The government are ready to partner with others for availability and accessibility of data and statistics for evaluation and monitoring of SDGs

Speaking while opening the Workshop on availability and accessibility of data and statistics on economic growth, employment and competitiveness for SDGs and national development plan, Engineer Happiness Mgalula, Acting Executive Secretary of Planning Commission said the government committed to implement the 2030 global agenda of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which has three dimensions economic development, social inclusion and environment sustainability, therefore it work with other stakeholders to produce official statistics which are used to measure the implementation of SDGs and national development plan.

The statement was made by the vice secretary from Planning Commission which is under the Ministry of Finance and Planning, Engineer Happiness Mgalula when officially opening the two-day workshop of statistical stakeholders which was organized by National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and World Bank in order to discuss the findings obtained from the data gaps assessment exercise for monitoring the SDGs.

She said "We are all aware that post 2015 development agenda is a successor to the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) and it focuses on sustaining and improving on the performance achieved during the MDGs era as an opportunity in implementing the SDGs aiming at eradicating all forms of poverty, hunger, improve availability and accessibility of social services for all and improved infrastructure by 2030"

Mgalulla also added the country had made great effort in SDGs domestication for increase awareness and partnership with stakeholders on 2030 agenda as well as discussion the availability of data and exiting gaps for monitoring the Five Years Development Plan II, African Agenda 2063 and EAC Vision 2050.

"We meet here today in two days’ workshop to discuss together on how to implement the agreed agenda for Sustainable Development Goals; I hope we will come up with better solution on how better we can achieve our targets of meeting those targets of SDGs and other programs," said Engineer Mgalula.

The Acting Executive Secretary said the workshop also discusses on how stakeholders can contribute to fill the data gap that have been indentified including establishment or strengthening of multi-stakeholder partnership.

Welcoming the Engineer Mgalulla, in his remarks, Director of Statistical Operation of National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) Irenius Ruyobya said NBS will collaborate with all statistical stakeholders in make sure all the required data which are important in implementing SDGs and other national and international programs are produced.

"Besides monitoring international development agendas, national agenda have to be monitored as well. For Example, National Five-Year Development Plan of 2016/17-2020/21 has around 282 indicators that must be monitored and reported. We have done assessment of data requirement and we have come to conclusion that, NBS or Planning Commission or Ministry of Finance and Planning cannot do it alone; and that is why we are here; to tress importance of coordination and partnership." said Ruyobya.

The Director of Statistical Operation said the Bureau have started with the goals number 7, 8 and 9 on sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all including other related economic indicators with key players of the concerned sectors.

Ruyobya said the series of workshops with stakeholders will be held in future to discuss other goals as well as NBS is expected to host the next round workshop with stakeholders of environment statistics and will continue to host workshops to discuss together with partners and other statistical stakeholders in fulfilling gaps which occurred while the progress of implementing SDGs and other programs.