The United Nations Development Programme Deputy Resident Representative, Anne Madzara, has highlighted the need for updated and timely national statistics.

Madzara says this will enable policymakers to make informed and evidence-based decisions, which in the long run will support sustainable livelihoods.

Madzara made these remarks at the launch of the Namibia National Statistics System Standard by the Namibia Statistics Agency.

The standard will enable the agency to disseminate data and statistics.

Madzara says it is critical that all Namibians have access to reliable and accurate statistics.

"It also helps the government to be transparent and accountable about the delivery of development to its citizens."

Alex Shimuafeni, Statistician-General of the Namibia Statistics Agency, emphasised the need for statistics to be documented prudently and correctly.

He urged other institutions that are involved in collecting and producing data to be guided by the national code of practice.

"We are the main producers of statistics, but there are also other producers. The code of practice may impose requirements concerning any of the ethical and professional standards that must be adhered to in the collection, production, analysis  and dissemination of statistics."

Other codes of practice, Shimuafeni says, are measures of comparability of official and other statistics to curb overlapping or duplication during the collection process of statistics.