CONTRIBUTORS
Christine Ger Ochola
Communications Officer
As we observe this African Statistics Day, the Center reflects on the transformative role of data in shaping Africa’s future. It’s a day to honor the data champions—statisticians, researchers, data scientists, and evaluators who dedicate their efforts to collecting, analyzing, and interpreting the data that drives impactful policies.
Beyond the numbers, every data point tells a story. It reflects the needs, aspirations, and potential of individuals and communities across the continent. From healthcare to education, environmental sustainability to economic growth, statistics lay the groundwork for evidence-based decisions that uplift lives and open doors to opportunity.
At APHRC, our mission is clear: to ensure that data counts for African populations. Accurate and relevant statistics are essential to addressing the diverse needs of Africa’s communities. Through our research in health, social policy, education, and urbanization—bolstered by advanced data management and analysis systems—we empower stakeholders to create clear, targeted solutions. Our dynamic team of multi-skilled researchers embraces emerging statistics and data science methodologies, unlocking insights from structured and unstructured data.
A cornerstone of our commitment is fostering open data sharing. We create trusted environments for researchers to share and access data through platforms like the APHRC Data Catalog and the upcoming Data Architecture Systems and Standards for Africa (DASSA). This spirit of collaboration transforms individual efforts into collective progress, building a robust and inclusive research ecosystem across the continent and beyond.
Africa must invest in data infrastructure, analytics tools, and training programs to achieve sustainable development. APHRC’s Data Science Program (DSP) is at the forefront, leveraging cutting-edge big data analytics and artificial intelligence to address population and health challenges. Our Data Synergy and Evaluation (DSE) unit strengthens data systems, enhances the quality of data collection and governance quality, and promotes impact evaluation methodologies, ensuring that interventions deliver meaningful outcomes.
Equally vital is building the next generation of African data professionals. Through our Research and Related Capacity Strengthening theme, we empower local talent, creating a pipeline of skilled statisticians, data scientists, and analysts. These efforts meet Africa’s immediate data needs and nurture a culture of innovation that will sustain progress for years to come.
On this African Statistics Day, we reaffirm our commitment to advancing data and statistics in Africa. Each of us—data professionals, policymakers, advocates, and citizens—has a role in fostering a data-driven development culture. Together, we can celebrate the power of data to transform lives and build a brighter future for Africa.