Regional workshop on exchange of experiences between African countries

“Better statistical dialogue for better development results”

Bamako, 23-25 June 2014

Working group

Group 2: How to ensure statistics become a priority in the development process

Introduction

Working Group 2 was tasked with reflecting on the following subject: “How to ensure statistics become a priority in the development process”. To this end, a number of specific questions had to be answered, as follows:

1. What communication strategy to adopt?

2. What are the best places and occasions to promote public statistics?

Introduction

3. How can the NSDS be included in development projects?

4. How can sustainable political support at the highest level be obtained?

5. How can the MTEF and programme budgets be used to promote statistics?

6. How can we get TFP involved?

7. What is the impact on budget support?

Introduction

To manage the group discussion, a committee was formed, made up of the following people:

Chairperson: Carlos Mendes Da Costa, Managing Director of the National Statistical Institute of Guinea Bissau;

Rapporteur 1: Youssouf N’Dia, Technical adviser to the General Directorate of Planning and Poverty Reduction, Côte d’Ivoire;

Introduction

Rapporteur 2: Guy Etoundi She, Deputy Managing Director of the National Statistical Institute of Cameroon

Resource person: Rudolphe Petras, Regional Program Co-ordinator Africa at Paris21

Other members of the Group:

-Ibrahima Ba, Managing Director of the National Statistical Institute of Côte d’Ivoire;

- Paul-Henri Wirrankoski, expert adviser from GOPA with the National Statistical Institute of Mali.

Introduction

The methodology adopted sought to respond to the concerns raised in the road map and make recommendations to strengthen the dialogue between political decision makers, the private sector and the NSS.

Members of working group 2 observed that in our countries there is no clear political will for making statistics a priority in light of their role in ensuring good governance and better monitoring and evaluation of development policies, programmes and projects.

Recommendations

Recommendation 1

Countries must have a strong and coherent institutional framework for the NSS.

Initiatives to be taken:

Ensure the higher statistical authority operates correctly

Responsible for this action: NSI

Carry out advocacy actions at the decision-making, central and sectoral level

Responsible for this action: NSI

Recommendations

Recommendation 1 (cont.)

Initiative to be taken:

Carry out advocacy actions with the National Assembly

Responsible for this action: Ministry in charge of the NSI

Recommendations

Recommendation 2

Link the NSI and the structure in charge of the PRSP/NDP to a suitable high level institution.

Initiative to be taken:

Raise awareness among TFP to encourage them to carry out advocacy actions with the Executive

Responsible for this action: Ministry in charge of the NSI

Recommendations

Recommendation 3

Promote a statistics culture within the various user groups.

Initiative to be taken:

Raise awareness among the private sector, the administration, civil society, the media, elected officials and citizens

Responsible: NSI

Recommendations

Recommendation 4

Incorporate the NSDS as a governance tool and use it for monitoring and evaluation purposes in PRSP/NDP

Initiative to be taken:

Coincide the NSDS programming cycle with that of the development plan

Responsible: NSI

Recommendations

Recommendation 5

Design and implement a communication programme targeting all partners, in order to ensure the visibility of the statistical production.

Initiatives to be taken:

Create/reinvigorate communication departments with the aim of promoting statistics

Overhaul results presentation with the use of graphic and cartographic representations

Responsible: INS

Recommendations

Recommendation 6

Put in place and maintain a framework for discussions between the government and donors on statistics.

Initiatives to be taken:

Create or reinvigorate a group made up of national representatives and TFP

Organise periodic meetings on statistics

Responsible: NSI or NSS coordination body

Recommendations

Recommendation 7

Ensure that the structures in charge of the NSDS take part in budget discussions and conferences

Initiative to be taken:

Organise tripartite discussions on the subject of statistics between the NSI, the General Directorate for the Budget and the General Directorate for the Programming of Public Investment.

Responsible: NSI

Recommendations

Recommendation 8

Create a national statistical fund that could be financed from the statistics tax included in customs duties.

Initiatives to be taken:

Raise awareness of the texts creating the statistical tax

Advocate this cause to the relevant ministries

Responsible: Ministry in charge of the NSI

Thank you for your attention