Africa gets better at measuring, planning
The sixth ASSD has shown that African countries’ technical capacity on measurement is improving, with some approaching maturity. The policy environment is responsive and becoming more evidence-based. |||
The Sixth Africa Symposium on Statistical Development (ASSD) took place in Cairo from October 31 to November 2. The ASSD represents a series of 53 symposiums to encourage African countries to improve the production of their statistics, and governments to improve evidence-based decision-making and planning by using statistics.
The sixth ASSD was attended by national statistical offices of African states, supported by the African Development Bank (AfDB), AU Commission (AUC), UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), UN Population Fund (UNFPA), governments of Egypt and South Africa, Health Metrics Network and development partners. The theme was Data Analysis and Use in the 2010 Round of Population and Housing Census. This theme was based on Resolution 4 of the first ASSD in Cape Town in 2006.
It is important to remember that previous symposiums addressed all census stages: Preparation, implementation and new technical methods used. At the fourth ASSD in Luanda, discussions focused more on data processing than on analysis and use of census data.
Against this background, the sixth ASSD focused on data analysis and use. The gathering also sought to reflect on what has been achieved since the ASSD’s inception at the beginning of 2006.
In a nutshell, reflections revealed the ASSD’s initial mandate to galvanise all African states to undertake a census in the 2010 Round of Housing and Population Censuses (RHPC) was met. All but one country have undertaken their censuses, or are on course to do so in the 2010 round.
The 2010 RPHC focused on post-conflict countries on our continent. It became evident worldwide that post-conflict censuses played a major role in providing democracies with data needed to plan and make decision, and to make and keep the peace.
For South Africa, 1994’s landmark election provided the bricks for nation building and Census 1996 was the mortar that held the bricks. All subsequent statistical endeavours have consolidated democracy’s gains.
This is the case in Sudan, where local government elections were held after the 2008 census. A referendum will follow in January.
Angola and the DRC have committed to a census date, with the DRC scheduled for a census next year and Angola in 2012.
Despite Madagascar’s recent political upheaval, a census will be conducted next year.
Participating countries at the sixth ASSD shared their analytical experiences relating to direct and indirect evaluation of census data, population projections and distribution, internal and international migration, social characteristics of the population, characteristics of the handicapped population, labour force levels and trends, population ageing and census data for measuring millennium development goals.
Presentations showed countries analysed their census data and improved on its use. Consequently they agreed it was time for the ASSD to also look at other areas of critical importance to statisticians. Resolutions adopted included:
l The ASSD should adopt national civil registration and vital statistics systems as its theme for the next five years, starting in 2012.
l The capacity of stakeholders in African statistical systems in the analysis of census data should be reinforced.
l The interim committee on the revival of the African statistical association should take the necessary step in the inception of the association and report to the next session of the statistical commission for Africa in January 2012.
l Statistical associations should revive the African statistical association and report to the next session of the Statistical Commission for Africa in 2012.
l The AfDB, ECA and AUC and partners should create modalities to harmonise population projections in intercensal periods.
l The ECA, AUC, AfDB, UN Statistics Division, and Health Metrics Network should help countries deploy existing standards associated with the collection and processing of census- and CRVS-related data, for use through hand-held, web-based and other technology platforms.
The sixth ASSD shows African countries’ technical capacity on measurement is improving, with some approaching maturity. The policy environment is responsive and becoming more evidence-based.
I Pali Lehohla is South Africa’s statistician-general and head of Statistics South Africa
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