1 The Role of the African Development Bank in Statistical Capacity Building in Africa by Charles Leyeka Lufumpa Statistics Department African Development Bank Group

2 Many national statistical systems not able to effectively meet data demand Constraints include: inadequate institutional & human capacities, poor infrastructure, etc. National Statistical Systems Compounded by lack of adequate funding (prioritization and/or incapacity) Prioritization: advocacy Funding incapacity: need for supplementary external support

3 Marrakech Action Plan for Statistics (MAPS) Global Plan for improving development statistics Agreed upon at the 2 nd Roundtable in 2004

4 Africa’s Response to MAPS Reference Regional Strategic Framework for Statistical Development in Africa (RRSF) Overall Objective: strengthen national statistical systems in Africa Key Themes: –Meeting user needs –Improving management of statistical systems –Ensuring sustainability & irreversibility of statistical development

5 RRSF Implementation: 3 Levels –Through national strategies for the development of statistics (NSDS) National Level Sub-regional Level –Undertake peer review of country national statistical systems Regional Level –The Bank & UNECA: co-ordination –AU: strong advocacy role Financial Requirements –About $73 million a year in additional external assistance –Of which $60 million for low-income countries

6 AfDB Contribution to Building Statistical Capacity in Africa On going activities in 50 African countries

7 AfDB Statistical Capacity Building Budget for US$ Million (Excluding Operational Financing)

8 AfDB Contribution to Statistical Capacity Building in Africa (Cont’d) AfDB Contribution to Statistical Capacity Building in Africa (Cont’d) 1.Coordination of the Implementation of the Reference Regional Strategic Framework for Statistical Capacity Building in Africa (RRSF) 2.Supporting African Countries to design National Statistical Development Strategies (NSDS) - with World Bank & Paris21 3.Implementing the International Comparison Program for Africa (ICP-Africa) – with World Bank, Afristat, Comesa, Ecowas & SADC

9 AfDB Contribution to Statistical Capacity Building in Africa (Cont’d) 4.Improving National Accounts & Price Statistics 5.Poverty PPPs & Poverty Measurement 6.MDG Monitoring & Statistical Literacy – with UNDP 7.Support to all Statistical Training Centers in Africa 8.Information-knowledge sharing on statistics in Africa: The African Statistical Journal

10 The Way Forward: Next Phase Beyond 2007 Scaling Up Statistical Capacity Building Activities in African Countries Support countries to implement NSDS priorities Special Emphasis on Population Censuses & Household Surveys –Technical Assistance for preparatory activities, data processing, analysis (with UNFPA, UNSD etc)

11 The Way Forward (Cont’d): Next Phase Beyond 2007 AfDB funding of census fieldwork available for ADF countries with funding gaps that need to use their ADF allocation for population census work 41 Countries eligible for concessional support through grants only, soft loans or combination of both For richer countries: loans only from our non- concessional AfDB window

12 Conclusion AfDB ready to scale-up & sustain its support for statistical capacity building in Africa in support of the results agenda and MDGs Support to be guided by: –RRSF principles –NSDS priorities Other development partners to use RRSF & NSDS to channel country support

13 Thank You