The Project
The Global Strategy to Improve Agricultural and Rural Statistics (GSARS or the Global Strategy) is a long-term coordinated initiative to address the decline in agricultural statistical systems in developing countries and enable the production of more and better agricultural statistics.
Developed in 2009 and designed as a long-term programme to be implemented in several phases, the initiative was endorsed by the United Nations Statistical Commission (UNSC) during its 41st session in 2010. The Global Strategy was designed to provide a "framework for national and international statistical systems enabling developing countries to produce, and to apply, the basic data and information needed in the 21st Century."
The first phase of the Global Strategy was a ground-breaking effort to strengthen agricultural and rural statistics, focusing on methodological research, technical assistance, and training. It laid the foundation for country-level improvements by developing internationally endorsed methodologies and building the capacity of national institutions.
Implemented by FAO, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), and the African Development Bank (AfDB), the first phase focused on three regions: Africa, Asia and the Pacific. Activities were structured around three key components: Methodological Research, Technical Assistance, and Training.
Significant results achieved included the production and dissemination of 50 methodologies, guidelines, and related training materials, officially endorsed by FAO as international statistical methods. Strategic Plans for Agricultural and Rural Statistics (SPARS) were prepared in nearly 40 countries, significantly improving governance and coordination of statistical systems at the national level. Additionally, notable advancements in national statistical capacities were realized through training programs.
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The second phase of the project built on the progress achieved during the first phase was jointly implemented by partners (FAO, the UN Economic Commission for Africa and PARIS21), and aimed to translate the foundational work of the first phase into tangible improvements in data production and dissemination at the country level. It helped 27 African countries develop skills at all levels through 1) supporting the SPARS design process; 2) strengthening the capacities of mid-level management staff within agricultural statistics units, particularly in human resources, leadership, and communication; 3) training a new generation of specialized agricultural statisticians through the provision of Scholarships to attend a Master's in Agricultural Statistics and Basic Training in Agricultural Statistics and 4) providing technical assistance at country level on the cost-effective methods updated or designed during Phase 1, enlarging the scope with new important topics such as statistical data processing of agricultural sample surveys, computation of agricultural indicators, data dissemination for agricultural surveys.
Country-level technical assistance, focusing on cost-effective data collection methods, data analysis, and dissemination skills, provided practical and context-relevant training to over 2,000 experts working in national statistical systems, including staff from national statistical offices and relevant ministries. Women represented approximately 30 percent of the participants.
In the third phase, GSARS 3, continues this trajectory by extending support to additional countries in Africa and extending training to Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in the Pacific. In the Pacific, GSARS 3 supports Small Island Developing States (SIDS) by providing its proven comprehensive training in agricultural statistics specifically tailored to their needs and regional context.
In Africa, GSARS 3 continues to support countries eligible for the 50x2030 Initiative. This phase assists national statistical offices and ministries of agriculture through hands-on technical assistance, tailored training in core topics such as cost-effective agricultural survey methodology, data analysis and dissemination, and specialized training in agricultural and rural statistics.
Through these efforts, countries are better equipped to produce reliable data for SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), CAADP, and evidence-based agricultural policy.
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