SADC to Strengthen ICT Statistics and Observatory at Kinshasa Workshop
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Secretariat will this week convene a high-level regional workshop in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, aimed at strengthening Information and Communication Technology (ICT) statistics and enhancing the SADC ICT Observatory.
The five-day workshop, scheduled for 25th to 29th August 2025 at the Pullman Hotel, is being held under the framework of the SADC Regional Statistics Project, with funding support from the World Bank.
According to the Secretariat, the meeting will support the implementation of the SADC Protocol on Statistics and the SADC Digital Transformation Strategy by reviewing statutory decisions, aligning with international efforts on ICT observatories, and advancing the integration of big data, mobile phone data, and geospatial tools into statistical systems.
Participants will also examine proposed broadband indicators and 2030 targets, review a draft SADC Regional ICT Facts and Figures Report, and discuss case studies from Member States on national ICT observatories. Capacity-building sessions on geospatial mapping in disaster management will also feature on the agenda.
A key component of the workshop will be updates on Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) between National Statistics Offices, Ministries and ICT Regulatory Authorities to strengthen coordination and improve data sharing across the region.
The Secretariat stressed that harmonising ICT statistics is central to improving data quality, accessibility and comparability across SADC Member States. Officials from National Statistics Offices, Ministries, Regulatory Authorities and ICT Observatory Focal Points are expected to participate.
The workshop reflects SADC’s commitment to modernising ICT data systems and leveraging digital technologies to support evidence-based policy making and regional integration.
