Strengthing national statistical capacities by adopting a strategic approach to learning and training

Statistical training is key to increasing the skills of staff at National Statistical Offices (NSOs) and the wider National Statistical System (NSS). In many countries, there is, however, no institutional training plan in place to ensure the capacity development of staff. 

In addition, training is often dependent on formal trainings provided by partners. To respond to this, the Global Network of Institutions for Statistical Training (GIST) has developed the Statistical Training needs Assessment Tool (STAT) programme which the NSO can use to identify, prioritize, and meet training needs among its staff and those of the NSS. As part of the prioritization, countries also discuss learning and training approaches and training strategies.

GIST is a network of international and regional institutions and NSOs, that provide training outside their own borders, working together to build sustainable statistical capacities through efficient, effective, and harmonized delivery of training. In addition, the Stakeholder Advisory Group consisting of 12 NSOs provides input and guidance on the direction of the work, ensuring that the work of GIST members is relevant to them and other target users. 

GIST launched the STAT programme at the UN Statistical Commission in 2024 and supports its implementation in interested countries. STAT is a country-owned tool to help the NSO think strategically about competence development. The tool consists of 1) three questionnaires to assess skills levels and training needs; 2) a guidance document to support the i) analysis of data, ii) prioritization of training needs, iii) the establishment of a training strategy and iv) an institutional training plan. 

Further, the STAT programme promotes the use of a range of informal and formal learning approaches (not just training in a classroom format), such as the use of in-house expertise where staff trains other staff, the use of free e-learning available e.g. on UN SDG:Learn, improvement of knowledge sharing and the development of a learning organization. 

With this commitment, GIST will support interested countries in the implementation of the STAT programme, remote and in-country, in launching the STAT surveys, analyzing the data and putting together an institutional multi-year training plan based on the results of the surveys and identifying how the training needs can be met through own resources, free online resources and through national and international partners. GIST members have already secured funds to support a few countries, but will fundraise and further explore internal opportunities to support more countries.

In an effort of making STAT more user-friendly and allow for its adoption in as many countries and language contexts possible, UNSD and GIST are currently working on an enhanced, language-agnostic version of STAT which will be available to all NSOs in late 2026.

GIST’s Task Team 1 on addressing NSOs’ demands, will take stock of the progress of the commitment during each Task Team meeting which takes place about four times a year.

Institutions who are not already members of GIST are invited to support the commitment. Institutions are also welcome to join GIST as active members. 

GIST currently has the following members: https://unstats.un.org/gist/Membership/List-of-members/  

GIST also has a stakeholder advisory group: https://unstats.un.org/gist/Membership/Stakeholder-Advisory-Group/