SESRIC participated in the Second General Assembly and Steering Group (SG) Meetings as well as the first Statistical Working Group (SWG) Meeting of the International Forum on TOSSD (IFT) held on 21-24 October 2025 in a hybrid format, hosted by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation in Madrid, Spain.

The General Assembly held on 21-22 October 2025 featured sessions on the expansion of the Forum’s membership, strategic priorities for 2025–2030, and ways to enhance the visibility and use of TOSSD data across diverse development cooperation contexts. Representing SESRIC, Mr. Abdulhamit ÖZTÜRK, Senior Statistics Officer, delivered an intervention under Agenda Item 2 of the General Assembly, sharing updates on SESRIC’s ongoing efforts to promote the TOSSD framework among OIC countries. It was underlined that SESRIC, as a founding member of the Forum, has been actively engaged in raising awareness and encouraging participation in the Forum’s work.

In this context, it is also highlighted that a side event titled “The First Five Years of TOSSD” was hosted by SESRIC on the margins of the 14^th Session of the OIC-StatCom in Ankara on 1 October 2025, which brought together representatives from 34 OIC countries, including Heads of National Statistical Offices (NSOs) and international partners. The event showcased how TOSSD can better capture South-South cooperation and Islamic finance, which are essential to the development approaches of many OIC countries.

The 4^th Steering Group Meeting, convened on 23 October 2025, reviewed recent progress in the methodological development of TOSSD. Discussions covered the inclusion of Special Drawing Rights (SDRs), the eligibility of activities supporting SDG 16 (peace, justice, and strong institutions), the tracking of global commitments on biodiversity and climate finance, and the renewal of the hosting arrangement of the IFT Secretariat with the OECD beyond 2026.

Holding its first meeting since the establishment, the Statistical Working Group (SWG) gathered on 24 October 2025, focusing on the technical aspects of TOSSD data collection and reporting. Agenda items included the status of the 2025 data collection round, lessons learned from 2023 reporting, and the refinement of classifications, particularly concerning biodiversity-related activities and support to international organisations such as the IAEA. The Group also explored future areas of methodological work, including measuring the leveraging effect of development finance.

Through its continued participation and membership in the Forum as well as SG and SWG, SESRIC aims to enhance the representation and engagement of OIC Member States in global statistical frameworks, contribute to the ongoing development of international standards, and facilitate cooperation for data-driven policy making in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

For more information about the Forum: https://www.tossd.org/international-forum/

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