The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) undertook a review of the National Population Policy (NPP) just yesterday. This was the information that was relayed in a speech by UNFPA Representative Ms. Saira Shameem, at the first ever National Statistical Convention at the Hilton Hotel in Port Moresby this morning. She said one of the goals that they formulated from the review of the NPP was to improve the national capacity to produce population data. Ms. Saira explained that this is so research results meet the needs of policy makers and planners and ensures that this information is available in a timely manner, is of an international standard in its completeness and accuracy and is disseminated and utilized in the most efficient way. "The collected data is wasted if it is not translated into a vivid description of lived realities of people's lives." "It is a lost opportunity if this information is not disseminated to policy makers and program managers, evaluators and monitoring officers and researchers so that they can make informed decisions for the people of Papua New Guinea." Ms. Shameem said this is why the data that was collected in the Socio-economic Development Survey (SEDS), that is being presented today, was very important, as it put a narrative to the numbers. "And I must say, it is an extraordinary achievement where 5, 000 households were visited by over 500 enumerators, across 22 provinces in PNG." The National Statistical Office (NSO) were highly commended by the UNFPA Representative, for fostering teamwork and overcoming challenges that included Covid-19 and security risks arising from the 2022 National General Elections, to complete this nationwide survey. "The ability to generate these estimates has been institutionalized and the strength gained within NSO for years to come." The key findings of the analysis of the SEDS data generated targeted reports that are now available, and these reports covered youth, gender, demographic dividend, migration and economic well-being, education, fertility and mortality. "I hope you will benefit from these studies, and I invite you to engage in fruitful discussions with our national and international experts."