Presentation by Hans Binswanger Strengthening Food and Agricultural Statistics to Reduce Rural Poverty in Africa Presentation by Hans Binswanger on behalf of AFCAS, FAO, and the World Bank

Building Capacity for Agricultural and Food Statistics in Africa Outline Why focus on food and agricultural statistics and why now? Technical and institutional challenges New opportunities What have we done so far? A new approach to building capacity for agricultural and food statistics in Africa Next steps 13 October 2018 Building Capacity for Agricultural and Food Statistics in Africa

Why focus on agricultural and food statistics and why now? Seventy percent of the poor live in rural areas; most depend on agric. Agricultural growth is necessary for poverty reduction (but not sufficient) Importance of backward, forward, and consumer-demand linkages Importance of rural non-farm activities and rural-urban linkages But growth has been very low 13 October 2018 Building Capacity for Agricultural and Food Statistics in Africa

Why focus on agricultural and food statistics and why now? PRSPs must include an agricultural growth and rural poverty reduction strategy DAC goals include nutritional objectives Monitoring and evaluation require appropriate data on agricultural/food production and food consumption 13 October 2018 Building Capacity for Agricultural and Food Statistics in Africa

But there are technical challenges… Rural people are widely dispersed Conflict affects many areas Complexity of the rural economy and rural livelihoods Many technical measurement problems 13 October 2018 Building Capacity for Agricultural and Food Statistics in Africa

…and systemic institutional problems Food and Agr. Statistics (FAS) have been supply-driven Existing data often not analyzed or used Poor data quality and lack of analysis have led to low demand, limited budgets FAS are not well integrated into national statistical systems; turf battles Activities focus on ad-hoc requests from donors Past investment and technical assistance has failed to produce sustainable systems 13 October 2018 Building Capacity for Agricultural and Food Statistics in Africa

The PRSP process provides a new opportunity Poverty reduction strategies are to be country-owned Their preparation and monitoring place substantial demands upon data systems Analysis of rural issues hampered by lack of data But renewed interest by international community PARIS21 provides the coordinating framework for strengthening of overall statistical capacity in Africa 13 October 2018 Building Capacity for Agricultural and Food Statistics in Africa

Building Capacity for Agricultural and Food Statistics in Africa Food and agricultural statistics must be improved, driven by the PRSP process as part of PARIS21 13 October 2018 Building Capacity for Agricultural and Food Statistics in Africa

Building Capacity for Agricultural and Food Statistics in Africa What have we done? Held workshop in Conakry in June 1999 supported by FAO/USDA/WB With both agricultural and central statisticians to reach consensus on linkages Developed framework for capacity building proposal Little implementation; lack of funding 13 October 2018 Building Capacity for Agricultural and Food Statistics in Africa

Building Capacity for Agricultural and Food Statistics in Africa The new proposal Need to update proposal to take into account new environment Fully in line with PARIS21 principles Confirms agricultural/food statistics as a component of integrated national systems Driven by PRSP demands and linked to policy process Addresses national needs and conditions Two components: (1) technical assistance/facilitation and (2) country action 13 October 2018 Building Capacity for Agricultural and Food Statistics in Africa

Technical assistance/facilitation component International coordinator (FAO) Three sub-regional coordinators (in multi-donor Rural Development Hubs) Technical assistance Country facilitation, networking, research, evaluation 13 October 2018 Building Capacity for Agricultural and Food Statistics in Africa

Country action component Build a broad-based coalition involving all stakeholders Emphasis on policy questions/demand through PRSP Preparation of integrated plan for agricultural and food statistics Consultation with donors Funding and implementation 13 October 2018 Building Capacity for Agricultural and Food Statistics in Africa

Building Capacity for Agricultural and Food Statistics in Africa Next steps We will incorporate PARIS21 feedback Would like to see Trust Fund established Will present proposal and feedback to Workshop of African Agr. Statisticians and AFCAS in November 2001 13 October 2018 Building Capacity for Agricultural and Food Statistics in Africa