The Statistical, Economic and Social Research and Training Centre for Islamic Countries (SESRIC) and the Economic and Statistical Observatory for Sub-Saharan Africa (AFRISTAT) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to initiate and facilitate collaboration and cooperation between both institutions in matters of common interest and to establish the necessary arrangements for their implementation. The MoU was signed on 23 July 2014 by Prof. Savaş Alpay, Director General of SESRIC, and Mr. Cosme Vodounou, PhD, Director General of AFRISTAT.

The MoU aims at bringing about a synergy between SESRIC and AFRISTAT on three main cooperation areas including:

• Development of statistical capacity building and training programmes on official statistics for the benefit of their mutual member countries;
• Development of statistical awareness and outreach programmes; and
• Coordination for promoting the harmonisation of concepts, classifications and methodologies used in performing statistical activities in their mutual member countries to promote consistency in statistical systems.

For more information on the activities of AFRISTAT, please visit:http://www.afristat.org/