Presentation to the Regional workshop for the SADC
Maputo, Mozambique
October 14 – 15, 2013
Overview of the
presentation
•
ASSD Background and objectives
•
2010 Round of Population and Housing Censuses (RPHCs)
report
•
CRVS
•
ASSD achievements
•
ASSD challenges
•
Conclusion
Background
•
In September 2005 the then UN Secretary General, Kofi Anan tabled a report to
the General Assembly that showed glaring data gaps in monitoring progress
made in Africa on the MDGs.
•
In a meeting was held in Yaounde, Cameroon by African Statisticians which took
place against the poor performance of African countries in undertaking
population and housing Censuses, it was agreed that the situation could not be
allowed to prevail.
•
The African Symposia on Statistics Development (ASSD) was formed a platform
with an initial objective of mobilising all African countries to ensure that they
carried out censuses in the 2010 round covering the period 2005 – 2014.
•
An inaugural meeting of the ASSD was held in Cape Town, South Africa in 2006
Background
•
In 2010, the Ministers responsible for Civil Registration and Vital statistics in
Africa called upon African statisticians to address the CRVS
•
Around this time 20 African countries had conducted their Censuses and others
had committed to doing so, the Heads of NSO adopted a resolution to implement
the CRVS call from Ministers
•
The focus of the CRVS will be until 2015, however, the monitoring of population
censuses and provision of inter country support remains a key strategic
imperative for the ASSD
Objectives of The 2010
round of censuses
• To facilitate the strengthening of the role of African countries in the world
programme on 2010 population and housing censuses,
• To strengthen collaboration on census related activities such as
management and planning, data collection, data processing, data
analysis and dissemination
• To develop strategies for African countries to fill the glaring data gaps
that limit Africa’s ability to monitor progress made towards achieving the
Millennium Development Goals.
• To improve reporting mechanisms between the national statistical
agencies and international agencies.
2010 RPHCs report
Of the 54 African countries:• 33 countries have already undertaken their censuses
• 7 countries are scheduled to undertake a census in 2013
• 7 countries scheduled to undertake a census in 2014
• 2 countries are still doubtful ( Somalia and Eritrea)
• 5 countries were planned for 2012 but no confirmation has been
received about rescheduling (Benin, Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea Conakry,
Niger and Sao Tome)
CRVS: Civil registration data
collected but not processed into
vital statistics
CRVS objectives (20112015)
• To improve CRVS institutional and human infrastructure in
Africa
• To standardise Causes of Death Classification and Statistics in
Africa
• To promote Use of Civil Registration and Vital Statistics in
Support of Advancing Good Governance in Africa
• To evaluate the application of UN Principles and
Recommendations on CRVS in the African region
• To promote use of Information Technology solutions in
improving CRVS in Africa.
CRVS progress to date
•
The second ministers’ meeting was held in South Africa on the
CRVS in 2012
• Medium-term plan for improvement of CRVS developed
• A pool of CRVS experts trained to assist countries with their
assessments
• Assessment tools have been developed
• Twelve countries initiated some assessment related activities
• Mozambique completed its assessment on 26 September 2013
ASSD achievements
• Eight symposia held since inception in 2006 in 7 countries
• South Africa, Rwanda, Ghana, Angola, Senegal, Egypt, Cote’d Ivoire
• Encouraging progress made on 2010 round of population and
housing censuses
• CRVS 2011-15 in progress
• Pool of participants are expanded with new focus, e.g. inclusion of
Health professionals, Home affairs staff, etc
• Coming of minds between the data suppliers/data producers/data
users (NSS)
• Capacity building – Young statisticians part of ASSD
ASSD challenges
• Funding
• Electronic access to data and data quality
• Countries that may not undertake censuses in 2010 round
• Resources- Technological, skills
ASSD and Post 2015 Development
agenda
• ASSD to link with the post 2015 development
agenda, influenced by amongst others
– Rio + 20 outcomes
– Meeting of High level panel of eminent persons
– African Common position on the post 2015
development agenda
– G7 + (conflict affected and fragile states)
– Development agenda of countries
Conclusion
• African Statistical Sytems Development programme (ASSDp)
strategy to be presented in the 9th ASSD which will be held
in January 2014
• The aim of the ASSDp is to facilitate central planning,
monitoring and evaluation and will have milestones that
complement Agenda 2063.
• Botswana will be hosting the 9th ASSD.
Thank you
The South Africa I know, the home I understand