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:

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:

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

IMF

AfDB

Other…

Submission to partners

and Int. Organizations

Data mapping to

Requested formats

Current process • Organization specific data mapping and formats leading to repetitive work

• Lack of common standards

• Reporting burden heavy on countries

Country data

Data Transmission: Current Method (1/4)

Data Submission Tool

Future data submission process by countries

IMF

WB

Other…

Submission to partners and Int. Organizations

Data mapping to International Standards (SDMX)

in AfDB’s Open Data platform

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 .

Country data

Data Transmission: Future process (2/4) (Inclusion of SDMX technology)

Data Submission tool

AfDB

Open Data

Multilateral data Repository ”SDMX”

Dissemination

Data Query

Data Notification

etc. World Bank IMF ECA

DSDs

Data Transmission: Scheme based on SDMX

(3/4)

AfDB/[Country] Open Data Platform

Central Bank

National Statistical Office

Ministry Of Finance

others

National Summary Data Page (SDMX)

WB

IMF

Dashboards and Visualizations

Central Bank ODP

Natl. Stat. Office ODP

Min. Of Finance ODP

Data Transmission: Overall Framework of

the Platform (4/4)

*

* Provided by AfDB under the

Capacity Building Program to all

African countries

ECOWAS

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-congo-

food-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