The National Institute of Statistics and Economic and Demographic Studies (INSEED) of Togo and the African Center for Equitable Development (ACED) have reached a decisive stage in improving the quality of national statistical data in Togo. The two institutions signed a memorandum of understanding in June 2024 (link to the press release) to strengthen the system of production, quality control, sharing and use of data in Togo. A first initiative of this partnership is the support of INSEED in the implementation of the "statistical visa", an essential tool to guarantee the reliability and credibility of official statistics. To concretize this ambitious project, an exchange visit was organized with the National Institute of Statistics and Demography (INStaD) of Benin, allowing Togo to draw inspiration from the best regional practices in terms of statistical data validation.
The statistical visa: A guarantee of quality for evidence-based data
The statistical visa represents much more than a simple administrative formality. It is a rigorous validation process aimed at ensuring the integrity and reliability of the statistics produced in the country. In a context where informed political and economic decision-making is based on evidence-based data, the implementation of this control mechanism is of paramount importance. This visa acts as a seal of quality, providing assurance that the statistics used to guide the country's strategic decisions are reliable and in line with international standards. It thus strengthens the credibility of Togolese data among national and international stakeholders.
An enriching study trip to Benin
As part of this initiative, a delegation from INSEED Togo undertook a study visit to Benin, facilitated by ACED. The purpose of this visit was to observe and learn from the process of implementing and issuing the statistical visa already in place in this neighboring country. This trip proved beneficial in several ways:
- Inspiration from best practices: the Togolese team was able to immerse themselves in the proven methods in a similar context.
- Anticipation of challenges: the Beninese experience helped identify potential obstacles and reflect on strategies to overcome them.
- Strengthening regional cooperation: this exchange fostered collaboration between neighboring countries in the field of statistics.
Towards evidence-based governance of high-quality data
The implementation of this mechanism will significantly strengthen the credibility of Togolese data, both among national decision-makers and international partners, thus paving the way for collaborations and investments based on increased trust in the country's statistical ecosystem. The African Center for Equitable Development (ACED), as a partner of INSEED, is actively contributing to the optimization of the process. ACED provides its expertise to strengthen the institutional and methodological capacities necessary for the production of high-quality evidence-based data, essential for the development of data-driven policies.
