Our History
Tracing the evolution of South Sudan's statistical system from its humanitarian origins to the establishment of the National Bureau of Statistics.
National Bureau of Statistics: Brief Background
The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has evolved through several critical phases, each marking significant milestones in South Sudan's journey toward establishing a robust statistical system. From its origins as a humanitarian monitoring unit to its current status as the official statistical agency of an independent nation, the NBS has consistently played a vital role in providing data for development and decision-making.
Our Journey Through Time
Database and Monitoring Unit
The Sudan Relief and Rehabilitation Association (SRRA), the humanitarian wing of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM), established the SRRA Database and Monitoring Unit under the leadership of Mr. Arthur Akuien Chol, Gen. Mario Muor Muor, and with technical advice from Mr. David Deng Athorbei.
Dr. Luka Biong Deng was appointed as the director of the Unit, with the core objective to compile humanitarian assistance statistics and monitor the food security situation in SPLM-controlled areas by establishing a community-based early warning system.
Key Achievement:
In 1997, the Unit published a comprehensive food security assessment report that predicted the 1998 famine in Bahr el Ghazal region. This report contributed to the publication of the influential IDS discussion paper "Famine in the Sudan: Causes, Preparedness and Response."
Founding Staff Members:
New Sudan Center for Census, Statistics and Evaluation (NSCCSE)
The Chairman of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM), Dr. John Garang, issued an order for the establishment of the New Sudan Center for Census, Statistics and Evaluation (NSCCSE) and appointed Dr. Luka Biong Deng Kuol as its Director.
The Centre was established with a mandate to develop the necessary capacity to become the professional source and provider of official statistics for SPLM-controlled areas, responding to the growing need for basic statistics to inform SPLM national policies and prepare for post-conflict transition.
Organizational Structure:
- Chief Administrator: John C. Kulang
- Senior Statistical Officer: Eliaba Yoana Damundu
- Senior Census and Survey Officer: Adwok Chol Awur
- Senior IT Officer: Maker Ayuel
- Senior Monitoring and Evaluation Officer: Philip Dau
- Administration and Finance Officer: Acwil Odhyang Akoc
- Mapping and Cartography Officer: Achor Madesto
- Senior Communication and Logistics Officer: Ciengkue Mading
County statistical officers were organized under regional statistical officers: Bahr el Ghazal (Moses Mawien), Equatoria (Angelo Ugo), and Upper Nile (Philip Dau).
Key Activities:
- Managed the food security early warning system
- Conducted Multiple Indicators Cluster Survey
- Produced Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) Report for Southern Sudan
- Developed Southern Sudan Livelihood Zones and Profiles
Southern Sudan Centre for Census, Statistics and Evaluation (SSCCSE)
During the negotiations of the 2005 Sudan Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), the NSCCSE was recognized as one of the few SPLM institutions in the CPA, with its name changed to the Southern Sudan Centre for Census, Statistics and Evaluation (SSCCSE).
The SSCCSE was formally provided for in both the CPA and the 2005 Sudan Interim National Constitution, with the mandate to jointly conduct the Sudan 5th Population Census with the Sudan Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS).
Leadership Transition:
In 2006, Mr. Isaiah Chol Aruai was appointed by the President of the Government of Southern Sudan as the Chairman of the SSCCSE, based on the provisions of the 2005 Interim Constitution of Southern Sudan.
Key Achievement:
The SSCCSE played a leading and critical role in the conduct of the 2008 Population Census at the national level, particularly in the design of census methodology and questionnaires, with exclusive responsibility for conducting the population census in Southern Sudan.
With the 2008 Population Census results, Southern Sudan was able for the first time in its history to establish its own statistical system with detailed basic statistics at all levels of government: Southern Sudan, states, counties, and Payams.
South Sudan National Bureau of Statistics (NBS)
With the independence of South Sudan in 2011, the name of the SSCCSE was changed to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
Article 193 of the 2011 Transitional Constitution of South Sudan (TCSS) provides for the establishment of the National Bureau of Statistics as an independent Statistics Bureau with the mandate to build a national statistical system and importantly to monitor and evaluate social impacts of public policies, projects and programs.
Constitutional Mandate:
To ensure its autonomy, the 2011 TCSS provides for the establishment of the Board of Directors as the highest policy-making body of the NBS and the appointment of the Director-General (Statistician General) as the chief executive officer of the NBS.
Leadership Through The Years
| S/NO | Name | From | To | Title | Office Tenure |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dr. Luka Biong Deng Kuol | 2003 | 2005 | Director | 2 Years |
| 2 | Hon. Isaiah Chol Aruai Barach | 2006 | 2024 | Chairperson | 19 Years |
| 3 | Dr. Augustino Ting Mayai | 2024 | Present | Director General | Current |
Historical Impact and Legacy
Pioneering Early Warning Systems
The 1997 food security assessment that predicted the 1998 famine established NBS's legacy in using data for humanitarian intervention and crisis prevention.
Institutional Development
From a small monitoring unit to a constitutionally mandated national bureau, NBS represents South Sudan's journey toward institutional maturity.
Nation-Building Through Data
The 2008 Population Census provided the first comprehensive statistical foundation for governance and development planning in an independent South Sudan.
Human Capital Development
NBS has nurtured generations of South Sudanese statisticians and data professionals who continue to serve the nation in various capacities.