Harare, (New Ziana) – The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has commended its partnership with the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZimStat), saying the collaboration has reduced duplication, enhanced efficiency in the use of resources and promoted a coordinated approach to data collection across the country.
Addressing delegates at the second quarter meeting of the Data for Development and Innovation (DFDI) group in Harare on Tuesday, UNFPA Zimbabwe representative, Miranda Tabifor said the partnership was playing a vital role in supporting evidence-based national development.
The meeting was held under the theme: ‘Driving Transformation: Leveraging Data, Digitalisation and Innovation for Stronger Institutions, NDS-2 Delivery and SDG Acceleration.’
The DFDI serves as a strategic coordination platform bringing together institutions that contribute to Zimbabwe’s National Statistical System. It operates in partnership with Government, United Nations agencies, development partners, academia, civil society organisations and innovation stakeholders to strengthen the country’s data ecosystem.
The platform was established to coordinate support for initiatives that improve the production, availability and use of quality data in Zimbabwe, ensuring that stakeholders work collectively towards strengthening national statistical systems and evidence-based policymaking.
“We are here to review progress, address challenges and shape the future of data-driven development in Zimbabwe amid the implementation of national strategic development goals. This platform has grown well beyond its early meetings and now functions as a national coordination mechanism for data issues rather than a narrow technical forum,” Tabifor said.
She applauded ZimStat for broadening participation in the initiative, noting that reliable data remains the foundation for informed investment and development planning, regardless of the size of the investment being undertaken.
“This initiative sits under the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator and counts as one of the key performance indicators for the UN country team — a signal of how seriously it is being taken.
“Achieving both the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS-2) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) depends on stronger use of quality, digitalised data to drive better decisions and results. With the 2030 deadline for the SDGs drawing closer, the annual stock-taking of Zimbabwe’s progress — and its performance on data delivery specifically — carries growing weight,” she said.
Tabifor said the UN 2.0 vision represents the convergence of data, digital transformation, innovation, strategic foresight and behavioural insights to build stronger national capacities for evidence-based planning, accountability and resilience.
Speaking on behalf of ZimStat director general Tafadzwa Bandama, the agency’s director of Statistical Services, Fadzayi Ndlovu, expressed appreciation to the UN Country Team and development partners for their continued support in strengthening Zimbabwe’s national statistical system.
“This working group is an important vehicle for partnership across government, UN agencies, development partners, academia, civil society and the private sector. Our focus should be on digital health, artificial intelligence, data governance, programme monitoring and integrated information systems.
“We must consider how successful initiatives can be scaled up, institutionalised and folded into national development processes, including the forthcoming fourth National Strategy for the Development of Statistics,” Bandama said.
She said the growing number of national, regional and international development frameworks has placed increasing demands on institutions to generate timely, credible and highly disaggregated data that meets global standards, including the commitments under Agenda 2030.
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