Abstract

In 2021 the UN working group on data stewardship was established and is lead by UNSD. The work plan of the working group covers the development of a conceptual framework for data stewardship and its various dimensions. The draft report of the working group has developed and circulated questionnaire to examine the data stewardship developments from the NSOs perspectives on the context, scope and priorities of data stewardship to further develop the conceptual framework on data stewardship. The working group report will be submitted to the 55th Statistical Commission in its meeting in Feb-Mar2024.
As far as Africa is concerned various initiatives to use technology and build the digital data collection mechanism have been undertaken by the countries supported by their own governments, stakeholders and donors. While UNECA has a roadmap for transformation and modernisation of official statistical systems, what is lacking perhaps is an overall national level framework to enhance data driven mechanism and governance. The debate is on the exact role and definitions of data stewards, which is best agency/agencies to take the role of data steward.
This paper will examine these developments in the context of the working groups report and look at the way forward in developing National Statistical Systems in Africa.
The paper aims at helping the participants to understand the developments in UNSC in building framework including definitions and concepts for data stewardship and the role to be played by the NSOs within the larger data ecosystem as the data steward and understanding the scope of data stewardship and extent to which these can be embedded in the National data strategy and way forward for NSS specially in Africa.