1. Christophe Duhamel Global Office Coordinator, FAO Statistics Division
Measuring progress of countries’ capacity in agricultural statistics: lessons learnt from the Global Strategy
Measuring Statistical Capacity Development
A review of current practices and ideas for the future – towards Statistical Capacity 4.0
PARIS 21 – 11/12 December 2017
Christophe Duhamel
Global Office Coordinator, FAO Statistics Division

2. Outline The Global Strategy approach
Measurement practices in Africa: lessons learnt
Conclusions

3. The Global Strategy approach (1)
Methodology developed in 2014 for supporting the implementation of the Global Strategy at country level
First country-based activity: initial assessment carried out in all countries using a self-reporting standard questionnaire
Responses converted into a suite of indicators reflecting the country’s capacity in agriculture statistics

4. The Global Strategy approach (2)
4 dimensions assessed
Institutional infrastructure
Resources
Statistical methods and practices
Availability of statistical information
23 elements/indicators
> 250 questions

5. The Global Strategy approach (3)
Example
Questions related to Indicator on Integration of Agriculture in the NSS

6. The Global Strategy approach (4)
Possible immediate uses…
Creation of country profiles, grouping of countries for identifying priority interventions
Outcome indicator for the Global Strategy Results Framework

7. The Global Strategy approach (4)
More recently:
Indicator used to monitor African countries’ capacities for evidence-based planning in the framework of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Africa Development Programme (CAADP)

8. The Global Strategy approach (5)
However,
Just the first step of an overall process of in-depth assessment and strategic planning in agricultural statistics!
Questionnaire-based assessments will only provide an indication of strengths and weaknesses
…while in-depth country assessments embedded into SPARS will provide insights into the issues and constraints

9. Measurement practices in Africa (1)

10. Measurement practices in Africa (2)

11. Measurement practices in Africa (3)

12. Measurement practices in Africa (4)
Lessons learnt: strengths
Quality of self-reporting considerably improved thanks to training and validation workshops organised at regional and national levels (particularly for sub-sectors): coordination of country’s responses strongly improved;
First assessment generated through questionnaires facilitated the overall assessment phase of SPARS and the preparation of “country proposals”;

13. Measurement practices in Africa (5)
and robustness of indicators: explanatory factors provided by countries:

14. Measurement practices in Africa (6)
Lessons learnt: weaknesses
It is an investment that requires some resources
Capacity to produce… and use (to be improved)
Individual dimension not covered (however, the updated SPARS guidelines attempt to better integrate this dimension)
Questionnaires to be updated for better reflecting the new agendas

15. Conclusions
A tool that can be used for measuring the capacity of countries in the field of agricultural statistics: unique tool existing in our sector
A process to be completely embedded into the overall framework of national strategic plans design
National ownership is important: indicators are produced by countries using a methodology that is internationally comparable
Measuring progress is quite easy. However measuring the factors explaining this progress requires specific analyses.

16. www.gsars.org LoA AFRISTAT
Communication/Coordination with targeted countries
Confirmation of participating countries, activities and timelines
Contribution to the development of training material
Organization of workshop (invitations, logistics, travel, visa…)
Development and implementation of TA protocols
Participation in workshop and TA activities
Functional Management of FAO consultants based in their premise