Data innovation in Africa: Selected case studies ECA Data innovation in Africa: Selected case studies Sub-regional workshop on Data disaggregation Léandre Ngogang African Centre for Statistics Lilongwe, Malawi, 28 September 2017

Background Session 3 aims at highlighting innovative solutions to assist national statistical offices in the collection, production and dissemination of disaggregated data The objective of this presentation is to show an example of a national statistical office going beyond its traditional domain to provide data on specific topic and particularly hard to reach population and for building collaboration for efficiency in statistical production

Context “In 2030, people living in South Africa feel safe at home, at school and at work, and they enjoy a community life free of fear. Women walk freely in the streets and children play safely outside. The police service is well-resourced and professional, staffed by highly skilled officers who value their work, serve the community, safeguard lives and property without discrimination, protect the peaceful against violence, and respect the rights to equality and justice.” The National Development Plan of South Africa, 2030

Context Official crime statistics are released by the South African police services (SAPS) However, the systematic underreporting of certain serious crimes (such as rape) and “less serious” crimes (such as theft and robbery), coupled with questions about internal reporting procedures, have made the official crime statistics a subject of intense questioning So what to do then?

Context South Africa conducted a first Crime Survey in 1998 The Institute for Security Studies carried out two more in 2003 and 2007 In 2011, Statistics South Africa resumed data collection, and adopted a continuous data collection methodology from 2013 The Survey is notable in acknowledging that there is a wide gulf between actual statistics about crime and how crime is experienced or perceived, by both its victims and community members.

Objective of the Victims of Crime Survey (VOCS) VOCS series is a countrywide household-based survey and has three main objectives: Provide information about the dynamics of crime from the perspective of households and the victims of crime Explore public perceptions of the activities of the police, prosecutors, courts and correctional services in the prevention of crime and victimization Provide complementary data on the level of crime within South Africa (SA) in addition to the statistics published annually by the South African Police Service (SAPS).

Statistics on crime: StatSA Vs SAPS The VOCS do not replace police statistics: rich source of information which assists in the planning of crime prevention as well as providing a more holistic picture of crime in South Africa Data are used for the development of policies and strategies, as well as for crime prevention and public education programmes VOCS 2015/16 will be used to pilot the possibility of integrating the crime statistics obtained from administrative data with those of a sample survey in order to maximize understanding of the extent of crime and the under-reporting of crime

Conclusion This example shows that NSO has an important role in working with others NSS actors in providing appropriate statistics to decision makers NSO can engage with statistics beyond its traditional domain, especially where strong social and societal development urgencies are manifest This also highlights one coordination role of the NSO: should have an ear to the other actors and key users, including policy takers and makers

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