On 8 November 2024, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in collaboration with the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) and with funding from the European Union have announced the implementation of the STAT SANOI data platform in the IOC countries. This innovative tool aims to enhance food security and nutrition across the region.   

Designed to centralize harmonized and reliable data, the platform will offer regional decision-makers and stakeholders a unique resource to better understand and address challenges to food security challenges specific to these islands. It represents a major step toward achieving sustainable food security in a region with diverse socioeconomic realities. 

Addressing regional challenges with tailored solutions

The STAT SANOI program seeks to implement four national information systems in Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, and Seychelles, along with a regional platform that will support these national systems by ensuring the identification, collection, and production of harmonized data and information on food security.

These platforms respond to the unique needs of the Indian Ocean Islands by providing accessible and coordinated information. While Madagascar and Comoros grapple with elevated levels of poverty and food insecurity, Mauritius and Seychelles, with some of Africa’s highest gross domestic product levels, face different challenges, such as income inequalities and overnutrition. 

By bringing these diverse contexts together in a collaborative space, the platforms ensure data reliability and consistency, thanks to the involvement of national institutions in its development and maintenance.

A screenshot of the regional STAT SANOI platform, which will go live in March 2025.

Madagascar’s national platform, developed with technical support from FAO in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MINAE), STAT AGRI, and INSTAT, integrates key information on agriculture, including livestock, and trade. It also incorporates remote sensing indicators to complement field data, offering a comprehensive view of the country’s food security situation. 

Strengthening regional coordination and capacity building

To foster a deeper understanding of its functionalities, a two-day presentation of the platform was held in Antananarivo from 5 to 6 November and brought together representatives from FAO, the Comoros, Mauritius, Seychelles, and Madagascar, along with STAT SANOI technical teams and national stakeholders.

The session, supported by GeoSYS – the IT company behind the platform's development –  provided extensive training on uploading and managing data, while hands-on sessions equipped stakeholders with the skills needed to ensure the system's long-term sustainability.  

Additionally, from 11 to 15 November, a training session took place at the national level in Ampefy, Madagascar, and provided government stakeholders advanced tools for data analysis and visualization, further empowering local teams to contribute to the platform's success.   

Workshop participants during the five-day STATA training provided by Regine Weber in Ampefy, Madagascar.

Randrianarimanana Andry Manampisoa, IT specialist at the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock in Madagascar, reflected on his experience with the workshop, stating, “The training showed me the complex aspects of exploiting statistical data using STATA software. It was my first time learning not only the syntax of STATA, but also technical terms in the world of statistics.” He added “In short, this training course was truly essential for advancing my skills, especially in the context of the STAT SANOI project.”

Looking forward

The STAT SANOI platform is set for regional launch in early 2025. Moving forward, FAO and its partners will focus on finalizing the information system using insights gathered during the workshops, implementing the platform in Mauritius, Seychelles, and Comoros and developing a contingency plan to ensure the platform's sustainability over the long term.

The success of this initiative depends on the continued commitment of local governments, technical partners, and financial stakeholders. National and regional task forces will play a critical role in maintaining the platform's accuracy and functionality.

The STAT SANOI platform represents a transformative step in leveraging digital innovation to improve food security in the Indian Ocean region. As part of its increased support to Small Island Developing States and Least Developed Countries, FAO has been instrumental in providing technical support for this ambitious project, which aligns with global efforts to create more resilient and sustainable agrifood food systems.