Government agencies in Tonga have begun a coordinated effort to improve how public-sector data is collected, managed and used, with officials meeting in Nuku’alofa for a three-day workshop.

Led by the National Planning Division of the Prime Minister’s Office and the Tonga Statistics Department, the initiative follows consultations with more than 20 ministries, departments and agencies held last month.

Those consultations examined data practices and identified areas for support. Findings are being returned to each agency for review before recommendations are finalised.

Officials discussed information-sharing arrangements, common definitions and standards, documentation, and stronger analytical skills among public servants. They also considered ways to connect ministry systems with national reporting so information can be collected once and used multiple times.

The work is linked to Tonga’s Strategic Development Framework III, covering 2025–2035, and is intended to strengthen monitoring of priorities including education, health, infrastructure and economic growth.

The Prime Minister’s Office has previously said performance dashboards are intended to support evidence-based decision-making across government.

The Pacific Community (SPC) and Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat are supporting the process through a joint mission. SPC’s Pacific Data Hub provides a regional platform for datasets and development indicators, to support evidence-based policymaking.

The government says Tonga will retain ownership and control of its data, including decisions on what is shared and with whom.

The National Planning Division and Statistics Department will lead next steps through national mechanisms, working with ministries to develop recommendations.