Statistics Division Economic Affairs Department African Union Commission Progress Report on the African Charter on Statistics STATCOM -III

Content  Background ;  Status of signing and ratification;  Standards and Guidelines on the principles of the charter ;  Overview on high level assessment;  Peer review mechanism ;  Implementation Plan;  Recommendations.

Background Adopted on the 4 th February 2009 by Heads of State and Government, the African Charter on Statistics is professional code of ethics and best; Main Objective: serve as policy framework and advocacy toll for statistics development in Africa; The charter is based on the following six principles: Professional independence Quality Mandate for data collection and resources Dissemination Protection of individual data, information sources and respondents Coordination and Cooperation

Status of signing and ratification Resolution of Ministers in March 2011, called upon countries to sign and ratify the charter by March 2012; The AUC, with support of World Bank, undertook advocacy missions to various countries to present the Charter (Senegal, Ivory Coast, Malawi and Rwanda, etc.); The AUC organised a meeting of experts from Foreign Affaires, Justice and Parliament to discuss legal instruments including the charter on statistics in December 2011; The AUC also presented the charter during various meetings organised by its partners.

Status of signing and ratification Today, twenty one (21) signed and four (5) ratified Countries signedCountries ratified Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Comores, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Mali, Malawi, Mozambique, Mauritius, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sao Tome & Principe, Togo and Zambia. Benin, Burkina-Faso, Mali and Mauritius, Mozambique.

Standards and Guidelines on the principles of the charter Purpose key elements To outline key elements of the principles of the African Charter on Statistics mechanisms To identify mechanisms for implementing the Charter how we shall know the extent of the implementation of the Principles (indicators) in each national statistics system; what needs to be done to implement the Principles (guidelines)

Standards and Guidelines on the principles of the charter Outcomes Map the programmes onto the professional overarching holistic framework provided by the Principles of the African Charter on Statistics; Identify gaps that need improvement; Develop mechanisms/interventions for implementing the Charter Undertake self-assessment to determine the extent of implementation of the Charter

Standards and Guidelines on the principles of the charter Key concepts Principle (definition) Sub- principle IndicatorGuideline Strategic output Indicator Sub- principle

Standards and Guidelines on the principles of the charter Principle 1: Professional Independence 1.Scientific independence Description: Statistics authorities must be able to carry out their activities according to the principle of scientific independence, particularly vis-à-vis the political authorities or any interest group; this means that the methods, concepts and nomenclatures used in statistical operation shall be selected only by the statistics authorities without any interference whatsoever and in accordance with the rules of ethics and good practice

Standards and Guidelines on the principles of the charter Guidelines:  Compile a list of contents for legislation on the production, dissemination and use of statistics emphasizing scientific independence of statistical operations for surveys and registers  Define and put in place a statistical value chain for both surveys and registers without interference from any individual, interest group or political authority  Define a code of ethics or good practice to be adhered to during the production and dissemination of statistics  Establish a logo or trademark for statistical releases  Statistical releases separately from political or policy statements

Overview on high level assessment The AUC conducted a self-assessment study on the implementation of the principles of the Charter by countries; In general, the result shows that all the principles of the Charter are implemented in some degrees. However, the degree of implementation varies from principle to principle. Except for the sixth principle ''coordination and cooperation” the degree of implementation is 80 percent and above.

Overview on high level assessment Sub-principles: scientific independence, transparency and impartiality have above 80 percent implementation rate. Implementation rate on responsibility is very low All the sub principles under the principle ''quality'' are well implemented with the exception of two sub principles ‘’relevance’’ and ‘’timeliness’’

Overview on high level assessment The 2 sub principles ''Mandate'' and ''Adequacy resources’’ are implemented well. However, the degree implementation of the sub principles ''cost effectiveness'' is very low below 50 percent Only two sub principles ''accessibility'' and ''clarity'' and understanding are very well implemented at national level. Sub principles ''simultaneity'' and ''dialogue with users'' are also implemented at medium level. However, the sub principle ''correction'' is poorly implemented at national level

Overview on high level assessment Principle 6: Coordination and Cooperation Degr ee (%) 6.1. Coordination Co-operation 49 The three sub principles ''Confidentiality '',''Giving assurances to data providers ''and'' Objective ''are very well implemented at the national level. However “rationality’’ is not implemented at the national level at all The two sub principles on ''coordination'' and ''co-operation'' are implemented at national level.

Peer review Mechanism 8 peer reviews were conducted by PARIS21 before 2011 based on the principles of official statistics, check-list of the quality of NSDS and principles of the charter; The recommendation of the fifth Committee of DGs, in December 2010, requested the AUC to implement the peer review mechanism and ensure continental coverage within five years; NSS of Senegal was reviewed by Cote d’Ivoire and Guinea from 24 to 28 October 2011 ; The AUC is planning to develop a programme to cover all African countries within the next five years

Implementation plan 1. Sign and ratify the African Charter on Statistics Countries take necessary steps to sign and ratify the Charter by March 2012; Regional Committees (RECs) promote, advocate and follow-up signing and ratification of Charter; and Pan African Organisations (PAOs) advocate and follow-up signing and ratification of Charter. 2. Adopt standards and guidelines of the Charter DGs adopt standards and guidelines by January 2012; RECs to align regional statistics strategy to implement Charter; and PAO promote and follow-up adoption of standards and guidelines of Charter.

Implementation plan (cont’d) 3. Develop a management framework for the implementation of the Charter PAO finalize self assessment questionnaire and training manual by March 2012; PAO develop an action plan for implementation consisting of the following: Develop an advocacy and awareness programme Conduct environmental assessment to define the current situation and the gap that exist to meet the Principles of the Charter Conduct study to identify best practice for benchmarking Develop a training plan. PAO develop a monitoring and evaluation framework Develop peer review mechanism (assessment by pairs) Develop best practice benchmarking tool 4. PAO and RECs advocate the adoption of the management framework; 5. RECs incorporate management framework into regional strategy; and 6. Countries adopt management framework and commit to implement the Charter

7. Implement the Charter AUC train statistical leadership POAs facilitate technical support and mobilize funding RECs facilitate technical support and mobilize funding Countries conduct self assessment (identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and strengths within the national statistical system) and identify areas of improvement Countries incorporate Principles of the Charter into Statistics Law and NSDS Countries create awareness for implementation of the Charter Countries submit annual report on implementation of Charter Implementation plan (cont’d)

8. Monitor, report and evaluate the Implementation of the Charter Conduct independent assessments (peer review) Countries submit annual report on implementation of Charter PAO compile Yearly report African Group on Statistical Harmonization consider Yearly report Committee of DGs approve Yearly report Yearly report submitted to Ministers Committee for consideration

Recommendations Countries must take the necessary steps to sign and ratify the African Charter on Statistics StatCom/CoDG to adopt standards and guidelines of the Charter AUC to develop a management framework for the implementation of the Charter Finalise self assessment questionnaire and training manual Develop an action plan for implementation Develop monitoring and evaluation framework Train statistical leadership Countries to implement the Charter Conduct self assessment and incorporate Principles of the Charter into Statistics Law and NSDS AGSHa to monitor, report and evaluate the Implementation of the Charter Conduct independent assessments (peer review) Compile annual report

Thank you for your kind attention!