Abstract

Innovation is a key driver of change for National Statistical Institutes (NSIs) seeking to remain relevant in an increasingly complex and fast-moving data ecosystem. It supports the continuous improvement in the quality and relevance of statistics, as well as their ability to meet users’ needs. While innovation is often associated with technological advances—such as new methods or alternative data sources— it also depends critically on organizational changes and the ability to collaborate across institutional and geographical boundaries.
This paper presents an example of a symbiotic partnership between European and African NSIs, developed within the framework of the PASII programme, funded by the European Union to support the African Union’s statistical system. In particular, the PASII-ECOBUSAF and PASII-SOCSTAF grants included a shared innovation component focused on the use of alternative data sources, with the organization of a hackathon as a central element.
Far from being a one-off event, the hackathon acted as a trigger for a broader collaboration between INSEE (France) and several African NSIs. It was followed by a sequence of reinforcing activities: a side event organized during the 2024 Statistical Commission for Africa, a study visit to INSEE for the hackathon winners, and the joint development of a practical guide to support the organization of hackathons by NSIs. Together, these actions strengthened mutual trust, facilitated knowledge exchange, and contributed to building sustainable innovation capacities within participating institutes.
Although the PASII programme has now concluded, the partnership continues. The paper also outlines future cooperation projects planned under INSEE’s bilateral collaboration framework, demonstrating how time-bound programme-based initiatives can evolve into long-term, trust-based partnerships that support innovation, learning and sustainable development in official statistics.