Proposal Description

Background: Regardless of the nature of business and industry, data has become the new oil. Data and evidence-based decision making is the key driver of efficiency and effectiveness. Achieving SDGs is largely hinged on evidence-based interventions and decisions. Conventional data collection methods have transformed into more efficient tech-savvy and artificial intelligence-driven data production. Although there are great strides, all over the world about data production and use, access to data is still limited to most of the population in Africa. A pressing challenge is the complex ways in which data collected and processed by public and private sectors in various African countries is presented to the common person. Making data comprehensible in the sense of simplified statistical data, makes it accessible to all and fosters an environment of trust and accountability.
Session description: Acknowledging that data holds immense potential for achieving the SDGs, the Young African Statistician Association (YASA) will in this session discuss and showcase the contribution of Young African Statisticians in supporting initiatives to make data comprehensible, and their contribution to using data to achieve SGDs. At the end of the session, YASA will present its initiative for data producers to widely disseminate data and research findings in a more simplified and accessible way. These range from in-depth data analysis for scientific writing to dissemination in short descriptive articles in newsletters newspapers and statistical literacy and numeracy community campaigns.
Conclusion: Making data undeniable leads to more productive and self-accountable communities and populations. Evidence-based decision-making becomes more meaningful if more people appreciate the available evidence.

Session Panelists:
• Dr Agaba Peninah (Uganda)
• Mr. Ashenafi Alemu Tessema (Ethiopia)
• Mr Axel Keza (Burundi)
• Ms. Nakazwe Chikoloma (Zambia)