Building Statistical Capacity to Monitor Development Francesca Perucci United Nations Statistics Division UNSD-SADC Statistics Project First Meeting of the Steering Committee Durban, July 2006

Monitoring development goals and the impact on statistical systems   Monitoring requirements in countries have increased the demand for official statistics   National and international reports have increased the visibility of official statistics   Monitoring reports are important advocacy tool for strengthening statistical capacity and improving statistics   Monitoring requirements have called the attention to shortcomings in the availability of data

Countries with +20 indicators* (%) Africa81 Northern Africa 80 Sub-Saharan Africa 81 All other developing regions77 World78 How many countries can produce MDG indicators? Countries in Africa with at least 2 data points for any given indicator * Based on data produced by countries

Countries with +20 indicators* (%) Africa23 Northern Africa 40 Sub-Saharan Africa 21 Other developing regions65 World44 How often are the necessary data produced? Countries in Africa with at least 3 data points for any given indicator * Based on data produced by countries

Assessment of data availability  Country data in Africa are available for most of the indicators but less frequently than elsewhere  Country data are less recent  Lack of data especially in some crucial areas such as employment

Implications for capacity building  Results of the assessment were presented at various meetings with NSOs (ex: Rome, Oct. 2005, Cape Verde, Dec. 2005)  Results were circulated to national statistical offices of all member states  Discussion on the results and the implications for countries’ capacity took place at the Statistical Commission in March 2006  A resolution was proposed by countries for its adoption at the current session of ECOSOC –being held in Geneva this month

Building statistical capacity The challenge   Ensuring that the necessary statistics and indicators be made available in the short term to allow countries to monitor progress and inform the necessary policies   Developing sustainable statistical systems in countries   Ensuring that indicators be available in the short-term at the international level to promote and inform the political debate

Building statistical capacity The way forward   Strengthening the network of national statisticians in the region and the dialogue across regions   Stepping up the discussion to the political level (from the region to the UN Stat Commission to ECOSOC and GA)   Bring the demand for technical and financial assistance to donors within a consistent framework (bilateral and multilateral donors should improve their coordination mechanisms)

 Executive Committee for Economic for Economic and Social Affairs (EC-ESA)  The Development Account is an integral part of the technical cooperation activities of the economic and social entities of the United Nations under the umbrella of the Executive Committee for Economic for Economic and Social Affairs (EC-ESA) The Development Account

capacity- buildingDevelopment Account projects aim at capacity- building through sub-regional, regional and interregional economic and technical cooperation among developing countries follow-up the United Nations conferences and summits in economic and social affairsThe projects serve as a natural extension to the normative and policy activities of the implementing agencies in their follow-up the United Nations conferences and summits in economic and social affairs. Projects are executed by members of EC-ESA. Programme Manager of the Account.The Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs acts as Programme Manager of the Account. The Development Account

The approach The General Assembly established that Development Account projects should: project sustainabilitydemonstrably strengthen national development capacity ensuring project sustainability information and communications technologynetworking of expertiseuse information and communications technology and networking of expertise partnershipsSouth-South cooperationuse partnerships and South-South cooperation. The Development Account

involvement of stakeholdersProject sustainability is ensured through consistent and proactive involvement of stakeholders in project design and implementation. co-financing of pilot activities by partners.Project sustainability can also be promoted through the co-financing of pilot activities by partners. Project sustainability

multiplier potential and adaptabilityInformation and communications technologies (ICT) are at the core of many Development Account projects because of their multiplier potential and adaptability to development activities beyond the project scope. Information and Communications Technologies

building knowledge networksDevelopment Account projects emphasize the importance of building knowledge networks— supported by information and communications technologies—which allow countries directly to access information on good practices. networking of local expertise offers collaborative opportunitiesCapacity-building through networking of local expertise offers collaborative opportunities, often beyond those originally envisioned by project designers. create additional regional and interregional linksNetworks can create additional regional and interregional links conducive to capacity-building in specific fields, thus leading to requests for further networking and technical assistance. Networking

development partnerships between the United Nations and outside institutionsThe Development Account supports the creation and strengthening of development partnerships between the United Nations and outside institutions. executed by more than one entity80 per cent of projects are executed by more than one entity and often in collaboration with other UN entities. Many projects engage regional organizations and local, regional, and/or international non-governmental organizations. exchange of experience and cooperation activities among developing countriesAll projects emphasize exchange of experience and cooperation activities among developing countries within and outside the region Partnership and South-South Cooperation

To date, 94 projects have been approved by the General Assembly out of regular budget funds for a total amount of $67 millionTo date, 94 projects have been approved by the General Assembly out of regular budget funds for a total amount of $67 million Development Account Projects

Development Account Projects in Statistics in Africa

Development Account Projects in Statistics

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