Proposal Description

The increasing demand for high-quality, timely, and policy-relevant statistics in Africa has exposed significant disparities in the training of statisticians across universities and Statistical Training Centres (STCs). While many institutions have expanded programmes in statistics, data science, and analytics, curricula remain fragmented, with varying emphasis on official statistics, administrative data, artificial intelligence, geospatial methods, data governance, and emerging competencies required by National Statistical Systems (NSSs).

This Invited Paper Session brings together experts from Anglophone and Francophone Africa to examine pathways for harmonizing statistical education and strengthening the continent’s statistical workforce. Building on current initiatives under the Second Strategy for the Harmonization of Statistics in Africa (SHaSA II) and the work of Statistical Technical Group 10 (STG-10) on statistical training, the session will explore how academic institutions, National Statistical Offices, and regional partners can collaborate to develop a common competency framework that is responsive to Africa’s development priorities and the evolving data ecosystem.

The session will present comparative experiences from Nigeria, Ghana, Tunisia, and Côte d’Ivoire, highlighting curriculum innovations, gaps in emerging skills, and opportunities for regional cooperation. Particular attention will be given to integrating data science, artificial intelligence, geospatial statistics, administrative data systems, and ethical data governance into undergraduate and postgraduate training while maintaining strong foundations in statistical theory and official statistics.

The discussion aims to generate evidence-based recommendations for a Continental Minimum Core Curriculum for Statistics, promote greater harmonization and mutual recognition of qualifications across Africa, and strengthen partnerships between universities, Statistical Training Centres, National Statistical Offices, and international organizations. The outcomes will contribute to the development of a modern, mobile, and future-ready statistical workforce capable of supporting Agenda 2063, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and evidence-based policymaking across the continent.