Session 11: Data analysis Joseph Ilboudo UNECA/ACS Workshop Review of RRSF Implementation

Outline – Introduction – Need of more detailed data analysis – Collaboration with Universities Training and Research Centers – Specialized workshops

Introduction – The strategy 10 of the RRSF : Improve Data Analysis (Supports Objectives 1 and 2) – Objective 1: Raise Awareness of the Role of Statistical Information – Objective 2: Increase User Satisfaction by Enhancing the Quality and Usability of Statistical Information

Need of more detailed data analysis – National statistical offices and statistics divisions in line ministries produce statistics, conduct basic data analysis, and write reports based on these for general use. – They need to conduct more detailed analysis which seeks to interpret the results obtained, to place them in meaningful social and economic contexts, to relate them to other events and processes, and generally to make them more valuable to users.

Need of more detailed data analysis (contd.) – This kind of analysis aims to illuminate developmental issues, inform policy design and program development, and form a basis for advocacy. – It may be done by setting up special research units or departments in the national statistical office and line ministries or by assigning responsibility to professional statisticians in the substantive divisions (national accounts, production, prices) of these organizations.

Collaboration with Universities, Training and Research Centers – If adequate technical competencies are not available in-house, such analysis should be supported with collaboration from national, sub- regional or regional research organizations. – Example of Research and Statistics Directorate within some RECs and Central Banks: for harmonization and economic modeling (ex. ECOWAS Research Network)

Collaboration with Universities, Training and Research Centers (contd.) – Collaboration with NSO for some specific training on advance statistical methods and econometric modeling – Example of analysis of the interrelation between the Real Sector, Government Public Finance Statistics, Monetary Statistics (Central Bank) and Balance of Payment (with Interrelation Table of IMF) – In the short term and on a limited basis, such analysis may also be conducted by outside research organizations on behalf of the national statistical office.

Collaboration with Universities, Training and Research Centers (contd.) – To develop the analytical capabilities within the national statistical offices and line ministries, training programs should be arranged for selected staff. – In particular, analysis capacity of statisticians should be built on gender issues. – Care should be taken that the analytical work done complements rather than duplicates the analysis done by line ministries and the central bank.

Specialized Workshops – Data user workshops need to be offered to analysts at research organizations and other users on the methods used in generating the data and the limitations of the data, so that they can interpret the data correctly.

Valorization of data by NSS with the use of advance statistical methods and tools. Thank You