Title: Modernizing and transforming the National Statistical Systems: Experience from Africa.

Organizer: African Centre for Statistics, UNECA

Contact person: Ms. Angela Kiconco angela.kiconco@un.org,

Ms. Gloria Mathenge gloria.mathenge@un.org

The African statistical community has globally recognized that producers of official statistics need to transform and modernize themselves to adequately respond to all data demands arising from SDG, Agenda 2063, national development plans and other agendas and frameworks. This transformation and modernization cover all areas of official statistics, including the institutional statistical environment, production processes, coordination and collaboration. This session proposal covers major developments in Africa in terms of modernizing the statistical systems on the continent specifically on Data revolution, the use of administrative and CRVS data, change through the Statistical Leadership and GIS. 

 1. Will Africa be the next epicenter of the data revolution? 

Just like mobile telephony had an astounding boom in Africa because the wired telecommunication infrastructures were very inadequate, we are expecting innovative data science methods based on new data sources to flourish on the continent due to the weak state of the statistical systems and the resulting wide gap between the demand and the offer of data for evidence-based decision-making. We are expecting Africa to be the one of the epicenters of the data revolution in the coming years. From the use of satellite imagery to monitor the degradation of natural capital stock and measure land use and land cover to the use of mobile tracking data to improve knowledge of migrations, cross-border formal and informal trade, and the development of digital id solutions to tackle the scandal of invisibility that makes people be born, live and die without their government being aware of their existence, the opportunities for applying innovative data science techniques to solve practical problems on the African continent are immense. ECA is therefore advocating for the African statistical community to tap into this huge potential by giving training in data science and initiating innovative data science projects through among others, the UN Regional Data Hub on big data and data science and the African Research Centre on Artificial Intelligence that was established in Brazzaville, Congo. 

 2. Transforming and modernizing of Africa Statistical System: Change through the Statistical Leadership Programme 

In the context of causing change using the top to bottom approach, the statistical leadership programme delivered by the UK’s Office for National Statistics, in collaboration with the African Centre for Statistics (ACS) and the African Institute for Economic Development and Planning (IDEP) at the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) targets to strengthen Africa Statistical systems by addressing issues of self-awareness and confidence, leading teams and individuals, improving influencing skills, leading and change management as well as building networks. This paper presents findings on how the statistical leadership programme has the impacted the leaders in National Statistical Offices in relation to contributing to transforming and modernizing the Africa Statistical System. 

3. Building effective and integrated CRVS Systems in Africa in the context of transforming and modernizing National Statistical Systems 

 Civil registration systems are considered by the United Nations to be the most reliable sources of vital statistics . Civil registration systems are also the basis for establishment of population registers which also provide a potentially excellent source of data for generating vital statistics and key demographic indicators. A functional population register can only exist where there is a well-functioning civil registration system. Despite their recognized importance, civil registration systems have been performing dismally in most part of Africa over the past 50 years. This paper will review progress in the development of civil registration and population register systems on the continent and to advocate for the increased use of these data sources for derivation of demographic data and statistics. 

 4. Geospatial Technologies for modernizing and transforming National Statistical Systems in Africa 

 The availability of consistent and accurate geographic information is a key enabler for the growth of national economies. Geospatial information technologies are essential for designing economic and social elements of services of governments such as transportation, energy, the environment, health care, and education. Mapping Socio-economic indicators improves the ability to make a better decision in the various socio-economic development sectors. Collecting, managing, and analysing administrative data also rely heavily on Geospatial Information Technologies. Geospatial technology has modified the way in which data from national statistics offices are collected, stored, produced, and disseminated. Many countries have started to integrate GIS into their census mapping processes and surveys, developed a geo-referenced database of dwelling locations and clearly delineated enumeration area boundaries from high-resolution satellite imagery. Transformation and modernization of statistical systems in Africa are following the path to integrate the geospatial information with statistics which is now recognized globally and in the continent. 

Organiser: Mr Kossi Edem Kludza 

Chair: Mr Oliver J. M Chinganya 

Speaker: Mr Issoufou Seidou Sanda 

Speaker: Ms Angela Kiconco 

Speaker: Gloria Mathenge 

Speaker: Aster Denekew