SADC Regional Strategy for Development
of Statistics – An Overview
By
Ackim Jere
SADC Secretariat
Gaborone, Botswana
Regional Workshop on “Better Dialogue on Statistics for
Better Development Results” for SADC , Maputo,
Mozambique, 14-15 October 2013
OUTLINE
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Introduction
Rationale for New Strategy Development
Process and Journey for Strategy
The Main Strategic Themes and Objectives
Implementation and Related Issues
M & E of Implementation of Strategy
Next Major Steps
SADC - 15 Member States
 Angola, Botswana, DRC, Lesotho, Madagascar,
Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia,
Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania,
Zambia, Zimbabwe
1- Introduction
SADC established at the Summit of Heads of State and Government on
17 August 1992 in Windhoek, Namibia.
SADC one of 8 Regional Economic Communities (RECs) in Africa duly
recognized by African Union Commission.
SADC currently composed of 15 member states, namely, Angola,
Botswana, DRC, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius,
Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania,
Zambia, and Zimbabwe
SADC’s Ultimate Goal: Eradication of poverty and improvement of the
well being of the people of the region through regional integration and
cooperation.
2- Rationale for New Strategy Development
Key Compelling factors for New Strategy Development included:

1998 SADC Statistical Strategy Document:
 Out-dated ( not addressing recent statistical
developments, technological innovations, etc.)
Not aligned to SADC Regional Indicative Strategic
Development Plan (RISDP)

Significant increase in demand over the years for
harmonized regional statistical data, to support monitoring of
progress of regional integration and development in general.

Need for coordinating framework for regional statistical
development and resource mobilisation
3 - Process and Strategy Development “Journey”
Process:
 SADC Statistics Committee (SSC) provided oversight and
policy direction
 Strategy Task Force (DRC, Lesotho, Mauritius, Mozambique
(Chair), South Africa, Tanzania constituted by SSC provided
technical backstopping, support and reviewed drafts of Strategy
 Secretariat coordinated and managed entire process;
 Secretariat drafted Strategy;
 Consultations with SADC Secretariat directorates/institutions,
SWOT analysis, desk study undertaken;
 Task Force meetings in December 2011 and April 2012 in
Maputo, Mozambique to agree on content, structure/format of
strategy and to review drafts
3 - Process and Strategy Development “Journey”
(cont’d)
“Journey”
Activity
1
15th SADC Statistics Committee (SSC) Meeting Gaborone, Botswana in September 2008:
Time Frame
September 2008
 Agreed on need to develop new Regional Strategy for Development of Statistics (RSDS)
 Tasked Mozambique in collaboration with Secretariat to prepare concept note on subject for
consideration at its 16th meeting.
2
16th SSC meeting, Manzini, Swaziland
 Concept note presented, considered, and endorsed by SSC
 SSC also recommended to Council for approval for RSDS development
 Council approved development of RSDS
June 2009
August 2009
3
 Mobilisation of necessary resources for Strategy Development, Situation analysis,
consultations, and desk study
August 2010/ April
2011
4
18th SSC Maseru, Lesotho
 Formation of SSC Task Force comprising DRC, Lesotho, Mauritius, Mozambique (Chair),
South Africa and Tanzania o support Strategy development process
June 2011
3 - Process and Strategy Development “Journey”
(cont’d)
“Journey”
Activity
Time Frame
7
2nd Task Force Meeting to review Zero Draft
August – December
2011
January – February
2012
April 2012
8
Revision of Zero Draft /generate Draft 1
May 2012
Submit Draft 1 to SSC for comments/ Incorporate comments from SSC/ generate
Draft 2
Submit revised Draft 2 with Incorporated comments/ generate Final Draft
June 2012
Submit Final Draft RSDS to Council of Ministers for noting (without cost
estimates)
Submit Final Draft RSDS to Council of Ministers for approval (with cost
estimates)
August 2012
5
6
9
10
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12
Evaluation of the SADC 1998 Statistics Strategy/ Development of vision, mission
and values / 1st Task Force Meeting, Maputo, December 2011
Strategy Zero Draft development
June/July 2012
February 2013
4 – The Main Strategic Themes and Objectives
RSDS Approved by SADC Council in February 2013, Maputo, Mozambique
Six Main Strategic Themes
1
-
Widen the scope and range of available regional statistical data
and indicators
2
-
Increase comparability and quality of prioritised regional statistics;
3
-
Improve services to users and promote wider use of regional
statistics;
4
-
Strengthen stakeholder partnerships and coordination of the SADC
Regional Statistical System (SRSS);
5
-
Harness the latest innovations in Information, Communications,
and Technology for statistical development in the region; and
6
-
Promote statistical capacity building in the region
Theme 1 and Objectives
Strategic Theme 1: Widen the scope and range of available regional
statistical data and indicators
(i)
Objective 1.1: Statistical needs to support evidenced based
monitoring and evaluation of progress in priority areas of the
SADC Development Agenda identified.
(ii)
Objective 1.2: Effective data collection mechanisms, templates,
and data transfer protocols, for compilation of regional statistics
established.
(iii)
Objective 1.3: Prioritized comparable social and economic
indicators for regional statistical publications compiled
sustainably.
Theme 2 and Objectives
Strategic Theme 2: Increase comparability and quality of
prioritised regional statistics

