SESRIC, the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD), and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) held a virtual technical meeting to advance the Collaborative on Administrative Data (CAD) initiative. The meeting aimed to establish new priorities for CAD, identifying potential collaborations, and initiate joint efforts to enhance the integration of administrative data into statistical production within the OIC region.

Participants highlighted the critical need to harmonise efforts to improve the use of administrative data for statistical purposes. A significant outcomes of the meeting was the agreement to organise a joint webinar for the benefit of National Statistical Offices (NSOs) and other relevant national institutions managing administrative data. The webinar will address key challenges and opportunities in leveraging administrative data, fostering collaboration, and driving innovation among the OIC Countries.

The meeting concluded with all parties reaffirming their commitment to strengthening and expanding their collaborative efforts. They pledged to work together to enhance the knowledge and utilization of administrative data in statistical production across the region.

SESRIC is an active member of the Collaborative on Administrative Data (CAD), which is an initiative formed by the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD) and the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data. Established in May 2020, CAD brings together countries and regional and international agencies to strengthen the capacity of member countries in utilizing administrative data for statistical purposes. Its primary objectives include capacity building, resource sharing, and the development of best practices for integrating administrative data into statistical systems. The collaborative’s contributions, such as the Toolkit for Quality Assessment of Administrative Data for Official Statistics and guidelines for data sharing, have significantly improved data quality and statistical outputs in various countries.