Proposal Description

Hackathons are increasingly recognized as powerful tools for fostering innovation within National Statistical Institutes (NSIs). Beyond their traditional association with data science and technological experimentation, hackathons can support broader institutional objectives, including capacity development, talent identification, organizational learning, and collaboration across statistical systems.

This session will explore how hackathons can contribute to strengthening African statistical systems and fostering a culture of innovation within official statistics. Drawing on experiences from across the continent, it will examine how hackathons can serve as strategic instruments for developing skills, promoting statistical literacy, enhancing institutional visibility, and building partnerships among stakeholders.

When organized for university students, hackathons help raise awareness of official statistics, strengthen links between NSIs and academic institutions, and identify future statisticians and data professionals. Internal hackathons can foster teamwork, encourage cross-departmental collaboration, and reveal complementary skills and leadership potential among staff. Participation in international hackathons offers opportunities to benchmark capabilities, learn from peers, strengthen team cohesion, and develop partnerships with other statistical organizations.

The session will bring together a diverse set of perspectives on these issues. Two contributions (to be confirmed) from African NSIs with significant experience in organizing hackathons will discuss how these initiatives have supported innovation, outreach, statistical literacy, and capacity development.

A contribution from Côte d’Ivoire will explore the benefits of participating in international hackathons, including skills development, team building, and collaboration across institutions. A paper from Nigeria, entitled “The Product Imperative for Official Statistics: Leveraging Data, Innovation, and Hackathons to Drive Institutional Investment in African Statistical Systems,” will examine how innovation initiatives and hackathons can help position official statistics as strategic products and strengthen institutional commitment to modernization and investment.

Another contribution, developed under the PASII-SOCSTAF project, will present a practical guide for organizing hackathons within African NSIs. The guide aims to support the wider adoption of hackathons by providing methodological recommendations and lessons learned from existing experiences across the continent.

The discussion will be enriched by the perspective of a representative from an African school of statistics, highlighting the role of education and training institutions in nurturing innovation and preparing future statistical professionals. An additional discussant from a European partner institution is expected to provide an international perspective on innovation and capacity development in official statistics.

By showcasing concrete experiences and lessons learned, this session aims to demonstrate how hackathons can evolve from one-off innovation events into strategic instruments for strengthening statistical systems, developing talent, fostering collaboration, and enhancing the impact of official statistics in Africa.