Objective 2.1: Consensus built and core staff trained on
concepts and definitions, standards, classifications and
frameworks suited for SADC for statistical areas and
processes of the prioritized regional harmonization
programme.

Objective 2.2: Manuals and guidelines for production of
the standardized and harmonized statistics developed.

Objective 2.3: Agreed frameworks and common statistical
standards and methods adapted to regional circumstances
to facilitate harmonization of statistics implemented.
Theme 3 and Objectives
Strategic Theme 3: Improve services to users and promote
wider use of regional statistics

Objective 3.1: Data dissemination and services to
users of regional statistics enhanced.

Objective 3.2: Advocacy strategy for statistics in
the region developed and implemented
Theme 4 and Objectives
Strategic Theme 4: Strengthen stakeholder partnerships
and coordination of the SRSS
(i)
Objective 4.1: Policy and legal framework for the coordination of
regional statistics developed and implemented.
(i)
Objective 4.2: User-producer forum at regional level to promote
key stakeholder participation in regional statistical activities
established.
(i)
Objective 4.3:
Technical Working Groups/Task Forces for
respective statistical areas or processes to drive and guide the
various harmonization processes established.
Theme 5 and Objectives
Strategic Theme 5: Harness State of the art innovations in
Information, Communications, and Technology
development in the region
(i)
Objective 5.1: Use of ICT for statistical production of
statistics and data sharing among stakeholders of the
SRSS enhanced.
(i)
Objective 5.2: Use of state-of-the-art ICT innovations for
disseminating, archiving, and storage of regional
statistics including integrated databases for socioeconomic indicators on SADC enhanced.
Theme 6 and Objectives
Strategic Theme 6: Promote Statistical Capacity Building
in the Region
(i)
Objective 6.1: Analytical capacity building both at
national and Secretariat level enhanced.
(i)
Objective 6.2: In-service training programmes in
statistics at national level implemented.
(ii)
Objective 6.3: Partnerships between National Statistical
System and training institutions in the region to
promote training in official statistics enhanced.
5 - Implementation and Related Issues
The Proposed Regional Statistical Programme is an integral part of the
Strategy.
 Regional Statistical Programme provides details on proposed
activities, expected outputs, broad tentative time frames, and
institutional responsibilities for strategic themes.
 Annual Business Plans (Annual Work Plans) - main instrument
for operationalizing, implementing, and monitoring the Regional
Statistical Programme.
Key components of institutional framework for implementation of the
Strategy will include: Council of Ministers, SADC Statistics Committee
and its Technical Committee/Task Forces; Secretariat and Focal Points
6- M & E of Strategy Implementation
Monitoring, evaluation and reporting considered important
aspects of Strategy implementation process.
M & E framework mechanism proposed for Strategy
implementation through mainly the following aspects:
Annual Work Plans and Annual Progress reports;
 Mid-Term Review; and
Final Review

Risks and Assumptions for successful (or lack of it)
implementation of Strategy identified.
7- Next Major Steps

Through the Task Force ( Botswana, DRC, Lesotho,
Mauritius, Malawi, Mozambique, RSA, Tanzania) to
devise operationalisation mechanisms for Strategy.

Review and resubmit cost estimates for Strategy
implementation for Council consideration and approval

Mobilization of Resources for Strategy implementation

Development of advocacy and awareness measures or
mechanisms to support Strategy implementation

Disseminate Strategy widely to various key stakeholders
Thank You