Joseph Tedou, Director General of the National Institute of Statistics
The Director General of the National Institute of Statistics, NIS, Joseph Tedou, says climate change represents one of the major challenges for Cameroon. He made the observation while speaking during the Annual Meeting of Central and Decentralised Services of NIS that took place in Yaoundé recently.
The role of the NIS is crucial, he stated, in the face of such challenges. “As coordinators of the National Statistical Information System, we must be able to provide reliable and relevant data to inform policy decisions regarding climate change adaptation, measure progress in implementing national and international commitments, and evaluate the impact of environmental policies on our economy,” he explained.
Joseph Tedou said the theme of the conference: “Development prospects for the Cameroonian economy in light of climate change: statistical challenges and issues,” remains the byword of their mission.
He told participants at the meeting that he was pleased with the quality of presentations and debates that marked the examination of the issues at stake. To him, the assessment of the stakeholders conducted has aligned them to measure the progress made and challenges that await environmental statistical production. He reiterated that discussions on adapting the statistical system to new economic challenges have highlighted concrete areas of improvement.
The presentation that was made in alignment with international standards, he emphasised, marked the importance of aligning our practices with global norms, particularly in the context of Cameroon’s commitments made at COP28 and in preparation for COP30 in Belem in Brazil.
The NIS boss indicated that, despite several achievements, there was a need for them to improve the work in many areas. Going by him, there was a need to accelerate the modernisation of environmental data collection and processing tools. He held that the HISWACA project, whose implementation will intensify in 2025, offers them a unique opportunity to strengthen their capabilities in the area.
He equally emphasised the importance of strengthening coordination with other actors in the National Statistical Information System for better coverage of environmental indicators. Joseph Tedou highlighted the urgency of harmonising our methodologies with international standards in the framework of monitoring Sustainable Development Goals and Cameroon’s climate commitment.
While counting NIS achievements, he said the institute maintains a regular production of national accounts and essential economic indicators for steering the country’s economy. He said they produce consumer price indices, industrial production indices, economic and financial studies, economic outlook reports, and foreign trade statistics in order to enable decision-makers to have reliable information for monitoring inflation and economic activity.
Added to this, he went on, is the fact that NIS successfully completed the first phase of the third general census of enterprises (RGE3). This, he said, is a major operation that will allow stakeholders to update knowledge of the national economic fabric.
He said NIS has produced a new poverty map within the context of the 5th Cameroon Household Survey, which is an essential tool for targeting social policies. He said the third survey they carried out on employment and the informal sector has provided valuable data in the labour market and informal economy.
Citing the recommendations of the Head of State, Tedou said climate change was taking a toll on the country, quoting the recent natural disasters affecting several regions as an example. He said 2025 will be a crucial year because NIS needs the production of reliable and objective statistical data to inform public debates and decision-making within the context of the presidential election. NIS, which is the central body of the National Statistical Information System, plays a crucial role in the production and coordination of statistics in all spheres of national life.
By Nadege Dzilamonyuy Limnyuy (SEVIC-HITH Journalism Student on Internship)