SESRIC took part in the Annual Meeting of the Global Network of Institutions for Statistical Training (GIST) hosted virtually on 10 February 2025 from New York. The meeting brought together GIST members, the Stakeholder Advisory Board (SAG), and National Statistical Offices (NSOs) to review the progress made over the past year and set strategic priorities for 2025.

Discussions focused on strengthening statistical training efforts globally, particularly in fostering a sustainable learning culture and enhancing statistical literacy. As an active member of GIST, SESRIC contributed to the discussions under the topics of emphasizing innovative approaches to addressing NSO needs and learning culture.

The meeting agenda, structured by the GIST Secretariat, featured in-depth discussions on recent developments and new initiatives. The key highlights included:

• Updates on GIST Activities: An overview of the progress made in 2024, including advancements in the Statistical Training Needs Assessment Tool (STAT) and the integration of training courses within the UN SDG:Learn platform.
• First Special Topic – Learning Culture: The meeting explored strategies to strengthen a sustainable learning culture among NSOs, along with a proposal to establish a new Task Team on Learning Culture, focusing on embedding informal learning approaches and leveraging digital tools to enhance statistical competencies.
• Second Special Topic – Statistical Literacy and a Potential Datathon: Participants discussed the role of statistical literacy in supporting evidence-based policymaking and the feasibility of organizing a datathon to engage a wider audience in statistical learning.
• New GIST Roles and Leadership Transitions: The session addressed the need to fill vacant positions within GIST’s task teams, including new co-leads for Task Team 1 (NSO Needs), the proposed Task Team on Learning Culture, and the Translation Group.

The 2025 GIST Annual Meeting reaffirmed the network’s commitment to advancing statistical capacity-building efforts and strengthening collaboration among members. SESRIC remains dedicated to supporting GIST’s initiatives and ensuring that the unique needs of OIC member countries are addressed within the global statistical training landscape.

For further details on GIST’s activities, please visit SESRIC’s official website and stay informed through the UN Statistics Division’s dedicated GIST webpage.