The first technical mission of the 50×2030 Initiative from the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), which had recently given a $4.1M grant to Stats SL, yesterday 16th February 2023 paid a courtesy call on Stats SL’s incoming Statistician General, Andrew Bob Johnny at the institution’s headquarters on AJ Momoh Street in Freetown.
The mission of the technical team is to review the tools and methodology and plan and discuss the way forward on the implementation of the 50×2030 initiative grant that was given to Stats SL.
Speaking at the courtesy call, Bako Dramane from the Economic and Social Statistics department of the FAO congratulated the incoming SG on his recent appointment. Mr Dramane pledged his team’s support to work with the new Chief Executive officer of Stats SL in the implementation of the $4.1M grant that they recently doled out to Stats SL. He intimated all present at the meeting that data represents a key component to guaranteeing food sufficiency particularly in lower income countries. Mr Dramane therefore mentioned that the 50×2030 initiative aims to increase the capacity of 50 low and lower middle-income countries to produce, analyse, interpret, and apply data to decisions in the agricultural sector that support rural development and food security.
Responding, the incoming Statistician General, Andrew Bob Johnny, thanked the team for the visit. He made it clear that agriculture represented an important area for government and thus, the provision of data to support agricultural productivity cannot be overemphasized.
With the support of his directors and a very strong team of staff at Stats SL, Mr Johnny promised to work assiduously with the initiative in implementing the grant with utmost accountability and competence.
The 50×2030 Initiative brings together the strongest partners in Agricultural Development to solve the problem of the agricultural data gap. It seeks to bridge the global agricultural data gap by transforming country Data Systems in 50 countries in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Latin America by 2030. The Initiative focuses on improving Country-Level data by building strong nationally representative survey programmes.
Stats SL will lead and will work with the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, FAO and other partners to implement the Initiative in Sierra Leone.
Also in attendance from the Economic and Social Statistics department of the FAO were Mr Nayo Ankouvi and Mr Robin Yokie, the Director of National Accounts and Economic Statistics of Stats SL, Mwaluma Andrew Bryma Gegbe and the Principal Statistician in charge of Agricultural Statistics, Momodu M. Kamara.
Following the technical mission, The administrative mission of the 50×2030 visits Sierra Leone on the 27th February 2023.
