CRVS The road to dignity Pali Lehohla Chair of ASSD

Context: The Africa we want and the place of CRVSs ​ Our aspirations are spelt out as: a prosperous Africa based on inclusive growth and sustainable development, an integrated continent politically united, an Africa of good governance democracy respect for human rights, justice and the rule of law, a peaceful and secure Africa where development is people driven, unleashing the potential of women and youth …… (-Agenda 2063, African Union). The post 2015 consultations provided a platform to redefine Africa’s priorities and the future we envision:

CRVS: The journey of a Data Revolution for better policy outcomes How did Africa lead itself and what it should defend? 2005 The Younde meeting in November The birth of African Symposium on Statistical Development (ASSD) in Cape Town 2007 Reestablishment of Statistics at the ECA and Ben Kireyegera is appointed as its first director 2008 South Africa inaugurates the Young African Statistician Programme at the 57 th International Statistics Institute in Durban as the prime outcome of statistical development and CRVS

CRVS: The journey of a Data Revolution for better policy outcomes How did Africa lead itself and what it should defend? 2009 June – Dar-Es-Salam – Meeting of Experts on CRVS th ASSD in Cairo resolves that it focuses on CRVS 2010 March- African Statisticians recommend to African Ministers of Planning, Finance and Economy that CRVS ministers meet every second year 2010 August Addis Ababa – First Conference of Ministers responsible for CRVS 2012 January Cape Town – 7 th Africa Symposium on Statistical Development (ASSD) focusing on CRVS and preparing for the Ministers Conference

CRVS: The journey of a Data Revolution for better policy outcomes How did Africa lead itself and what it should defend? 2012 September Durban – Second Conference of Ministers and endorse APAI- CRVS endorsed as the programme framework 2012 November Yamoussoukro – 8 th ASSD focusing on CRVS Implementation 2013 August Gaborone – Training of pool of Experts 2014 February Gaborone – 9 th ASSD focuses on Assessments 2015 February Yamoussoukro- Third Conference of Ministers where progress on assessments will be undertaken

CRVS: The journey of a Data Revolution for better policy outcomes What are the lessons Africa has led against severe skepticism of possible success of CRVS as a source of statistical data at the UN level Collaboration of pan African institutions the AU, AfDB and ECA is unique and exemplary and its an envy of many regions Africa’s Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) influence is critical The African Symposium in country advocacy innovation has moved us as Africans forward and lead innovatively Africa’s participatory approach to its development is consistent with the post 2015 agenda Africa has to defend its gains and can only do so successfully when it takes full control of its development and narrative

Africa at last on the road to life of dignity