World Bank lends Kenya Sh5b to support better data collection

World Bank has approved Sh5.25 billion to support Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) to generate better and more accessible data.

The Kenya Statistics Program-for-Results will support Kenya to fill data gaps, improve quality of key official statistical products and processes, enhance dissemination practices and make data more accessible.

“High-quality data are critical to measure progress in growing the economy, reducing poverty and fostering shared prosperity. When statistics are up-to-date and regularly released publicly, the data will inform decision making in the public and private sector alike,” said World Bank Country Director for Kenya, Diarietou Gaye.

She added, “Open data helps not only to measure progress, but also to push it forward. Kenya has made significant progress on the open data front, but more needs to be done to ensure the data are current and regularly updated.”

Johan Mistiaen, Senior Economist and the Program’s Team Leader said as Africa’s newest lower-middle income country, Kenya needs to generate high-quality economic statistics required to inform and attract investments and help grow the economy.

“Moreover, current estimates of poverty and inequality are based on data that are a decade old. This operation will support a program of economic and household surveys (including the ongoing 2015-16 Kenya Integrated Household Budget Survey) to update these statistics and henceforth produce these data on a regular basis.”

The credit is provided under the standard International Development Association (IDA) terms that include a maturity of 38 years with a grace period of six years.