Press Release

Boost for Somalia as World Bank Commits to Funding the National Statistics System to Pave way for Data-Based Decisions.

Somali National Bureau of statistics is preparing for transformation into a world-class institution that will ensure the high quality of data provided to decision-makers. February 8, 2022. In 2020 The Federal Government of Somalia (FGS), through the Somalia National Bureau of Statistics (SNBS), received grants from the International Development Association (IDA) to undertake the Somali Integrated Statistics and Economic Capacity Building (SISEPCB) Project.

The SISEPCB Project aims at strengthening the country’s national statistical system, the monitoring and evaluation (M&E) system, and improving programing and analytical capacity of the government’s macroeconomics and fiscal programming agencies to enable them to regularly assess, analyze and improve public policies, programs’ performance and results.

The funding will enable the recently established SNBS to improve information technology environment across the NSS and develop an ICT strategy that will: (i) improve statistical data quality, (ii) reduce data collection and processing time; (iii) use of a standard software package for statistical data analysis; (iv) a central integrated statistical database for data dissemination; (v) extension of SNBS data network to statistics units in the selected federal MDAs

The SNBS Director General, Sharmarke Farah observed, ‘high-quality data is critical for measuring progress in economic growth, enhance public policy formulation, help reduce poverty and ultimately foster shared prosperity’. Mr Farah further underpinned how critical and timely the funding is in assuaging Somalia’s data gaps, through improvement of the quality of key official statistical products and processes, enhance dissemination practices and make data more accessible. “Somalia’s urgent need for high-quality economic statistics to inform and attract investments, as well as help expand and improve decision-making, cannot be gainsaid”, emphasized the DG.

Statistics is a vital tool in governing the state as well as planning any country-wide multi-sectoral initiatives. For example, it allows more deliberate budget allocation for infrastructure, social security, healthcare, environment, education and more. Prudent application of official statistics enhances inclusivity, equitable distribution of resources, and overall accountability of the State to its citizenry. “Relevant, reliable, and accessible statistical data is the basis for proper governance and essential for efficient political and economic decisions. SNBS has clearly defined strategic objectives to become a fully digitalized, world-class center of statistical excellence that will significantly contribute to Somalia’s development goals,” Mr. Sharmarke Farah, the Director-General of SNBS said.

Improved statistical data provided by SNBS will bring immense benefits for Somalia’s local businesses as well. Being able to provide reliable information concerning the country’s current market state helps international investors to accurately evaluate possible return on investment, thus attracting more foreign capital. it is also key to improving the life of each citizen, as data is used globally to help prevent disease outbreaks, better distribute social benefits, plan and monitor labor market needs and changes, among other aspects that directly affect people on a day-to-day basis.

Robust analysis of data by SNBS continues to also improve the quality of the decisions needed to alleviate problems related to extreme situations, such as the current drought in Somalia. The capacity to collect, collate and manage relevant, reliable and accurate official statistical information will empower responsible institutions to analyze the humanitarian needs of affected people based on reliable data, as well as to plan for the necessary infrastructural investments that will help lessen the impact of future droughts occasioned by unpredictable climate shocks.

A 4-month long project to evaluate the current institutional status of SNBS and provide a roadmap for its transformation is being undertaken by an international provider of gov-tech services, IT solutions and consulting, NRD Companies, which has experience in leading digitization projects in 50 countries. For this particular project, NRD Companies have partnered with ASAL Solutions Ltd. that is based in Mogadishu, Somalia.

Somalia Launches Game-changing Report on Health and Lives of Somalis, including Hard-to-Reach Nomadic Communities

MOGADISHU, 30 April 2020 – A new report launched today by Somalia—titled the Somalia Health and Demographic Survey (SHDS) Report 2020—offers the country’s decision makers and stakeholders vital information on the health and lives of Somali women of childbearing ages and children.

By turning the voices of Somalis from more than 100,000 urban and rural households, as well as difficult to reach nomadic households, into statistics, the report shines a spotlight on the most pressing needs of Somali communities, particularly of women and children.

?The SHDS report provides information on housing and household characteristics, health, education, marriage, fertility, birth spacing, employment, water and sanitation, health expenditure, chronic diseases, and children’s and women’s nutrition. It also offers information on married women’s knowledge of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) and attitudes towards people living with HIV, women’s empowerment, gender-based violence, female circumcision, and adult and maternal mortality.

The report reveals that gains have been made in important areas:

• The maternal mortality rate, which has been one of the worst worldwide, has reduced from 732 in 2015 to 692.
• Early marriages—known to deprive women of opportunities to reach their full potential—have reduced among women aged 20-24, from 46 percent in 20061 to 36 percent.
• More than three-quarters of Somali households own simple mobile phones, and around six out of ten nomadic households own simple mobile telephones with access to fm radio, opening doors to endless opportunities for these individuals.

Somali women are empowered to make financial choices—nine out of ten women decide on how their cash earnings will be spent, either individually or jointly with their husbands, and around six out of ten women of childbearing age use their phones for financial transactions