The Sub-regional Institute of Statistics and Applied Economics (ISSEA, in French) is a specialized institution of the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC) created in 1984 in Brazzaville by the conference of Heads of State of the former Customs and Economic Union of Central Africa (UDEAC).
Indeed, Africa faces many socio-economic and development challenges, including poverty, inequality, public health and education. To meet these challenges, it is crucial to have access to reliable and relevant data to inform decision-making and guide public policies.
Statistical information forms an essential basis for designing, updating, carrying out or evaluating policies, programs and projects in all areas of the economic life of a country or an organization.
Indeed, once we accept management by performance, there is no longer any question of ignoring the use of an evaluation system recognized by all. It therefore becomes essential to ensure that performance is well measured. Beyond the content of the definitions of performance criteria, the collection and processing of data to measure them must be carried out by a qualified statistical device.
By providing accurate and up-to-date information on key indicators such as health, education, employment and income, applied statistics enables decision-makers to assess the impact of existing policies and design more effective interventions to promote sustainable development.
Recent events such as the COVID-19 crisis, or the international financial crisis of 2008, and the resurgence of geopolitical tensions at the international level have shown to what extent the availability of information and its appropriate use are crucial for better anticipation, but above all a well-informed response to perpetual changes in the economic and social environment. Globalization, international agendas, regional integration programs, and national development strategies and programs rely largely on the availability of regularly monitored statistical data.
There is an international consensus around the need to have relevant statistical data to build development policies. To support this, it is appropriate to refer to the work of two important world summits where statistics played a large part: in Marrakech (Morocco) in 2004, statistics was the central theme of the second international round table on management-oriented development results and in 2011 the High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness, held in Busan (South Korea) where the Marrakech commitment on statistics was reformulated and strengthened by orienting it on the use of statistical data to measure results, accountability and transparency. The conclusions of these conferences on the role of statistics strongly influenced the formulation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Statistics is therefore essential to economic development, including our efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
As part of the 2030 Development Agenda, the measurement of policy results once again occupied a central place in discussions. There is unanimity on the need to strengthen the statistical capacities of countries to increase their means of producing relevant, high-quality information aligned with demand (for statistics).
In Africa, as everywhere else in the world, the proper use of statistical data is crucial for economic and social development. However, many countries in the region face challenges in collecting, analyzing and interpreting reliable and relevant statistical data.
The organization of an international conference on the promotion of applied statistics for decision-making and development in Africa is therefore a unique opportunity to bring together experts, researchers, professionals and students to exchange knowledge and experiences as well as to discuss current issues and best practices in Applied Statistics.
At a time when major changes in the lives of populations and in the job market are anticipated, particularly due to climate change and the expansion of artificial intelligence, the conference should not only allow participants to contribute to these issues, but also to share their experiences on the advanced statistical tools and techniques used to make the most of the available information.
This conference is open to any type of subject relating to applied statistics, covering themes that will bring added value for our academic community and for practitioners in public or private organizations.
The list of themes below is not exhaustive, the following areas can nevertheless be addressed:
Axis 1: Big Data and Forecasting: Data science, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning;
Axis 2: Climate change and sustainable development;
Axis 3: Macroeconomic stability and growth in Africa;
Axis 4: Impact Evaluation of public policies;
Axis 5: Migration, Integration and Development in Africa;
Axis 6: Training and Management of Statistics in Africa;
Axis 7: Applied Statistics and Promotion of Sustainable Development in Africa;
Axis 8: Poverty and Governance in Africa.