1 AFDB experience in the use of basic economic statistics and in assistance to regional member countries __________________________________________________________ by B. Kokil Manager, Economic & Social Statistics Division Statistics Department African Development Bank

2 Introduction ____________________________________________ The Bank as a centre of knowledge Data at the core of the results agenda Bank’s Statistical capacity building activities

3 The Bank as a centre of knowledge _____________________________________________________ ECON STANDING PUBLICATIONS –Research: African Economic Outlook (AEO) –Technical skills development African Development Report (ADR) –Managing Natural Resources for Sustainable Development in Africa African Development Review (ADRv) African Competitiveness Report (ACR) Development research Briefs

4 The Bank as a centre of knowledge (cont’d) _____________________________________ –Statistical: Selected Statistics on African Countries Gender, Poverty and Environmental Indicators for African Countries Compendium of Statistics on Bank Group Operations ADB Statistics Pocketbook The Wall Chart on MDGs African Statistical Journal Cross-Country Comparison of Incomes, Output and Price Levels in Africa –Development Data Platform Facilitate access to development data on Africa

5 ADF X financing ( ) –Providing 3 bn UA interest-free credits and grants for programs aimed at boosting economic growth and improving living conditions in 40 ADF eligible countries Performance based country allocations –Need for reliable data to monitor performance Growing demand for results –Embodied in MDGs, Monterrey, –ADF Results Monitoring Framework Key Instrument: RB-CSP –strong orientation for achieving realistic and measurable outcomes –strong statistical, monitoring & evaluation framework A fDB Results Agenda ________________________________________________________________________________

6 National Accounts Support for Strengthening National Statistical Systems Periodicity Year etc. Other Data Gaps: Project Specific Surveys Building Sound M&E frameworks; Statistical Cycle in Project Cycle etc Indicators

7 Statistical Cycle in the Project Cycle Project Design: Data for Project preparation Analysis of prevailing situation Post Evaluation: Data for -Policy recommendations -Project impacts - Design changes - etc. Project Implementation: - Surveys for monitoring project implementation - Data for measuring project outcomes - etc.

8 Centrality of Data __________________________________________________________________________ Data at the core of the results agenda Good statistics necessary for measuring progress or developing effective policies and programs to reduce poverty. Good statistics essential for measuring the effectiveness of donors’ policies & development assistance. Good statistics foster good governance

9 Many RMCs lack capacity to provide timely & good quality statistics Official statistics are generally public goods financed by governments Inadequate funding for statistics at country level –Due to lack of prioritization and/or funding capacity. Need for additional external financial assistance. Estimates: $75 million/year required in external financing. Data Challenges ___________________

10 AfDB Contribution to Statistical Capacity Building in Africa ________________________ Capacity building under ICP framework US$37m for participating African countries Technical assistance & financial support

11 AfDB Contribution to Statistical Capacity Building in Africa (Cont’d) ________________________ 1.Coordinate implementation of the Reference Regional Strategic Framework for Statistical Development in Africa (RRSF) 2.Assist RMCs to design National Strategies for the Development of Statistics (NSDS) in RMCs 3.Build RMC Capacity for Poverty Measurement 4.MDG Monitoring & Statistical Literacy

12 AfDB Contribution to Statistical Capacity Building in Africa (Cont’d) ________________________ 5.Improve National Accounts & Price Statistics 6.Support to all Statistical Training Centers in Africa 7.Other Planned Activities (population census, household surveys, Investment Climate Surveys, Infrastructure statistics, governance statistics etc) 8.Additional support as part of ADF XI

13 Conclusion ________________________ Statistics central to monitoring progress (PRSP, MDGs) and the Bank’s results agenda RMCs need to improve their statistical systems to respond to emerging policy challenges The Bank to coordinate is efforts with other donors to support statistical capacity building in RMCs

14 Thank you