the marrakech action plan for statistics helping to improve statistical capacity in africa neil...

The Marrakech Action Plan for Statistics

Helping to Improve Statistical Capacity in Africa

Neil FantomDevelopment Data Group

The World Bank

Marrakech Action Plan for Statistics

Statistical capacity is improving…

Change in Statistical Capacity Score (World Bank) 1999-2004


But measuring development progress is still difficult…


Because statistical capacity is still low in many countries

Statistical Capacity Score (World Bank)


MAPS is a plan to improve development statistics

• Agreed at the Second International Roundtable for Managing for Development Results in February 2004

• In response to data demand: a core component of the results agenda

• The key aim is to meet the data challenge of the MDGs by 2010 & 2015

• By improving statistical capacity


MAPS has six actions

• Something for everyone: actions at both national and international levels

National International

1. Mainstream strategic planning for statistical development

2. Prepare for the 2010 census round

3. Increase financing for statistical development

4. International Household Survey Network (IHSN)

5. Make key improvements for MDG monitoring

6. Improve accountability for international statistics

• Costed (RRSF estimate: $75m per year for Africa)• Time-bound: key dates 2010 and 2015


MAPS relies on partnership

• For implementation and financing• Constituencies represented on the Advisory

Board are:– Developing countries– Data users– International statistical community– Development banks & UN agencies– Donors

• Partnership is supported by the Development Grant Facility of World Bank ($7.5m per year)


1. Mainstream strategic planning for statistical development

• Objectives– All low-income countries should have a National Strategy for the

Development of Statistics (NSDS) by the end of 2006– And these should be part of national development processes

• Good progress– In Africa, many countries adopting this approach– PARIS21: key partner for advocacy and advice– Finance available from e.g. African Development Bank, Trust

Fund for Statistical Capacity Building (TFSCB) of World Bank

How can MAPS help to mainstream NSDSs within development processes, e.g. PRSPs?

NATIONAL LEVEL


2. Prepare for the 2010 census round

• Objectives– Provide assistance to countries– Improve participation in 2010 census round

• Good progress– UN Statistics Division leading 2010 “World Program” to help

countries prepare countries and advocate for the census– 2006 Symposium in Cape Town last week

The big problem remains: how to make sure census-taking operations are funded?

NATIONAL LEVEL


3. Increase financing for statistical development

• Objectives– Increase investment to develop statistical capacity

• Good progress– Lending (STATCAP): Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Kenya– Donors increasing resources e.g. AfDB, TFSCB, Development

Grant Facility of World Bank– Sector-wide approaches and co-financing arrangements

But much more is needed here also, particularly to ensure long-term financing

NATIONAL LEVEL


• Key objectives– Set up Household Survey Network– Coordination for better planning of internationally-sponsored

surveys– Harmonization of concepts, methods

• Good progress– Set up in September 2004 by World Bank, all major survey

sponsors are members– Central survey repository (around 630 from Africa)– Data dissemination toolkit: help countries document surveys

4. International Household Survey Network (IHSN)

Challenge is to improve coordination and harmonization

INTERNATIONAL LEVEL


5. Make key improvements for MDG monitoring

• Key objective– Improve data for monitoring MDGs and other development goals

by 2010 and 2015

• Good progress– UN Agencies: better methods, helping countries with capacity

development programs (e.g. UIS, UN-Habitat, etc)– Report on capacity to produce MDG indicators to UNSC– UN MDG statistical literacy program– Many countries in Africa using DEVINFO/MDGINFO tools to

improve accessibility and use of data

But need to go more quickly: the Accelerated Data Program

INTERNATIONAL LEVEL


6. Improve accountability for international statistics

• Key objective– Clarify responsibilities for standards, disseminating information,

proving technical assistance, mobilizing resources

• Good progress– UN principles governing international statistics have been

agreed– MAPS Advisory Board will report to UNSC, DAC, WB Board– PARIS21 light reporting system collecting information on

statistical capacity improvement activities in Africa

What further activities are needed?

INTERNATIONAL LEVEL


Recap: areas for discussion

• Ensuring statistical capacity improvement is part of development process

• Funding of census-taking operations

• Sustaining increases in financing of statistical systems

• Improving coordination and harmonization of household surveys

• Accelerating progress

the marrakech action plan for statistics helping to improve statistical capacity in africa neil...

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