Proposal Description

Time-use statistics are increasingly recognized as an important source of information on work, care, labor allocation, and household well-being. However, in many countries, these data remain underutilized, disconnected from broader statistical systems, and insufficiently integrated into policy processes. As governments seek to modernize official statistics and strengthen evidence-based decision-making, there is growing interest in understanding how specialized datasets, such as time-use surveys, can be integrated into more policy-responsive data ecosystems.

This invited session will present emerging evidence and experiences from the Time for Growth Collaborative, a multi-country initiative that brings together ministries of finance and planning, national statistical offices, regional organizations, and researchers to integrate time-use statistics into official data systems. It will examine innovative and AI-assisted approaches to strengthening the production, integration, dissemination, and use of time-use statistics within national statistical systems. Drawing on experiences from Kenya, Uganda, and regional initiatives across Africa, speakers will explore how time-use data can be connected to national accounts, administrative data, sectoral information systems, and policy frameworks to increase their visibility and usefulness.

The session will address three key questions:

1. How can national statistical systems innovate and better integrate time-use statistics with other official data sources?
2. What institutional arrangements and partnerships are needed to strengthen the production and use of time-use data?
3. How can integrated data systems show results and improve the policy relevance and impact of official statistics?

Presentations will highlight innovative approaches to connecting survey data, such as Household Satellite Accounts, with broader statistical and policy ecosystems, enhancing the visibility of previously underutilized data assets and improving the translation of official statistics into actionable insights. Through methodological advances, country experiences, and lessons from African institutions, the session will explore how stronger data systems can enhance the relevance, sustainability, and impact of official statistics to support national development priorities.