Planning PS roots for timely, accurate data as gender sector statistical plan launched
State Department of Planning Principal Secretary Saitoti Torome has underscored the importance of accurate data saying organizations continue to produce limited data because the alternative is perceived to be costly.
Speaking during the launch of the Gender Sector Statistical Plan in Nairobi yesterday, Saitoti said good statistical data is a prerequisite to good planning for gender equality and women empowerment.
The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) has partnered with UN Women to launch the plan.
The plan outlines how the sector intends to domesticate statistical reforms in conformity with the country's economic blue print Vision 2030.
KNBS director general Macdonald Abudho said the plan will strengthen the policy, legislative and financial environment of the National Statistics Systems (NSS) to facilitate gender statistics and production and use of gender specific statistics.
"The plan will also enhance advocacy, as well as access to, and use of gender statistics in our daily activities," he said during the virtual launch in Nairobi.
Abudho said coordination of the implementation of the plan will be done through the Inter Agency Gender Statistics Technical Committee (IGSTC).
The plan will be funded by the government and development partners. UN Women country representative Anna Mutavati underscored the importance of accurate and up-to-date gender data saying it will help in planning and implementation of policies put in place.
"Most of the data on gender does not reflect the reality on the ground and this is why it is important to improve it," she said adding achieving Sustainable Development Goals will require organizations to be innovative in the way they collect data.
