The World Bank (WB) Senior Economist in Tanzania, Bob Swinkels has said the global financial institution is working with the government to prepare a new project to support implementation of the new Tanzania Statistical Master Plan (TMSP) 2022-2027.
Mr. Swinkels gave the assurance over the weekend when the WB met with the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on the preparations for the TMSP. He said the bank is the long partner of the government in the development of the statistics system, which among others, is in response to demand for better information on updates in living standards and policy implementation.
Mr. Swinkels said in the past ten years, the WB has supported the implementation of TMSP 2010-2018, together with other development partners. "We are proud of our very strong partnership with the government of Tanzania on issues of data, and we would like to confirm our commitment to continued support of statistical development for evidence - based policy making in Tanzania," he said.
The economist noted that harmonization of statistical standards within the East Africa region, as well as further standardization and integration of in-country administrative databases are key objectives. He said the new support is part of the International Development Association (IDA19) and the WB's concessional lending commitment to support implementation of Strategy for Harmonization of Statistics in Africa 2017-2026 (SHaSA2). Furthermore, harmonization of statistics across countries in the EAC and continent will facilitate economic integration of African countries, boost trade and create jobs, thus strengthening the source of data for a timely generation of high-quality GDP estimates.
Speaking at the meeting, The Director General of the Tanzania National Bureau of Statistics, Dr. Albina Chuwa said: "The World Bank project will help us achieve our vision for statistical development to support the government with quicker and better data to underpin the policy process". She added that the objective of the TSMP2 will be to strengthen the harmonization, quality, production, timely dissemination and use of core economic and social statistics.
Dr. Chuwa explained that implementation of the first project enabled the building of statistical infrastructure such as modern offices in Mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar. She said with NBS at the helm of the national statistical system, as ingrained in the 2015 Statistics Act, strengthening the routine data system for the low-cost and rapid generation of official statistics will be achievable.
In another development, NBS has appealed for 80 million US Dollars- financial support from the World Bank to help in conducting the 2022 Population and Housing Census. The request was by the Statistician General, Dr. Chuwa, saying the support would go into the purchase of more equipment to be used in the census whose preparations are at an advanced, technical level.
Dr. Chuwa implored the WB to consider helping Tanzania just as it had pledged funding to other East African countries of Rwanda and Burundi that will also conduct a census in August, 2022. "I appeal to WB to see the importance of giving Tanzania at least 80 million US Dollars to help in conducting the August 2022 census," she said. According to Dr. Chuwa, WB has approved 25 million US Dollars in support to the government of Rwanda as the country prepares for the national census next year.
She made the appeal during a meeting with delegates from the Work Bank and NBS management whereby WB through its Eastern Africa Regional Statistics for Results Program has allocated 60 million US Dollars for Tanzania in support for the preparation of the Tanzania Statistical Master Plan (TMSP) 2022-2027.