1. The Role of the World Bank in Supporting Statistical Capacity in Africa
Graham Eele

2. Overview The World Bank is not a specialist statistical agency,
but we are a major user of statistics,
a compiler, responsible for World Development Indicators, Global Development Finance and other data bases …
and a manager of global programs such as the ICP, investment climate surveys, etc

3. We recognize
That the only sustainable way to improve the coverage and quality of statistics at the national and global levels is to support statistical capacity in countries …
with a special emphasis on Africa
Respond to G8 Gleneagles agreement
Africa Action Plan
Focus on results

4. Managing for results =>increasing demand for data
At national and international levels,
for
poverty reduction strategies, MDG monitoring, sector development strategies, results monitoring systems, etc … but

5. Mismatch between supply and demand for data
Estimates for 25 survey-based MDG indicators ( )
Average for low-income Sub-Saharan Africa
Not available: 30%
Obtained from national sources: 60%
Estimated by international agencies: 10%

6. One cause … lack of surveys and censuses
Poverty survey
in last 5 years
56 % of countries
62 % of population
Pop. census
in last 10 years
Coverage:
64 % of countries
42 % of population
99 % in Europe,
95% in Asia,
only
42% in Africa !
Health survey
in last 5 years
82 % of countries
81 % of population

7. … and
Limited capacity to collect, compile, process, analyze and use statistics in many countries
Inadequate resources
Insufficient coordination and lack of effective management

8. …. a new effort is needed to scale up and build on earlier successes, moving from advocacy to action

9. MAPS: An action plan for improving development statistics
Developed and agreed at Marrakech Roundtable for Managing for Development Results
Aims to improve the capacity to produce and use data for development
Builds on what has been achieved, is time-bound and fully costed
Objective is to meet the data challenge of MDGs by 2010

10. The action plan At the national level: At the international level
Action 1: Mainstream strategic planning
Action 2: Prepare for 2010 census round
Action 3: Increase finance
At the international level
Action 4: Set up Household Survey Network
Action 5: Improve MDG monitoring
Action 6: Improve international accountability

11. Support for NSDS Finance for PARIS21 work program
Work through GDDS for assessment
Trust Fund for Statistical Capacity Building (IFSCB) to finance NSDS preparation
STATCAP financing vehicle for implementation

12. International Household Survey Network (IHSN)
Coordination/advocacy for better survey planning
Harmonization of concepts and methods
Central Survey Catalog
Microdata Management Toolkit
A user-friendly tool for documenting, preserving and disseminating micro-data according to international standards (DDI/Dublin Core)

13. Accelerated Data Program
An integrated approach
Taking stock
Inventory, documentation, dissemination of existing data (accessible, “ready for use”)
Using and assessing existing data
Analysis (key PRSP/other issues)
Quality assessment (reliability, relevance)
Collecting data
Design medium-term survey programs (NSDS)
Support data collection activities, building on national survey programs (no imposed model)

14. Customized to country needs
Different focus in different countries
Assessment of methods and emphasis on data dissemination and use in “high capacity” countries;
Identifying priority needs and support for data collection in “low capacity” countries

15. Piloting the ADP A PARIS21 satellite program
6 pilot countries in Africa
Coordination with the IHSN, also managed by PARIS21
Funding: World Bank DGF
Scaling-up being planned

16. Thank you