Oliver Chinganya African Centre for Statistics 27 September 2017 Committee for the Coordination of Statistical Activities Thirtieth session Muscat, 27 – 28 September 2017 Capacity Development through Innovative approaches: Mobile technology project Oliver Chinganya African Centre for Statistics 27 September 2017

Content Introduction and rationale Objectives and approach Innovation Lessons learnt Way forward

Introduction & Rationale Most African national statistical systems still use traditional data collection and processing systems: Paper based Length data cleaning process, including editing Data entry Huge number of staff Bulk storage ECA mobile technology project is intended to address the problems associated with traditional approaches of data collection It makes use of the existing statistical structures in national statistical systems (NSS) to test, adapt and where necessary develop new mobile data collection systems.

Objectives and approach To improve the capacity of countries to improve their data production process through use of mobile technology in order to make statistical data available and accessible to support evidence-based policymaking: Increased capacity of National Statistics Offices (NSOs) New partners - collaboration with training and research institutions targeted at developing methodologies & systems for mobile data collection Increased capacity in project countries to develop geo- enabled data collection systems running on mobile devices

Innovation – implementation Designed to be executed by country’s National Statistical Office (NSO) in collaboration with a National Training Research Institute (NTRI) Ensure acceptability, sustainability & replicability Phased approach aimed at extending its benefits beyond the immediate project countries. The lessons learnt from phase I: the concepts, systems and methodologies will be transferred to countries that were not involved in the original development, including countries that are not strictly pilot countries. Currently in Phase II - focus is improving the approach of Phase through transfer of results & lesson learned.

Lesson learnt Real-time data collection and transmission Reduced data entry errors Reduced workload Easy way to detect anomalies Detailed item specification Improved price collector accountability “Zero” storage facility needed

Way forward Expected outcome Introducing the concept of Citizens as data collectors: Developing procedures & tools to enable citizens to submit data on their economic activities for statistical production. Phase II pilot countries will start with few operators (citizens) and extend to more as the systems and processes are refined based on the experience of the participating self- enumerators. The trained statisticians will visit the self-enumerators (citizens) to continue refining the processes and undertake quality control. Expected outcome National Training Research Institute (NTRI) are expected to take a major role in improving the methodologies Expected increased collaboration between NSOs and NTRI Increased participation of citizens in the data production process Increased number countries that have adapted project methodology and work-flow for data collection and processing. 

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