“Ajman Statistics” organizes a symposium on “The Role of Statistics in Achieving Sustainable Development”

Wed, 10/25/2023 - 12:00

|

General News

Ajman Statistics Center (ASC) organized a virtual symposium via the Zoom application titled “The Role of Statistics in Achieving Sustainable Development,” coinciding with the World Statistics Day, which falls on October 2nd every year , and also along with the Year of Sustainability announced by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, may Allah protect him, and comes as part of the UAE’s preparations to host the twenty-eighth session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28).

The symposium aims to build an intellectual base in the field of statistics and sustainability at the Emirate level, and to achieve cooperation to build a more advanced statistical system that serves sustainable development indicators and helps to support local and national strategies, besides being considered an opportunity to enhance and exchange expertise and experiences in order to develop national statistical systems.

Her Excellency Dr. Hajar Al Hubaishi, Executive Director of Ajman Statistics Center, expressed that today we celebrate the World Statistics Day announced by the United Nations General Assembly, in recognition of the role played by data science and statistics, which is based on the latest techniques and advanced technology, and become a major information support that contributes to the sustainability of operations, planning and decision-making, besides being an important information tool for the business community, and all groups and individuals interested in data in the Emirate of Ajman.

Al Hubaishi added that statistical data plays a major role in achieving sustainable development and supporting national strategies in this field towards building a more prosperous future, by providing accurate statistics that contribute to supporting the UAE vision , its objectives and the vision in the field of sustainability, which can serve its initiatives, efforts and inspired strategies. in this field, particularly the “UAE Net Zero 2050”.

An elite group of statisticians participated in the symposium, including Dr. Yasmine Judi, technical statistical advisor at the Ajman Statistics Center, experts from the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia - ESCWA, Dr. Salah Al-Muzahimi, Director of the Department of Studies and Development Indicators at the Statistical Center for the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), and Dr. Jamal Ballout, expert in developing professional standards and qualifications at the National Qualifications Centre, and Mrs. Maysoon Al Ali, Head of the Sectoral Statistics Department of Abu Dhabi Statistics Center.

The speakers discussed a number of important issues, including the role of the statistical data in drawing up strategic plans for sustainable development, and the foundations for building a sustainable statistical future, in addition to reviewing the best experiences and practices in employing statistical data in sustainability.

Subsequently , Dr. Yasmine Judi presented a paper titled “Record Data and its Role in Promoting Development Plans for the Well-Being of Society” (The Experience of the Emirate of Ajman). Wherein she reviewed the ASC’s efforts in developing and raising the efficiency of the record data in government departments in the Emirate of Ajman and applying the highest standards of statistical quality in the Self-enumeration of Ajman Census and the mechanism for its implementation, registration, and management, in addition to presenting the mechanism for linking the registry data to the Emirate. Dr.Yasmine also reviewed the statistical maturity index in the Emirate, its stages, outputs, and levels data to the Emirate. She also addressed the statistical maturity index in the Emirate, its stages, outputs, and levels.

On the other hand , Dr. Salah Al-Muzahimi presented a working paper titled “Sustainable Development Objectives Indicators Project”, wherein he explained project’s strategic objectives, in addition to the challenges that faced the project, and the most prominent recommendations with the proposed aspirations in this field . While Dr. Jamal Ballout also addressed the role of statistics in stimulating sustainable development, in a presentation titled “Harnessing the Power of Statistics to Stimulate Sustainable Development,”,and finally Ms. Maysoon Al Ali ended the symposium with her latest participation by talking about the role of the government agencies in the semi-decentralized statistical system, in addition to the most significant achievements of the system during presentation of her paper titled “The Semi-decentralized statistics System .

By the end of the symposium, Dr. Yasmine thanked the participants and contributors to organizing the symposium’s activities, and expressed her wishes for everyone’s progress and advancement , hoping that the symposium would have achieved its objectives in strengthening the bonds of cooperation and joining the efforts of all statistical centers to work on strengthening statistical systems and raising the level of efficiency of workers in this field in order to obtain comprehensive and accurate official statistics, and to exchange experiences among statistical centers, universities and academic institutions related to statistical sciences to advance statistical work, and to provide qualified personnel to work in this field.

It is noteworthy that Ajman Statistics Center periodically issues reports and studies in several areas related to sustainability, including the environment and energy report, which includes several areas, such as weather, renewable energy, and ambient air quality. The center also issues report on birds, which addressed the migratory birds, bird reserves in the emirate and in the UAE, and the total numbers of birds monitored in the Emirate, in addition to issuing a sustainability guide in this field.

