Namibia risks making poor policy and investment decisions unless it fixes weaknesses in its National Statistical System, with inadequate funding, fragmented data systems and poor coordination continuing to undermine evidence-based planning, Khomas Region Governor Sam Nujoma has warned.
Speaking at the National Strategy for the Development of Statistics (NSDS) Regional High-Level Sensitisation Meeting, Nujoma said government institutions are still failing to produce and share the quality data needed to guide development, monitor progress and improve service delivery.
“The NSDS further highlights that many institutions within the National Statistical System continue to face challenges, including insufficient funding, inadequate statistical capacity, fragmented data systems and limited coordination. These challenges affect the production and, to a greater extent, the availability of quality statistics,” he said.
Nujoma said administrative data collected daily across government remains largely underutilised, despite its potential to strengthen regional and national planning.
He said reliable, timely and disaggregated statistics are essential for identifying inequalities, allocating resources effectively and designing policies that respond to the country’s development needs.
According to Nujoma, the National Strategy for the Development of Statistics provides a roadmap to improve the use of statistics in policymaking, integrate statistical and spatial data, strengthen coordination and secure sustainable funding for the National Statistical System.
He said the strategy is particularly important for regions such as Khomas, where planning depends on accurate data covering population growth, employment, poverty, education, health, housing, sanitation, environmental conditions and economic activity.
“As leaders in the Khomas Region, we must strengthen cooperation among institutions and promote a culture of data sharing and evidence-based planning,” he said.
Namibia Statistics Agency Statistician General and Chief Executive Officer Alex Shimuafeni said meeting the country’s growing demand for quality statistics requires every data-producing institution to work together.
“However, the growing demand for data requires a coordinated, well-functioning statistical system. This is because statistics are produced not by a single institution but by a collective of producers in the NSS, including ministries, agencies, local authorities, regional councils, state-owned enterprises, the private sector, academia and civil society organisations. This further emphasises the importance of collaboration and coordination within the National Statistical System,” Shimuafeni said.
