MEFMI / IMF host Seminar on Enhanced General Data Dissemination System

MEFMI and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) conducted a peer-based seminar on the Enhanced General Data Dissemination System (e-GDDS). e-GDDS provides a platform for the publication of key macroeconomic data, thus improving efficiency in data sharing and identification of critical gaps to help prioritize technical assistance and donor support. The seminar, which was held from 15 to 19 November 2021, was attended by 52 junior to middle-level officials from 11 MEFMI member countries namely Angola, Botswana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Of the 52 participants, 27 (or 52 percent) were male while 25 (or 48 percent) were female.  

The seminar provided hands-on training in e-GDDS and its operation. The seminar was also raised awareness on the importance of participating in e-GDDS and, for the countries that already have a National Summary Data Page (NSDP) to improve data timeliness and periodicity. It also sharpened participants’ skills on data visualisation and sharing provided by the Open Data Platform (ODP), a tool which is freely supported by the African Development Bank for African countries.

The seminar was facilitated by three (3) resource persons provided on gratis by the IMF Statistics Department and two (2) from the African Development Bank (AfDB) Statistics Department, namely Mr. Edgardo Ruggiero, Senior Economist, Strategy, Standards and Review Division; Mr. Michael Kamya, Senior Data Manager, Governance and Data Services Division; Mr. Brett Humburg, Data Management Officer, Governance and Data Services Division; Mr. Rajesh Kumar Subramani, AfDB IT Consultant and Ms. Leonilde Antonieta Lima, AfDB Consultant.

The knowledge acquired from this seminar is expected to be used to enhance the availability of timely and comprehensive statistics in member countries, thus contributing to sound macroeconomic policies and the efficient functioning of financial markets. 

Going forward, MEFMI is scheduled to discuss the outcomes of this seminar with the IMF Statistics Department during the 2022 IMF/World Bank Spring Meetings for possibilities of a follow-up seminar in this area.

By Senei Molapo