Progress, challenges, and future directions on statistical capacity building in Somalia

Abstract

This article examines statistical capacity building in Somalia within a fragile and post-conflict context, focusing on its historical evolution, recent progress, persistent challenges, and future directions. Drawing on peer-reviewed literature, policy documents, and institutional experiences, the paper analyses how Somalia’s national statistical systems have been re-established and how effectively they support evidence-based policymaking and development planning. The analysis highlights the prolonged disruption of national data systems following decades of conflict, alongside gradual advances in rebuilding statistical institutions, strengthening legal frameworks, expanding survey implementation, and adopting digital data collection methods. Despite these improvements, major constraints remain, including limited human capital, fragmented institutional coordination, heavy reliance on donor financing, and uneven data coverage. The article concludes by outlining policy-relevant recommendations that emphasize institutional sustainability, investment in human capital, improved federal–state coordination, and stronger national ownership, underscoring the central role of reliable statistics in Somalia’s long-term development and state-building efforts.

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