The Samoa Bureau of Statistics (SBS), in collaboration with the World Bank and the United
Nations (UN), held a workshop on “Official Statistics and Related Legislation in Times of Change”
at Taumeasina Island Resort on Tuesday 2nd July 2024. The workshop brought together users and
producers of statistics to discuss the importance of official statistics and upcoming amendments to
statistical legislation.
The Honourable Mulipola Anarosa Ale Molioo, Minister of Statistics stated in her keynote address,
“the legislative review is a crucial component of the Bureau’s planned efforts within the Samoa
Statistics Strategy 2022-2026”. She highlighted that “legal reform includes accessing the
administrative data that are available within the different Government agencies to ensure that the
Bureau continues to produce high-quality, timely, and relevant statistics that meet society’s
evolving needs”.
The UNSD Inter-regional Adviser, Mr Gabriel Gamez, stressed the importance of the
stakeholders’ collective efforts in shaping a robust and modern national statistical system. He said,
“Official statistics are the bedrock of informed decision-making and policy formulation as they
provide a reliable foundation for evaluating the effectiveness of government programs, allocating
resources, and measuring progress toward national and international development goals”. He
further stated that updating the statistical legislation will facilitate the integration of new data
sources, improve governance, and maintain the highest standards of data confidentiality and
professional independence.
The UNSD remains committed to supporting this vital initiative, working together with SBS to
modernize Samoa’s national statistical system to ensure that the statistical framework serves the
needs of all Samoans, driving evidence-based policymaking and fostering sustainable
development.
SBS as the co-ordinator of the national statistical system (NSS) is continuously engaging with
partners and stakeholders such as Government agencies, non-governmental organizations and the
private sector to produce trusted and valued official statistics which can inform policy and decision
making for the benefit of Samoa.