The book presents a nuanced narrative about statistical development in Africa since around the time of independence when emerging states needed statistics mainly to support their planning processes. It highlights challenges faced then, some of which have persisted, including institutional, organizational and technical challenges. These challenges manifest themselves in countries with different degrees of severity and are quite severe in post-conflict countries. Key statistical programmes to support statistical development in Africa in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s are presented

What do we know about economic development in Africa? The answer is that we know much less than we would like to think. This collection assesses the knowledge problem present in statistics on poverty, agriculture, labour, education, health, and economic growth. While diverse in origin, the contributors to this book are unified in two conclusions: the quality and quantity of data needs to be improved; and this is a concern not just for statisticians. Weaknesses in statistical methodology and practice can misinform policy makers, international agencies, donors, the private sector, and the citizens of African countries themselves. This is also a problem for academics from various disciplines, from history and economics to social epidemiology and education policy. Not only does academic work on Africa regularly use flawed data, but many problems encountered in surveys challenge common academic abstractions. By exploring these flaws, this book will provide a guide for scholars, policy makers, and all those using and commissioning surveys in Africa. This book was originally published as a special issue of The Journal of Development Studies.

"Just as 'if' is in the middle of the word 'life,' many people in midlife lament, 'if I could only find my real purpose in life.'" --R. Ian Seymour Many people, after spending their younger days rushing to achieve financial success and the approval of others, begin to question the meaning of life and reconsider their life's direction. This book is designed to help people identify their true goals and meet their personal potentials. By illustrating the principles and disciplines of self-improvement, Seymour encourages readers, at any stage in their lives, to achieve happiness and fulfillment.

The "leave no one behind" principle espoused by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development requires measures of progress for different segments of the population. This entails detailed disaggregated data to identify subgroups that might be falling behind, to ensure progress toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Asian Development Bank and the Statistics Division of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs developed this practical guidebook with tools to collect, compile, analyze, and disseminate disaggregated data. It also provides materials on issues and experiences of countries regarding data disaggregation for the SDGs. This guidebook is for statisticians and analysts from planning and sector ministries involved in the production, analysis, and communication of disaggregated data.

This report provides a baseline of the capacity of Asian Development Bank developing member countries to generate, analyze, disseminate, and use sex-disaggregated data. It introduces a framework on gender statistics and guides in assessing statistical systems in the Southern Caucasus (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia), Central Asia (Kazakhstan,Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan), and West Asia (Afghanistan, Pakistan). It recommends ways to bridge the gaps in gender data collection, analysis, and use.