FAO is committed to scaling up support to countries to ensure that high quality and comparable data for the SDGs are produced and used in support to decision-making and SDG monitoring. To this end, the Office of Chief Statistician has published a quick guide containing a wealth of relevant information which can support countries in producing, analyzing and using SDG Indicators, as well as understanding how they can receive support from FAO.

Articulated along the five main steps of the UNSDCF process, the Guidelines on Mainstreaming Statistics and SDG indicators in UNSDCFs highlight relevant resources and tools that may be used to better integrate statistical activities in the relevant programming documents. A checklist complements the guidelines to offer a point for reference for any UN entities willing to further embed statistics and SDG indicators in UNSDCF programming.

Based on survey microdata from Malawi, FAO's technical report presents a practical exercise focused on the production of disaggregated estimates for SDG Indicator 2.1.2, based on the Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES). It complements FAO Guidelines on data disaggregation for SDG Indicators using survey data published in 2021. 

FAO has launched a free online course to help you use the Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES) to monitor progress toward ensuring access to adequate food for all.  The course, available in Arabic, English, French and Spanish, provides guidance on the collection and analysis of data, and on how the information provided by the FIES can be used to inform and guide policy.

FAO is developing a monitoring system in 25 food crisis countries to better understand the impacts of various shocks on agricultural livelihoods, food security and local value chains. FAO Data in Emergencies Hub provides essential information for fighting food crises and achieving Zero Hunger. Access the database and find out more about the impact of natural disasters and conflicts on agriculture and agricultural livelihoods.

This technical report presents a case study based on the use of a small area estimation (SAE) approach to produce disaggregated estimates of SDG Indicator 5.a.1 by sex and at granular sub-national level. The discussed estimation approach could be extended or customized for the integration of survey data with alternative data sources, such as administrative records, and/or geospatial information, and for the disaggregation of other (SDG) indicators based on survey microdata.

“Promoting data use is one of the greatest challenges faced by statisticians working either in national or international organizations.” say Pietro Gennari, Chief Statistician, and Dorian Kalamvrezos Navarro, Statistician in the Office of the Chief Statistician, in a new article published in the IISD’s SDG Knowledge Hub. After examining the detrimental effect of poor use of food and agriculture data and statistics, the authors advocate for a stronger collaboration between international agencies to promote data use and support the analytical capacities of National Statistical Offices.

Promoting data use was also the theme of a recent blog published through the UN World Data Forum platform in December 2021. In this blog, the authors highlighted some recent initiatives designed to address the data-use-challenge and put forward some avenues for reflection to foster the use of data and statistics for effective policy-making.

When it comes to food and agriculture data, FAO is one of the world leaders in knowledge. Experts and statisticians work day in and day out to collect, validate and disseminate data and information on food and agriculture to help governments make the right decisions about programmes, policies and investments.

Did you know that more than 1 000 FAO publications are published in French every year? The Publications branch now offers monthly publications updates in French to ensure you get the most up-to-date FAO’s knowledge products. The newsletter highlights the key publications available in French and provide them in different formats, with the aim of making them available, accessible and usable to French speakers around the world.  

Following the opening by José Rosero Moncayo (Chair of the 50x2030 Partnership Council) and Vasco Molini (Programme Manager of the 50x2030 Initiative), who introduced the main aspects and objectives of the Initiative, representatives from Georgia and Cambodia presented on the progress made in statistical capacity development in their countries, providing also examples of data dissemination and data use for policy application.

Attended by 126 participants, this event, co-hosted with FAO, took stock of the latest developments and progress in implementing the UN-CEAG's programme of work (2020-2023) and brought together the perspectives of different stakeholders to discuss additional topics of interest in the area of food security and agricultural statistics. 

The second phase of the Global Strategy was presented during a joint side event between FAO, UNECA and PARIS21. Attended by nearly 90 participants, it featured national presentations from Ghana and Mozambique who shared their experience of introduction of the GSARS plan in their countries, how it fits with the national strategies of development of agricultural statistics and with opportunities offered with the future implementation of 50x2030 Initiative.

From 25 to 27 January 2022, the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre (FCSC) of the United Arab Emirates, jointly with the UN Committee of Experts on Big Data and Data Science for Official Statistics (UN-CEBD) organised a session on “Big Data and Data Science for the Sustainable Development Goals”. FAO participated in the three-day event, and presented on Earth Observations’ use cases and methods.

From 6 to 8 July 2021, FAO organized a regional workshop to raise awareness about SDG 14.b and its associated Indicator 14.b.1. The workshop brought together approximately 60 participants from reporting and non-reporting countries in South and Southeast Asia and provided an opportunity to share experiences towards the goal of increasing the number of countries reporting on and validating the indicator.

A new vacancy for a fishery expert in socio-economic statistics is available. The officer will be responsible for the collection, processing, analysis and dissemination of international socio-economic fisheries statistics, including fishing fleet and fisheries and aquaculture employment, and for supporting the development of related tools and methodologies for the collection of socio-economic data.