The Africa Symposia on Statistical Development is an African-driven initiative that seeks to work through the ECA, with support from the “Friends of the ECA” (Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, South Africa, Senegal, Rwanda and Tunisia), to help restore statistical development in Africa.A work programme has been developed that will in the first instance, given critical political intervention and support, encourage the undertaking of a census in every African country towards enriching the information base on which decision-making in Africa can be made. In encouraging the participation of African countries in the 2010 Round of Population and Housing Censuses, the ASSD aims at ensuring that country-level monitoring becomes an indispensable element in assessing progress towards the Millennium Development Goals. The ASSD also aims at assisting to mobilize resources to assist African countries in meeting the targets.