Leaders Call for Strong Statistics to Guide Economic Policy

(JUBA) – Senior leaders in South Sudan have called for stronger use of official statistics to guide national development and economic policy, saying reliable data is essential for informed decision making.

The Vice President for the Gender and Youth Cluster, Rebecca Nyandeng Garang, who is also the Acting Chairperson of the Governance Cluster, made the remarks while opening a Policy Dialogue on Official Statistics in South Sudan. The event was organised by the National Bureau of Statistics and brought together government officials and partners in Juba.

Vice President Nyandeng said statistics should no longer be seen as only a technical matter. She said it is now a core development issue and stressed that South Sudan needs to be guided by evidence rather than assumptions in planning and policy making.

The National Minister of Finance and Planning, Dr Barnaba Bak Chol, welcomed the Bank of South Sudan for hosting the dialogue. He described the meeting as an important step in helping the government set clear and effective policies based on reliable and transparent statistical information, which is vital for economic management and public trust.

The Governor of the Bank of South Sudan, Yeni Samuel Costa, said the central bank has a key role in monetary policy and noted that economic sectors are closely connected. He said the dialogue would support the Bank in strengthening its monetary policy work by improving access to quality data.

The dialogue was held under the theme “Better Data, Better Decisions, Better Lives.” It was attended by members of the National Parliament, representatives from key government institutions, and development partners working in South Sudan.