Newsletter Q3 2025

Welcome Back!

Welcome to the third edition of the UN Regional Hub for Big Data and Data Science for Africa’s Newsletter. This publication is designed to keep you informed about the latest developments, insights, and opportunities to support modernising official statistics through the use of big data and data science.

In this edition, we announce the next cohort for the International Data Science Accelerator Programme, our next meeting of the Data Science Champions Network, a UN Regional Hub’s Steering Committee request to look out for, and our up-coming webinars.

If you need more information about anything mentioned in this edition, please email us at regionalhubforafrica@un.org.

Open for applications: The International Data Science Accelerator Programme

The International Data Science Accelerator Programme is a great opportunity for both aspiring and established data scientists to enhance their knowledge and skills through virtual mentoring. Managed by the UK’s Data Science Campus at the Office for National Statistics (ONS), Cohort 6 is due to run from October 2025 to the end of February 2026.

For a detailed outline of the programme please see here.

To become a Mentee, you must submit a small data science project proposal that is a new project for your NSO. Please find the application form here, complete all sections, and submit to the ONS it by 19 September 2025.

If you would like to become a Mentor for Cohort 6, please download the application form here, answer all questions, and submit to the ONS by 10 October 2025.

Please submit all applications (Mentee and Mentor) to: International.Data.Science.Accelerator.Programme@ons.gov.uk

Data Science Champions Network for Africa

The new Data Science Champions Network for Africa met for the first time in May. The well-attended meeting shared examples and discussed the main uses of AI within National Statistical Offices, while also considering the risks involved for data privacy and security. The next meeting will take place on 23 September, 10:00 – 12:00 (EAT), and will focus on approaches to building data science capability at the NSO, as well as discuss how the NSO has organised itself for the delivery of big data / data science project work.

For more information on what the network offers and the Terms of Reference please see here. If you would like to apply to become a Data Science Champion or Data Science Practitioner, please email us at regionalhubforafrica@un.org.

UN Regional Hub Steering Committee
Our Steering Committee is interested in understanding where all African NSOs are on their data science journey, and will be issuing a short survey for completion by those responsible for data innovation at the NSO. The information will be used to map data science maturity across Africa, which will enable the Regional Hub to target support where it is needed most. Our Steering Committee membership is made up as follows:

Co-Chairs: Mr. Joseph Ilboudo (ACS-ECA) and Mr. Ivan Murenzi (NISR)
Permanent core members: Mr. Adam Gagoloum (AUC) and Dr. Babatunde Omotosho (AfDB)
NSO Representatives: (rotate every two years in line with UN StatCom Bureau membership): Mr. Nicolas Ndayishimiye (Burundi), Mr. Joseph Tedou (Cameroun), Mr. Richard Ngafuan (Liberia), Mr. Mohamed El Moctar Ould Ahmed Sidi (Mauritanie) and Mr. Alex Shimuafeni (Namibia).

Up-coming Webinars

Our next webinar will be held on 25 July, 10:00 – 11:00 (GMT); 13:00 – 14:00 (EAT), and will be presented by the Ghana Statistical Service, who will share the achievements, benefits and challenges with the automation and development of a pipeline for their CPI statistical processes.

Details of all up-coming webinars can be found here, as well as webinar recordings of our older webinars, uploaded to YouTube.

Contact us!

If you would like to share your data science news with us, become a member of the Data Science Champions Network, or discuss anything related to data science with us, please get in touch.

regionalhubforafrica@un.org

https://ecastats.uneca.org/regionalhub/