Statistical Capacity Development
One of the key missions of FAO is to support member countries develop the capacity of their statistical systems and enable them to collect, disseminate and use relevant, reliable and timely data. By strengthening countries’ capacity in this area, FAO contributes to make available key analytical and decision-making support tools for national, regional and global evidence-based actions.
How can national governments request capacity development assistance?
National governments should discuss on an ongoing basis their statistical capacity development needs and priorities directly with their FAO country office. These needs and priorities will usually be reflected in the Country programming framework (CPF) and support will be planned in consultation with the relevant technical units and regional or sub-regional statisticians. If punctual assistance requests are raised, the FAO country office will contact the relevant technical divisions and regional or sub-regional statisticians to analyse how the support can be provided.
FAO statistical capacity development activities are funded through:
- Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP)
- Regular programme funds allocated to technical divisions
- Extra-budgetary programmes that support statistical development.
For specific information and inquiries on FAO capacity development programmes, national governments are also encouraged to contact these programmes directly.
Statistical capacity development programmes
FAO assists countries by providing guidelines, training and country-level assistance to strengthen the knowledge and technical skills of national staff in charge of planning and conducting agricultural censuses and, therefore, support the data production, dissemination and use of internationally comparable figures on variables defining the structure of agriculture, such as number and area of farms by size, number of livestock by type and age/sex classification, land tenure and land use, crops grown and agricultural inputs.
Support can be provided through regional and national-level capacity development activities in the following areas:
- Preparation and worldwide dissemination of methodological guidelines on the census of agriculture (WCA) in six languages. See the latest guidelines.
- Technical assistance to countries to plan, prepare and implement agricultural censuses, in line with the latest WCA guidelines. Capacity development in the form of regional technical meetings to disseminate the best census practices, promote the use of international standards and facilitate the exchange of countries’ methodological experiences. See our latest events.
- Monitor, document and disseminate national agricultural censuses, including census reports and materials. See country census material.