Latest news

Strategic Partnership Between Ajman Statistics Center and Humaid Charity Foundation to Enhance Community Integration

Ajman Statistics Center Signs Cooperation Agreement with Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi Charity Foundation to Support Institutional Integration and Community Initiatives As part of efforts to strengthen collaboration between government entities and community institutions, Ajman Statistics Center signed a cooperation agreement with the Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi Charity Foundation. This strategic step aims to support institutional integration, exchange expertise and knowledge, and leverage statistical data to serve charitable and community initiatives—ultimately enhancing the effectiveness of development programs and achieving a sustainable impact that benefits the local community. The agreement was signed by Her Excellency Dr. Hajar Saeed Al Hubaishi, Director General of Ajman Statistics Center, and His Excellency Tariq Abdullah Al Awadhi, Director General of the Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi Charity Foundation, in the presence of several officials from both sides. On this occasion, H.E. Dr. Hajar Al Hubaishi emphasized that the agreement reflects the vision of Ajman Government in promoting the principles of partnership and institutional integration between governmental and community organizations. She highlighted the importance of utilizing statistical data to support charitable initiatives, which enhances the efficiency of social programs and ensures optimal allocation of resources to maximize benefits for target groups. She further stated that the agreement will open new avenues of cooperation in exchanging information, conducting studies and surveys related to charitable and social work, as well as developing data analysis tools to measure the impact of programs and initiatives. It will also include the organization of joint workshops and training programs aimed at enhancing the capabilities of professionals working in both statistical and community fields. For his part, H.E. Tariq Al Awadhi expressed his pride in this partnership, which strengthens the Foundation’s role in fostering a cohesive society. He praised the vital role played by Ajman Statistics Center in providing accurate and reliable data, which forms a cornerstone in designing and developing community initiatives based on actual needs and clear indicators. Al Awadhi confirmed that the agreement will contribute to improving the quality of charitable work by building a strong knowledge base that supports data-driven and scientifically analyzed decision-making. It will also promote the implementation of more sustainable and impactful development projects, aligning with the vision and future aspirations of the Emirate. The agreement includes several key provisions, most notably: cooperation in the exchange of statistical data related to community initiatives, support for research and studies focusing on social development, coordination in preparing and implementing workshops and training programs, in addition to developing an annual executive plan to ensure efficient implementation and achievement of shared goals. The signing of this agreement reflects the mutual commitment of both parties to institutional and community sustainability and integration, aiming to elevate the quality of services and programs provided to the public in alignment with Ajman Vision 2030, which aspires to build a prosperous, knowledge-based, and collaborative society.

Strategic Partnership between Ajman Statistics Center and the Ajman Private Education Office to Support Educational Policies and Enhance Data Exchange

Strategic Partnership between Ajman Statistics Center and the Ajman Private Education Office to Support Educational Policies and Enhance Data Exchange As part of efforts to strengthen institutional integration and expand collaboration among government entities, Ajman Statistics Center has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ajman Private Education Office. This strategic step aims to establish joint cooperation, facilitate data and information exchange, and develop technical and human capacities in ways that enhance the effectiveness of knowledge- and statistics-based educational policies, while supporting decision-making mechanisms with accurate and reliable data. Her Excellency Dr. Hajar Saeed Al Hubaishi, Director General of Ajman Statistics Center, emphasized that this MoU reflects the strategic direction of the Government of Ajman to foster integration among government entities and promote knowledge and information sharing. She noted that the agreement serves as a fundamental pillar for strengthening cooperation with the private education sector by establishing mechanisms for exchanging relevant data and studies, and by unifying efforts to build advanced statistical capacities within government personnel. Moreover, it contributes to supporting the educational investment environment by providing accurate and reliable data that enable the development of effective policies and informed initiatives to enhance the quality of education. Her Excellency added that the MoU aims to build a comprehensive framework for knowledge exchange and institutional integration by collaborating on the implementation of studies, research, and surveys, organizing regular meetings to review best practices, forming joint working groups to achieve shared objectives and activate mutual commitments, as well as cooperating in training and qualification programs to build national capabilities capable of keeping pace with statistical and professional advancements. For his part, His Excellency Mr. Mahmoud Khalil Al Hashimi, Executive Director of the Private Education Office, expressed his pride in this partnership and praised the vital role played by Ajman Statistics Center in supporting decision-making processes through the provision of accurate and reliable data. He noted that this MoU represents a qualitative leap in the development of educational policies based on well-studied scientific principles and enhances the efficiency of the educational environment through the exchange of expertise and knowledge between both parties, which positively impacts the quality of educational outcomes and the sustainability of institutional development. The MoU outlines mutual commitments between the two parties. Ajman Statistics Center commits to maintaining the confidentiality and security of the information it receives in accordance with the emirate's approved policies, reporting any changes to administrative records, and utilizing validated information in the context of register-based censuses. In return, the Private Education Office commits to providing accurate and regularly updated information, assigning authorized personnel to access statistical data, and ensuring secure mechanisms for information exchange, in addition to notifying the Center of any changes in administrative records. Furthermore, the agreement stipulates the formation of a joint technical committee from both parties to plan areas of cooperation and develop an annual work plan to be approved by both entities’ management. The committee will hold regular meetings to follow up on implementation and evaluate progress. A partnership coordinator from each side has been appointed to facilitate communication and follow up on the MoU’s activation, ensuring the effective realization of the agreed-upon goals. This agreement embodies both parties’ commitment to advancing digital transformation in the Emirate of Ajman and enhancing the knowledge infrastructure, thereby contributing to the improvement of government services and reinforcing the emirate’s position as a leading model in institutional integration and modern statistical practices.

