N$59m to implement development strategy – NSA

To implement the country’s first national strategy for the development of statistics (NSDS), the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA) will need N$58.9 million over four years.The agency announced this yesterday during the launch of the NSDS, adding that the project will run between 2023/24-2026/27 in 10 sectors - including the labour and education ministries.The labour ministry will require N$11.3 million of the budget, while statistics for the industrialisation ministry will need N$2.15 million.The NSA further noted that, annually, the average cost needed for the implementation of project initiatives is N$5.8 million. During his address, NSA chairperson Salomo Hei said this launch came at an opportune time as the national census is fast approaching. "Without data, it&#039;s just an opinion, and if you can&#039;t measure it, you haven&#039;t done it. The NSDS sets out a comprehensive framework that will guide the production, dissemination and utilisation of high-quality statistical data. “Furthermore, the NSDS serves as a roadmap laying out the path of a more robust and reliable statistical system. We recognise the need for sustained investment in statistical infrastructure, human resources and technological advancements. This strategy will go a long way in making sure that what we get from the census lays the foundation," he said. Hei added that the success of the upcoming census will not rest only on the efforts of the agency, but the full cooperation of the public. ChallengesAccording to the NSA, since 2019 and leading up to the launch of the NSDS, it faced several challenges - including the lack of recent data sets. The last census in agriculture dates back 10 years, while the last population and housing census was held in 2011. "We are only looking at the four-year period, but it can be extended. We were hoping that the National Development Plan (NDP) 6 starts so that we leverage it and then have the timeline coincide with that of NDP6,” Dr. Isak Neema, NSA data quality executive, said.“When that happens, we might have to switch the strategy.”NDP6&#039;s formulation process was launched recently and National Planning Commission director-general Obeth Kandjoze said it would cover the 2024/25 to 2030/31 financial years. NPD5 has since been extended by two years to allow for completion.

N$59m to implement development strategy – NSA

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-02

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N$59m to implement development strategy – NSA

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-02

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