Statistical Capacity Development
One of the key missions of FAO is to support member countries develop the capacity of their statistical systems and enable them to collect, disseminate and use relevant, reliable and timely data. By strengthening countries’ capacity in this area, FAO contributes to make available key analytical and decision-making support tools for national, regional and global evidence-based actions.
How can national governments request capacity development assistance?
National governments should discuss on an ongoing basis their statistical capacity development needs and priorities directly with their FAO country office. These needs and priorities will usually be reflected in the Country programming framework (CPF) and support will be planned in consultation with the relevant technical units and regional or sub-regional statisticians. If punctual assistance requests are raised, the FAO country office will contact the relevant technical divisions and regional or sub-regional statisticians to analyse how the support can be provided.
FAO statistical capacity development activities are funded through:
- Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP)
- Regular programme funds allocated to technical divisions
- Extra-budgetary programmes that support statistical development.
For specific information and inquiries on FAO capacity development programmes, national governments are also encouraged to contact these programmes directly.
Statistical capacity development programmes
Other capacity development services
Upon request and subject to availability of funds, FAO can provide additional capacity development support in various statistical domains under its mandate. This includes and is not restricted to the following:
- Assessment of National agricultural and rural statistics systems and design of National Strategic Plans for Agriculture and Rural Statistics (SPARS)
- Crop and livestock-related statistics
- System of Environmental-Economic Accounting for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (SEEA-AFF)
- Agriculture producer and consumer prices
- Rural livelihoods Indicators and FAO Rural Livelihoods Information System (RuLIS)
- Nutrition, food composition and food consumption statistics
- Food losses and waste
- Natural, genetic and biodiversity resources data
- Use of remote sensing for the mapping of water productivity, land cover and agriculture statistics (e.g. crop area and yield estimation)
- Early Warning Systems
- Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance
- Impact evaluation of national disasters on agriculture, fishery and forestry
- Survey design, sampling techniques, cost-effective data collection and, data processing, analysis, dissemination, reporting and use
- Quality assurance
This support could be provided through the organization of technical workshops, delivery of technical assistance, sharing of e-learning and capacity development resources, distance or online technical collaboration and the organization of study tour at FAO Headquarters.