The African Union Institute for Statistics (STATAFRIC) announces the publication of the Peer Review Report of the National Statistical System (NSS) of the Republic of The Gambia, carried out from 4 to 8 August 2025 in Banjul under the Pan-African Statistics Programme II (PAS II), funded by the European Union and implemented by Expertise France.
This publication marks an important step in strengthening statistical governance, quality, and data accessibility across the African continent.
A continental mechanism to strengthen statistical governance
The Peer Review is a continental assessment mechanism designed to support African Union Member States in enhancing the performance of their NSS, in line with the African Charter on Statistics and the UN Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics.
It provides a structured and objective evaluation led by African peers to help countries modernise and improve their statistical systems.
Significant progress made by The Gambia in modernising its Statistical System
The report highlights notable progress achieved since the previous peer review in 2018, including:
- The adoption of the National Strategy for the Development of Statistics (NSDS III) 2024–2028, aligned with national, continental, and global development frameworks;
- Improved collaboration between the Gambia Bureau of Statistics (GBoS) and national institutions involved in producing and using statistical data;
- Enhanced dissemination efforts, including through the IMF’s e-GDDS and the National Summary Data Page (NSDP).
Further efforts needed to strengthen the National Statistical framework
The review also identifies several areas requiring sustained attention to reinforce the NSS, notably:
- Strengthening GBoS’s coordination role within the NSS;
- Modernising the national statistical legal framework;
- Investing in human capital and statistical skills development;
- Improving data quality, comparability, and consistency;
- Modernising statistical information systems and dissemination practices.
Five strategic priorities to consolidate the NSS of The Gambia
The recommendations of the Peer Review mission are structured around five priority areas:
- Strengthen the organisation and coordination of the NSS, including a clearer mandate for GBoS;
- Enhance the institutional and legal environment, in line with AU and UN statistical standards;
- Improve the quality of official statistics, including metadata, transparency, and advance release calendars;
- Optimise statistical processes, with greater use of administrative data and harmonised methodologies;
- Increase data accessibility and dissemination, ensuring user-friendly access and wider use of official statistics.
STATAFRIC Reaffirms Its Support to The Gambia
STATAFRIC reiterates its commitment to supporting The Gambia throughout the implementation of the Peer Review recommendations, particularly in the areas of statistical coordination, capacity building, modernisation of statistical systems, and dissemination practices.
This initiative is part of the African Union’s vision to build a robust, harmonised, and high-quality African statistical ecosystem that effectively supports policy formulation, regional integration, and sustainable development across the continent.
📥Download the full report to explore the detailed findings and recommendations shaping Gambia’s statistical future:
