authority (OBR), and the Bank of the Republic of Burundi (BRB), regularly publish key statistics on social media. They use simple formats such as flyers, infographics, tweets, and posts to inform the public about important topics like inflation, external trade, currency exchange rates, imports, and exports. Additionally, these institutions hold workshops and training sessions for journalists to enhance their ability to incorporate statistics into their reporting and social media posts. African programs and initiatives, such as TAKWIMU and Young African Statisticians Association(YASA), have further strengthened statistical literacy, particularly among students and young researchers. The training provided by these organizations improves participants' skills in all aspects of data management—collection, analysis, and interpretation—as well as their ability to effectively communicate findings. This helps both statisticians and non-statisticians generate evidence-based information for sound decision-making.
