Aide MémoireFASDEV-II Second Meeting of the Forum on African Statistical
Development I. Background The African statistical community and its partners took several initiatives in the past to boost statistical capacities in the countries for better economic management and tracking progress towards the achievement of internationally agreed development goals. The Addis Ababa plan of Action (AAPA) for statistical development in the 1990s was part of those initiatives. It aimed at: creating statistical awareness through, among others, the African Statistical Day (ASD) celebrations; promoting the elaboration of statistical strategic development plans; strengthening the organization and management of statistical systems; coordinating statistical activities; improving the quality of statistics; developing databases; disseminating statistical products; promoting data analysis and research; and training and on the job training. At the end of the 1990s, the AAPA was evaluated. The main findings were about the problems encountered in the implementation of the plan, which were mostly related to: the lack of ownership of the plan, the lack of leadership of the National Statistical Systems (NSS), the lack of financial resources, and the inadequacy of institutional and human capacities. Therefore, it was recommended to: (i) governments, a stronger commitment to statistics function, the allocation of adequate resources to these statistical activities, and the change of the national statistical offices (NSOs) status; (ii) NSOs, greater focus on user needs, the elaboration of strategic statistical master plans; the use of new information and communication technologies (ICTs) and the redefinition of data dissemination and communication strategies; and the strengthening of analytical and research capacities; (iii) subregional and regional organizations, the harmonization of concepts, definitions and methods in sub-regions; the increase of the African Development Bank (AfDB) financial support for statistical development in the region; the revitalization of statistical function within ECA and the region; and (iv) international organizations, to play an advocacy role with the member States and to increase their financial support for statistics. The Committee on Development Information (CODI), the ECA subsidiary body in charge of statistics, at its second session held from 4 to 7 September 2001, examined the AAPA evaluation report and resolved that a new plan, as proposed in the evaluation report, will not be necessary. Instead, a new framework for statistical development in Africa should be put in place. Meanwhile, the International Comparison Programme for Africa (ICP-Africa) Governing Board at its first meeting, held on 24 July 2003, in Addis Ababa, resolved that a forum to exchange information on the division of work should be organized annually. The ECA Executive Secretary accepted to convene such a forum, in partnership with AfDB, the Partnership in Statistics for Development in the 21st Century (PARIS21), and the World Bank. The Forum on African Statistical Development (FASDEV) The first meeting of the Forum on African Statistical Development (FASDEV) was held from 12 to 13 May 2004 at ECA headquarters in Addis Ababa. For a long time ago, United Nations agencies, international, regional and sub-regional organizations gathered to launch the Forum, under the sponsorship of the ECA Executive Secretary who chaired the opening session, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)/DAC Chairman who made a statement via videoconference, the AfDB President who sent a message read by the AfDB resident representative in Addis Ababa, and the representative of the World Bank Development Data Group. After a general debate on the role of statistics in the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs), macroeconomic and external sector policy analysis in Africa, and the Marrakech Action Plan on Statistics (MAPS), the meeting focused its discussions on the current status of statistical capacity in Africa, the assessment of the partners support to African statistical activities, and the strategies to boost statistical development in the region in order to scout out the path towards the deadline year of 2015 for the development agenda. On this last item, the National Strategy for the Development of Statistics (NSDS) guidelines were presented. Finally, the meeting agreed, in a communiqué to: 1. Endorse the establishment of FASDEV, with ECA as the Secretariat; 2. Contribute to the production of a Reference Regional Strategic Framework in line with the MAPS, under ECA coordination; 3. Support African countries to design, following PARIS21 guidelines, and implement NSDS by 2006 as resolved by CODI, MAPS, and the Yaoundé Declaration; 4. Take advantage of existing strategies (such as PARIS21 initiatives, ICP-Africa, GDDS, etc.), seek the guidance of CODI and the UN Statistical Commission on statistical activities through submission of reports for their consideration; 5. Work towards developing and implementing joint programmes; 6. Provide information according to a template to be designed with members of FASDEV and coordinated by ECA; 7. Ask ECA to convene the next FASDEV meeting to consider and approve the Reference Regional Strategic Framework and to map the way forward; and 8. Call on all stakeholders to support FASDEV activities. The Reference Regional Strategic Framework for statistical Capacity Building in Africa (RRSF) The strategic framework has been prepared by a team of international consultants under ECA coordination and led by experts from the main partners (AfDB, ECA, PARIS21, and the World Bank). African countries and other stakeholders in the area of statistical development in Africa have been invited to provide comments to the first draft of the RRSF. The framework is focused on strategic directions and appropriate mechanisms for improving the planning, financing, management, and coordination of statistical development activities to meet demands for good quality statistics. It is expected that national statistical institutions will refer to this framework for guidance on statistical capacity building, and development partners will be able to use it as an input into selection of programs and projects to support statistical development, and all stakeholders will be able to use it to promote effective partnerships and coordination of capacity building efforts in the region. It is also expected that this new framework, once adopted by all stakeholders, will help create much needed synergies, reduce duplication of efforts and promote sustainable statistical capacity in the African region. One of the main objectives of the second meeting of the FASDEV is to endorse the strategic framework. II. Overall Objective of the meeting The overall objective of the meeting is to raise awareness about statistics among African leaders and development partners and to adopt the draft of the Reference Regional Strategic Framework for statistical capacity building in Africa (RRSF) as the common reference to all statistical development activities in the region. III. Specific Objectives The specific objectives of the meeting are: · To share information about the various statistical programmes in African countries including training, through the light reporting mechanism put in place after the first meeting of the FASDEV; · To discuss the strategies for statistical development in Africa, as reflected in the RRSF draft; and · To discuss financing and monitoring of the implementation of the RRSF. IV. Expected Outcomes · More awareness about the importance of statistics in Africa's development; · Adoption of the Reference Regional Strategic Framework for statistical capacity building in Africa (RRSF); and · Agreement on a permanent system for the monitoring of statistical development in Africa. V. Format of the Meeting The meeting will be organized in six plenary sessions. The first and last sessions will be dedicated respectively to opening and closing ceremonies. The other sessions will consist in presentations followed by discussions. The presentations will be performed by representatives of the primary sponsors of the FASDEV (AfDB, ECA, PARIS21, and the World Bank), sub-regional, regional organizations, and countries. The organizations, which are willing to share information on their activities, will be provided with a booth in the exhibition area of the United Nations Conference Centre (UNCC). They should inform quite far in advance the organizers of the meeting by sending an email to mhunegnaw@uneca.org. The exhibition will take place from 8 to 10 February 2006. Small meeting rooms will be made available from 8 to 10 February 2006 for ad hoc hoc and other specific meetings between participants. The organizations interested in such meetings should contact the ECA secretariat as soon as possible in this regard. VI. Documentation The participants will be provided with the work programme of the meeting, the Reference Regional Strategic Framework for Statistical Capacity Building in Africa (RRSF), the presentations to be made during the sessions, and background documents. VII. Participation The meeting will bring together representatives from development partners, heads of African NSOs, five representatives of Central Banks and some line ministries (Agriculture, Education, Health, and Infrastructure), representatives from countries' PRSPs units, heads of statistical units of sub-regional organizations (SROs), the directors of the sub-regional Statistical and Demographic Training Centres (STCs), and representatives from the primary sponsors of the FASDEV. VIII. Venue and Date The meeting will take place from 9 to 10 February 2006 at the UNCC, Conference Room II. The exhibition area will be at the ground floor of the UNCC. IX. Working Language Simultaneous interpretation will be provided in both English and French. X. Contacts For further information, please contact:
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