The African Union Commission, under the Pan-African Statistics Programme II, proudly announces the publication of the Peer Review Report on Mauritania's National Statistical System (NSS). This report is a key milestone in advancing the quality and reliability of Mauritania’s official statistics, critical for informed decision-making and sustainable development.
A decade of progress in Mauritania’s Statistical System
The peer review, conducted in Nouakchott from July 15–19, 2024, evaluated the evolution of Mauritania’s NSS since its last review in 2014. The review acknowledged major achievements, including:
- The establishment of the Agence Nationale de la Statistique et de l’Analyse Démographique et Économique (ANSADE), strengthening the central coordination of statistical activities.
- Increased alignment of statistical processes with international standards, ensuring high-quality, comparable data.
- The successful implementation of large-scale statistical operations, such as the 2023 Census of Population and Housing and ongoing sectoral surveys.
Reinforcing the foundations of statistical governance
The review focused on five thematic areas to evaluate the NSS’s adherence to the African Charter on Statistics:
- Institutional Environment: Enhancing legal frameworks and governance structures.
- Organization and Coordination: Improving collaboration across sectoral statistics agencies.
- Quality Management: Formalizing quality assurance systems across the NSS.
- Statistical Production and Processes: Expanding the scope and depth of data collection efforts.
- Data Dissemination and Security: Strengthening transparency, accessibility, and protection of statistical information.
Key recommendations for transformational change
To further enhance Mauritania's NSS, the report provides actionable recommendations, including:
- Modernizing the statistical law to incorporate international best practices and ratify the African Charter on Statistics.
- Empowering the National Statistics Council (CNS) to improve strategic coordination and oversight.
- Establishing a National Quality Assurance Framework to formalize and institutionalize data quality.
- Expanding technical and human resources, particularly within sectoral statistics agencies.
- Enhancing data dissemination through digital platforms to increase accessibility for users.
Collaboration driving statistical excellence
The peer review was conducted by experts from Cameroon and Senegal, supported by STATAFRIC, Eurostat, and the European Union-funded Pan-African Statistics Programme II. The active involvement of ANSADE leadership and Mauritania's Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development was crucial to the success of this initiative.
Shaping the future: Building a resilient NSS
The findings of this peer review will serve as a roadmap for Mauritania to align its NSS with international standards and address emerging statistical demands. With strengthened coordination, enhanced capacity, and improved data dissemination, the NSS is poised to support evidence-based policy-making and sustainable development goals.
Click here to access the full report
Together, we are building a robust foundation for data-driven development in Mauritania.