Ajman Harvests Three " ISO Cities" Certifications for 2025 for the Second Consecutive Year

Sheikh Ahmed bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Representative of His Highness the Ruler of Ajman for Administrative and Financial Affairs, received the three " ISO City" specifications Certifications issued by the World Council on City Data (WCCD). This affirms the emirate's ongoing commitment to achieving sustainable urban development. The certifications included: ISO 37120 Platinum Certification for Sustainable Cities and Quality of Life, received by Ajman for the third consecutive time; ISO 37122 Smart Cities Certification; and ISO 37123 Resilient Cities Certification. Thus, Ajman has become a pioneer in achieving these three certifications simultaneously in a single year, for the second consecutive year, reflecting Ajman's leading global position among smart and resilient cities. The emirate has also recently joined the new international standard, namely; "ISO Environmental, Social, and Governance Sustainability," which is a significant step that affirms Ajman's commitment to providing an advanced urban environment that balances economic, social, and environmental development and adopts accurate and internationally recognized indicators to measure the urban performance and guide policies toward sustainable development. The handover ceremony was attended by a number of senior officials and general managers from local and federal government agencies in the emirate. Sheikh Ahmed bin Humaid Al Nuaimi said: "We are proud of Ajman's qualitative achievements and its receipt of international certifications for quality of life indicators and smart and resilient cities. We are committed and will continue to develop modern infrastructure, smart government services, and development initiatives focused on sustainability and a well-being for the emirate's community". He added: “We , in the Emirate of Ajman, under the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Ajman, and the follow-up of His Highness Sheikh Ammar bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Crown Prince of Ajman and Chairman of the Executive Council, spare no effort in raising the quality of life for citizens and expatriates of the emirate, and we place their happiness at the forefront of our priorities. This achievement is a testament to the success the world has bestowed upon Ajman, as the fruit of our ongoing and uninterrupted development efforts, through which we seek to build a smart, safe, and resilient global city, with pioneering services and a modern infrastructure that appeals to all”. Sheikh Ahmed bin Humaid Al Nuaimi commended the close cooperation between Ajman Statistics Center and the entities supporting this achievement, which contributed to creating an integrated work environment based on transparency and internationally recognized corporate standards. This has enabled the emirate to achieve qualitative leaps in measuring and developing relevant performance indicators. He noted that the emirate's receipt of these prestigious certifications reflects the fruits of the efforts of all government work teams and the emirate's commitment to continuous improvement in accordance with the highest international standards adopted in the indicator measurement system. The emirate of Ajman obtained these prestigious certifications after completing the evaluation process in accordance with approved international standards, and satisfying more than 170 indicators in the economic, developmental, urban, social, environmental, technical, and service aspects, the thing which enabled the emirate to maintain its advanced ranking on the World City Index platform, accredited by the international organization. Her Excellency Dr. Hajar Al Hubaishi, Director General of Ajman Statistics Center, emphasized that the approved indicators are not limited to measuring performance alone, but rather represent strategic tools that enable the emirate to formulate development policies that respond to realities and keep pace with changes. This supports the achievement of sustainable development goals through accurate local indicators supported by statistical analysis and scientific standards. She noted that this achievement is the result of a series of fruitful meetings with the international organization and the relevant authorities, in addition to the ongoing cooperation with more than 20 local and federal entities, including 11 that directly contributed to providing the indicators necessary for the renewal of certification. The ISO 37120 standard for sustainable cities and quality of life indicators covers 19 key themes, encompassing most development sectors such as education, health, housing, economy, transportation, water, energy, entertainment, governance, and security. This standard has enabled the Emirate of Ajman to compare its indicators with other global cities. The ISO 37122 Smart Cities standard complements this framework by providing indicators to measure the development of smart services, the efficiency of digital technology use, the effectiveness of government communication with residents, and areas of urban and economic innovation, enhancing a city's readiness for comprehensive smart transformation. The ISO 37123 Resilient Cities standard measures a city's ability to prepare for and respond to crises, such as natural disasters and social, economic, and environmental pressures. This standard , also, helps to support decision-making, develop preventive policies, and enhance a city's ability to recover and achieve long-term sustainability. It is worthy to note that the World Council on City Data (WCCD) is an organization dedicated to enhancing the quality of urban, economic, and social statistics for cities around the world. It aims to enable cities to use these indicators in developing plans and measuring urban and development performance, thus contributing to enhancing the quality of life for residents. At the conclusion of the event, Sheikh Ahmed bin Humaid Al Nuaimi honored the government agencies that contributed to this achievement, praising their dedication and team spirit. He emphasized that building the city of the future requires integrated efforts and a culture of innovation and proactivity.