The COMSTAT Data Portal Enhancing the Africa Information Highway Gabon 16 – 20 November, 2015

The COMSTAT Data Portal Outline: Introduction Objective Statistical Domains covered Data Sources Data Update Data Challenges Conclusion

The COMSTAT Data Portal Introduction: COMESA Membership Burundi Comoros Congo DR Djibouti Egypt Eritrea Ethiopia Kenya Libya Madagascar Malawi Mauritius Rwanda Seychelles Sudan Swaziland Uganda Zambia Zimbabwe

The COMSTAT Data Portal What is COMSTAT? COMesaSTATistics Online interactive database Designed to serve as a central repository of all statistical data at the Secretariat Designed to disseminate statistics of various domains that are critical for monitoring the performance of COMESA’s regional integration program Initially launched in 2006, to Secretariat staff 2007 opened up to the public and has undergone revisions with support from TMSA and the AfDB

Objective The COMSTAT Data Portal COMSTAT was designed with an overall objective of providing users with online access to the statistical repository database of the Secretariat

Statistical Domains covered The COMSTAT Data Portal Statistical Domains covered The statistical domains covered in COMSTAT are: Merchandise Trade Statistics Trade in Services Statistics Statistics on Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) Infrastructure Statistics Harmonised Consumer Price Index (HCPI) Trade Integration Indicators Country Energy Balance

Data Sources The COMSTAT Data Portal NSOs: Trade Statistics and Macroeconomic indicators COMSTAT/COMTRADE: Trade Integration Indicators/mirror data MS National Authorities: Infrastructure and Energy Indicators Central Banks/IMF: FDI and SITS

Other Available Resources The COMSTAT Data Portal Other Available Resources Statistical Bulletins and Reports Statistical Briefs Country Trade Profiles Member States Tariffs Frequently Asked Tables (FATs) COMESA Statistics Strategy

Access to COMSTAT Data Portal The COMSTAT Data Portal Access to COMSTAT Data Portal Access to the COMSTAT Data Portal is free to any one having internet access The URL for COMSTAT is http://comstat.comesa.int The COMSTAT can also be accessed via the main COMESA website at http://www.comesa.int/Statistics The Data Portal has a video tutorial for first-time users The Portal also has a downloadable User Guide

Access to COMSTAT The COMSTAT Data Portal The Home page http://comstat.comesa.int Window Panels ODP In the News Upcoming Events Scrolling selected indicators Tutorial video User guide Feedback Related links COMESA brief overview Most popular Contact us

Access to COMSTAT The COMSTAT Data Portal The Dashboards http://comstat.comesa.int These show:- Tables Maps Graphs ….. That can be exported to:- Excel pdf PNG or printed

Database Update The COMSTAT Data Portal Trade Statistics: To be facilitated by monthly trade data files received from Member States as per the standing SLAs between most Member States and the COMESA Secretariat Other Indicators: e.g macroeconomic, demographic e.t.c entail a commitment from the Directors/coordinating ministries to facilitate the process.

Data Context The COMSTAT Data Portal Member States (MS) capture and process statistical data MS NSOs submit statistical data to COMESA Data converted into suitable harmonized format Harmonized and summarized data uploaded to COMSTAT by COMESA (Seek help for larger uploads from developers) Updates for IMTS supposedly after 3 months (t+3) when available, Monthly for HCPI, annual for others Data users the world over query the data portal

The Harmonization Process (trade data) The COMSTAT Data Portal The Harmonization Process (trade data) Country codes converted to ISO3166 if not and validated HS codes trimmed to 6 digits of HS02/07/12 and validated Trade flows and types validated according to CPCs Values in national currencies converted to USD Country file trimmed to structure of COMSUM according to General Trade System Country file grouped on coded fields and summed on numeric Residual data files uploaded to COMSTAT

In 2009, a consultant engaged to develop a data validation tool The COMSTAT Data Portal The COMSTAT Validation Tool Above process initially performed manually In 2009, a consultant engaged to develop a data validation tool Tool used to validate trade data

Data Challenges The COMSTAT Data Portal Delays/non-compliance to SLA/non response by some MS Lack of adequate data checking/validation by some MS High staff turnover/transfers and need to retrain new ones Poor liaison between MS and Secretariat whenever data updates occur Inadequate skills for data manipulation/management in some MS Poor collaboration between NSOs and Revenue Authorities in some MS

The COMSTAT Data Portal Measures (for data challenges) Continuous engagements with Members States (emails, phone calls etc) Encourage MS to validate data, we also do in-house checking of data Continue to offer TA/missions (when resources permit) Refresher trainings/support We encourage MS to form TWG and hold stakeholder meetings to share ideas/challenges

Conclusion The COMSTAT Data Portal With additional financial support from the AfDB, a new portal is underway, we hope to see some challenges experienced previously addressed, like uploading of large datasets Will continue to explore ways of increasing visits to both the DP and the ODP For regional, comparable and harmonized data, remember to visit: http://comstat.comesa.int

Thank you Merci