Ahead of the OIC Banjul Summit, H.E. Zehra Zümrüt Selçuk, Director General of SESRIC, held a meeting with H.E. Nyakassi M.B. SANYANG, Statistician General of the Gambia Bureau of Statistics (GBOS). The meeting aimed to strengthen ongoing collaborative efforts between the two esteemed institutions in the field of statistical research and analysis.

H.E SELÇUK underlined that GBOS, as a key stakeholder in Gambia's national statistical system, has actively participated in 50 activities under the SESRIC Statistical Capacity Building (StatCaB) Programme, from which 159 professionals from GBOS benefitted. She mentioned that SESRIC is ready to facilitate the organisation of more capacity-building activities for the benefit of Gambia .

In turn, H.E. SANYANG thanked H.E SELÇUK for her kind visit and highlighted that GBOS values the reliability and accessibility of statistical data, thereby facilitating evidence based decision-making and efficient policy formulation cannot be achieved without quality data. He mentioned about the preparations for the upcoming Gambian Population and Housing Census 2024 for which they welcome technical assistance for the analysis and projections based on the census data.

Recognising the crucial importance of accurate and complete census data for informed decision-making and policy formulation, both parties deliberated on opportunities for collaboration to ensure the success of Gambia's upcoming population and housing census, due to commence in May 2024.

The meeting ended with both sides aiming to deepening collaboration, sharing best practices, and harnessing innovative approaches to address the statistical needs of The Gambia.