National Statistical System as part of wider statistical systems

The NSS is a part of wider regional, continental and international statistical systems and its development is impacted by statistical developments at these various levels. It is, therefore, crucial to appreciate and develop the NSS in the context of these systems, taking advantage of opportunities they present for knowledge transfer, peer learning and benchmarking on best practices. The following figure presents the statistical principles, frameworks and strategies as they cascade from the international level, to continental, regional and finally to the national level.

1. Statistical principles cascade from the UN Fundamental Principles for Official Statistics at international level to the African Charter on Statistics at continental level. This further cascades to a Protocol on Statistics at regional (SADC) level and to the National Statistics Act No. 13 of 2018 (see Figure 1.1). The UN Fundamental Principles for Official Statistics are the overarching standards for official statistics across countries and for the global statistical system. The Principles were adopted by the UN Statistical Commission in 1994 and endorsed by the UN General Assembly in January 2014. They provide a compass and point of reference for all official statistical work and operations in all member countries. As such, statistical personnel engaged in official statistics are expected to fully understand them and to apply them all the time in their work. At continental level, there is the African Charter on Statistics, which was endorsed by the 12^th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union in February 2009. The Charter, which builds on the Fundamental Principles, works as a tool for statistical advocacy at the highest level of government and commits countries to develop statistics in a manner consistent with best practice and international standards. Further, the Charter seeks to promote the use of statistics for policy development, planning and decision-making at all levels; and for African governments to scale up support to statistics. At regional level, there is a SADC Protocol on Statistics which provides a legal framework for the SADC regional statistical system. And at national level, there is the Statistics Act No. 13 of 2018 that regulates statistical production and development in the country. It builds on the other principles listed above.