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AFRICA INFORMATION HIGHWAY Department of statistics, ESTA

- Chief Economist Complex, ECON

Outline  Introduction  The Africa Information Highway  Data Transmission scheme  AIH Characteristics  Implementation

 The Way Forward

Introduction 1/2  The World is experiencing a huge increase in the volume, types and availability of data, which are getting bigger and more detailed than ever before - Data Revolution  Unprecedented possibilities for informed decision-making and accountability in all sectors, but with some challenges including: 

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Diverse types of data and data producers, proliferation of tools and technologies of data collection. Need to strengthen the coordination, governance and partnerships at all levels and make them more inclusive to bring on board new players especially the private sector, NGOs, and civil society Weakness of NSS especially in data analysis Information access inequalities

Introduction 2/2  Failure to address these challenges will widen the gap between developed and developing countries and between rich and poor people within each group.  The African Development Bank has been addressing some of the above challenges through: 

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SCB program focusing on: (i) organizational and methodological work to promote statistical infrastructure development; (ii) promoting the harmonization of data generation and dissemination practices and standards across all its member countries in line with international best practice; and (iii) training officials from member countries and Regional Economic Communities in various statistical areas. An Action Plan for Africa was formulated under the GS for improving statistics for food security, sustainable agriculture and rural development Africa Information Highway

The Africa Information Highway (AIH) What is the AIH ?  AFDB’s programme that has linked all African countries through the Open Data Initiative.  Targeted to NSOs  Typical system make-up  Data Portal  Open Data Portal (ODP)    

Weekly food prices Farmers Registration and digitization Health facilities and cost of health services Dashboards on several issues including food security

AIH: Objectives  Facilitate easy public access of official statistics to policymakers, analysts, business leaders, researchers, students and the general public.  Improve evidence-based decision making, public accountability, policy formulation and overall good governance  Improve data harmonization/standardization, thereby increase data comparability.  Tool for seamless exchange of data among countries.  Capacity building of IT capabilities in country statistical offices

AIH: Capability/Functionality  Users can access a wide range of development data on African countries.  Users can visualize socio-economic indicators over a period of time, gain access to presentation-ready graphics and perform comprehensive analysis on a country and regional level.  Platform also facilitates the collection, analysis and sharing of data among countries and with international development partners.  Joint missions with IMF  16 countries

Data Transmission: Current Method (1/4) IMF

AfDB Other… Country data

Data mapping to Requested formats

Submission to partners and Int. Organizations

Current process • Organization specific data mapping and formats leading to repetitive work • Lack of common standards • Reporting burden heavy on countries

Data Submission Tool

Data Transmission: Future process (2/4)

Future data submission process by countries (Inclusion of SDMX technology)

Data Submission tool

Country data

AfDB Open Data

Data mapping to International Standards (SDMX) in AfDB’s Open Data platform

IMF

WB Other… Submission to partners and Int. Organizations

To-be process • Countries map data to international standards (SDMX) and load in the AfDB’s Open Data platform • Data collecting organizations pick from the Open Data platform .

Data Transmission: Scheme based on SDMX (3/4)

Dissemination

Multilateral data Repository ”SDMX”

DSDs Data Query Data Notification ECA IMF World Bank etc.

Data Transmission: Overall Framework of the Platform (4/4)

Central Bank

National Statistical Office

Ministry Of Finance

AfDB/[Country] Open Data Platform

ECOWAS *

Central Bank ODP

WB

Natl. Stat. Office ODP

IMF

Min. Of Finance ODP * Provided by AfDB under the Capacity Building Program to all African countries

Dashboards and Visualizations

National Summary Data Page (SDMX)

others

AIH Characteristics: New Approach (1/2)  A multilateral repository for all data; one stop-shop  Move from “push” to “pull” or query model  Query the repository; subscribe to get notification when updates are available  Dissemination and not reporting  Access to data in SDMX format  Promote the use of internationally recognized standards, for better harmonization thru DSDs.

AIH Characteristics: Advantages (2/2) 1. Reduced data-reporting burden for RMCs 2. Promoting the regional integration and harmonization agenda 3. Improving data quality through enhanced adherence to international standards 4. Significantly improving data exchange among RMCs 5. Increasing data access, transparency, accountability 6. Enhancing RMCs’ access to capital markets 7. Platform for the monitoring and evaluation (M&E) of development outcomes 8. Enhanced data support for Bank operations 9. AfDB as a hub/knowledge center for development data on RMCs

Implementation (1/2)  Installations of the system in countries started in January 2013  Development and installation of Statistical Data Portals completed in 49 countries.  Open Data Platform completed for all 54 African countries.

Implementation Challenges (2/2)  Internet infrastructure still weak in many African countries and/or Stat offices.  Information Technology (IT) staffing levels still very low in Statistical offices.

 Countries still face data management challenges  Advocate for governments to release timely data  Promote the use of Open data  Availability of data does not guarantee its use

Way Forward     

Introduce robust Data Governance program Advocate for governments to release timely data Advocate the use of data for decision making Improve data management in countries Promote the use of Open data

DEMO Nigeria FS Dashboards http://knoema.com/rynenif/nigeria-food-security DRC FS Dashboards http://knoema.com/dqezwbf/democratic-republic-of-congofood-security Farmers Registry http://dpengine.prognoz.com/afi/demo/Others/main.html

Thank you!

www.afdb.org/statistics

Statistics Department

Chief Economist Complex

African Development Bank Group