THE Pan African Statistical Programme II (PAS II), funded by the European Union and StatAfric, recently held a workshop in collaboration with the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) to enhance the communication and dissemination of statistical information in Seychelles. The workshop took place from June 2 to 6 and was led by Jon Olav Folsland, an international expert in statistical communication and dissemination. This initiative is part of broader efforts to strengthen how official statistics are shared with the public, stakeholders, and decision-makers—a critical component that has not always received adequate attention in the past.
During the session, Mr. Folsland emphasised the importance of tailoring communication strategies to effectively reach target audiences. “I am in Seychelles to conduct a workshop on communication and dissemination for the National Bureau of Statistics, focusing more on key target audiences to ensure that statistics are effectively communicated to vital user groups. This will assist statisticians and provide guidance on how they can enhance their communication efforts,” he stated.
He explained that, while producing high-quality statistics that align with international standards is fundamental, the real challenge often lies in ensuring that these statistics reach the people who need them. “The goal is to produce statistics that meet the highest international standards and create time series. Good quality statistics are essential, but for them to have an impact, they must be accessible to the users. Statisticians create statistics, but they are not always experts in communicating them,” he noted.
Mr. Folsland stressed the need for a mindset shift among statisticians, urging them to listen more closely to the needs of users. One highlight of the workshop was a special session with local journalists, acknowledging the media’s role as both users and disseminators of data. “In my view, statisticians excel at creating statistics. However, communication and dissemination require an understanding of user needs. What do you and other user groups need to fully utilise the statistics? This represents a significant change in mindset for many experts, including statisticians, to actively listen to users and develop products that are genuinely useful for them,” he remarked.
The workshop also aligns with the NBS’s ongoing development of a new website designed to improve access to official statistics. This initiative is considered a crucial step in bridging the communication gap between the institution and the public.
Emminielle Elizabeth, a statistician at NBS, explained the goals of the revamped digital platform. “We have organised a meeting with the media to explore ways to enhance the communication of statistics. The media plays a vital role in helping us move forward. Our website is integral to developing our statistics and communication strategy, and it aims to improve access to official statistics,” she elaborated.
According to her, the new website, combined with the Bureau’s presence on social media platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook, and LinkedIn, will facilitate quicker access to data, allowing users to make timely and informed decisions.
The training involved a diverse group of participants, including media representatives, ministry stakeholders, and IT developers. Representatives from three media outlets—Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation, Telesesel, and Seychelles NATION—discussed how statistics are currently utilised and highlighted the user-unfriendly aspects of the existing website. They provided several suggestions for making the new website more accessible and recommended that whenever the NBS conducts a survey, the results should be shared with the media, since journalists do not consistently check the website for updates on new figures.
—Source: Nation
