CODI-II: Resolution on statistical development in Africa

Addis Ababa, 4-7 September 2001

(Sponsored by Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, Kenya, Senegal and South Africa)

The Conference of Ministers,

Having reviewed the recommendations of the Working Group on Strengthening Statistical Capacity for Poverty Monitoring as endorsed by CODI1, specifically the issues relating to the new millennium goals and their application to the New African Initiative, the Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs), poverty monitoring and reports of the regional meetings of PARIS21;

Recalling its resolution on the Addis Ababa Plan of Action for Statistical Development in Africa in the 1990s;

Noting the country reports presented CODI by: Algeria, Angola, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Nigeria, Tanzania, Togo, Rwanda, Senegal, Somalia, Swaziland, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Uganda and Zimbabwe;

Having examined the report of the Coordinating Committee on African Statistical Development (CASD) on the evaluation of the implementation of the Addis Ababa Plan of Action for Statistical Development in Africa in the 1990s (AAPA)2, the Way Forward3 and the implementation of 1993 System of National Accounts (SNA)4 in the region;

Bearing in mind of the role of sub-regional institutions such as SADC, ECOWAS, COMESA, EAC, CEMAC and IGAD in the development of statistics in Africa;

Aware of the progress made by a number of countries in preparing strategic plans for statistics, and that many National Statistical Offices (NSOs) are constrained in their operations due to the traditional civil service practices;

Appreciative of the important role of PARIS21 in promoting the use of statistics at the worldwide level with advocacy tools;

Recognizing the various initiatives undertaken by National Statistical Offices in data collection;

Recognizing further the significant advancements in the information and communication technologies;

Noting the slow pace of adapting new statistical methodologies and the deficit in number of statisticians,

Noting also that the major constraints to the implementation of the AAPA included lack of advocacy, lack of ownership, inadequacy of financial resources, lack of institutional and human capacity;

Concerned that only a small proportion of member states have made progress in the implementation of 1993 SNA and that was largely made possible by the existence of technical capacity, local or external and the availability of appropriate tools;

Convinced that member states should take appropriate steps to address these issues;

I. Strengthening statistical capacity

1. Calls upon national statistical offices of member states to submit country reports to ECA on the previous year by end of June of each year;

2. Urges member states to put in place strategic plans to provide a holistic approach and optimize the utilization of resources available for statistical development;

3. Further urges NSOs to take all appropriate steps to sensitize political leaders on the fundamental importance of statistics for planning and decision making and requests ECA and all partners to assist them in this endeavor;

4. Recommends that:

    a. NSOs should become autonomous organizations with independent Boards of Directors;

    b. NSOs should establish integrated information management systems that bring together data on social benefits, censuses, GIS, and household budget surveys to better equip users with information necessary for planning, monitoring and evaluation;

    c. Sub-regional institutions such as SADC, ECOWAS, COMESA, EAC, CEMAS and IGAD should be the building blocks for the implementation of the various initiatives on African development;

    d. Human development in statistics should be accelerated through strengthening of Regional Training Institutions and the establishment of a fund for statistical training;

    e. The process of adopting the latest international standards should be speeded up;.

    f. National capacities in the analysis of data on poverty at the national level should be enhanced and priority areas for action (education, health etc.) should be defined;

    g. The replication of AFISTAT type arrangements in other countries and in particular the Anglophone countries;

5. Emphasizes that statistical development plans should be an integral component of national development plans.

II. The Addis Ababa Plan of Action for Statistical Development in Africa in the 1990s

6. Acknowledges that the principles and objectives of the AAPA were and still remain relevant to statistical development in Africa;

7. Regrets the slow level of implementation of the AAPA identified by CASD in the evaluation;

    8. Appreciates the commendable work done by CASD and resolves that its mandate has come to an end;

    9. Resolves that a new plan, as proposed in the evaluation report, will not be necessary. Instead, a new framework for statistical development in Africa be put in place that will take into account:

      a. full stakeholder participation at all levels;

      b. new demands for information (PRSPs, New African Initiative);

      c. strategies at national, sub-regional and regional levels for enhancing statistical capacity;

      d. the plight of countries emerging from war and other crises;

      e. mechanisms of continuous monitoring and evaluation;

    10. Approves that

    a. full stakeholder participation at all levels;

    b. a broad based Advisory Board on African Statistical Development (ABASD) be constituted;

    c. in order to effect the proposed framework, the Advisory Board design the modalities of statistical advancement in the region;

    d. the Board works in close partnership with sub-regional, regional and international organizations.

III. Information and Communication Technologies

11. Strongly recommends that member states be proactive in adapting the new technologies in information capturing, processing and dissemination for timely and effective policy decisions;

IV. Implementation of the 1993 System of National Accounts (1993 SNA)

12. Urges member States strive to speed up the implementation of the 1993 SNA by strengthening technical capacity in national accounts and accessing and using available tools.

1 ECA/DISD/STAT/WG/SSCPM/01

2 E/ECA/DISD/CODI.2/11, and Add.1

3 E/ECA/DISD/CODI.2/11, Add.2

4 E/ECA/DISD/CODI.2/12