The African Project for the Implementation of the 2008 System of National Accounts (SNA) has been developed by the African Group on National Accounts (AGNA) to address the current challenges African countries face in producing timely and quality national accounts, in support of good economic governance, regional integration, and sustainable development. The Project is a continental, joint and coordinated effort of pan-African Institutions (ECA, AUC, and AfDB), Regional Economic Communities (RECs), Afristat, and Member States. The African Project on the 2008 SNA was officially launched in January 2014.

A central component of the SNA is the Supply and Use Table (SUT), a framework that provides three approaches for the calculation of GDP and serves as an effective tool for cross-checking the consistency of GDP. The compilation of SUTs is recommended as a part of the minimum requirement data set (MRDS). Therefore, ECA has initiated the preparation of a Handbook on Supply and Use Table: Compilation, Application, and Good Practices. The Handbook is expected to be an effective reference material for strengthening the capacity of Member States in compiling timely and quality national accounts.

The Expert Group Meeting on Supply and Use Tables, organized by ECA and Statistics Mauritius, will be held from 2 to 6 June 2014, in Port Louis, Mauritius. The purpose of the meeting is to (i) share and discuss African countries’ experiences and best practices in compiling SUTs;(ii) finalize the chapters of the Handbook on Supply and Use Table; and (iii) discuss the establishment of a cooperation framework between ECA and Member States.