Surveys and data published on the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR) website has made Rwanda score high in a World Bank evaluation to deliver data.

The evaluation, ‘Statistical Capacity to Deliver Information’ published last year, indicates that Rwanda scored 71 percent, unlike in 2005 when it had 45 percent.

Louis Munyakazi, Director General of NIS, said: "This is so impressive; it’s good news to our country because the international community would access useful information especially on macro-economic, social and demographic statistics.”

Good performance was driven by routine collection of useful information and how the data would be disseminated to users and the general public.

Some of the development partners who were happy about reliable and evidence-based data include International Monetary Fund, Africa Development Bank, World Bank and European Union.

This was presented to the Minister of Finance and Economic planning James Musoni during his official visit to the institution’s head offices at Muhima.

The visit was aimed at identifying the capacity of the institution because it will play a critical role in the implementation of the Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy (EDPRS).

"In the implementation process of EDPRS and as the sectors develop, we need figures the Institute will monitor and evaluate to link the achievement and the benchmark,” Musoni said.

The institution is working jointly with EDPRS to address the role of planning by giving accurate numbers and to identify indicators.

Musoni said next year, the institution will be producing quarterly report on the analysed economic performance. He promised government support to empower the institution both financially and in capacity building.

The institution has set up a framework to enable effective coordination between government ministries, parastatals and private companies with the institute where it acts as the central source and data collection centre.

Recently, development partners merged to support the institution to build capacity and help to deliver reliable data. The basket of donation had $14 million from UNDP, DFID, EU, EC and World Bank.

Ends