REGIONAL TRAINING ON THE NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF STATISTICS (NSDS)

National Strategies for the Development of Statistics (NSDSs) are the primary planning instrument for strengthening national statistical systems (NSSs). They help countries identify priorities, coordinate stakeholders, mobilise resources and align investments in data and statistics with national development objectives and international commitments. As demands for timely, granular and highquality data continue to grow, effective strategic planning is essential to ensure that statistical systems remain relevant, sustainable and responsive to evolving policy needs. 

Many countries continue to face challenges such as limited resources, fragmented data ecosystems, weak coordination across institutions and increasing reporting requirements. At the same time, NSSs are operating in a rapidly changing environment shaped by financial constraints, technological innovation, emerging data sources and growing expectations from policymakers and other data users. National statistical offices are therefore expected not only to produce official statistics, but also to lead and coordinate broader statistical systems and engage with evolving data ecosystems that support evidence-based decision-making. 

In this context, NSDSs provide a valuable framework for assessing statistical capacities, prioritising investments and planning for long-term system development. They also offer an opportunity to address emerging priorities, including the responsible adoption of artificial intelligence, the growing demand for climate change-related data, and stronger engagement with data users to ensure that statistics effectively inform policy and development outcomes. Integrating these considerations into strategic planning can help countries build more agile, innovative, inclusive, and user-centred statistical systems.