Harmonising Statistics for African Integration: SHaSA Vision 2028

1. INAUGURATION MEETING OF THE CONTINENTAL STEERING COMMITTEE (CSC) FOR THE AFRICAN PROJECT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE 2008 SNA From 17-18 September 2013, Addis-Ababa, ETHIOPIA Strategy for Statistical Harmonisation in Africa (SHaSA) VISION A Better Africa, A Better World Statistics Division Economic Affairs Department African Union Commission

2. A Better Africa, A Better World VISION Mission Inform evidence-based decisions by providing harmonised quality statistical information on the economic, political, social and cultural environment

3. Content • Introduction • Priority statistical requirements; • SHaSA ; • Implementation mechanism ; • Mapping exercise; and • Conclusion

4. Introduction • The process of socio-economic, political and cultural integration has always been a core concern of African leaders; • Since 1960 several initiatives and legal frameworks adopted at the highest level have succeeded to accelerate the integration process and to ensure its sons and daughters good quality, economic and social welfare; • For it to fully succeed and ensure that they achieve their objectives, it requires not only quality statistical information, but also harmonized data across time and space in all areas of African integration.

5. What is SHaSA? • SHaSA: continental effort that directly supports the African integration agenda; • Objectives: • Identifying key priority areas of the African integration process that need to be underpinned by statistics; • Assessing the state of the ASS and various initiatives on statistical harmonisation; and • Elaborating a continental Strategy for the production and dissemination of quality harmonised statistics to inform African development and integration efforts • Jointly prepared by AUC, AfDB and ECA

6. Strategic Pillars of SHaSA VISION 2028 To Inculcate a culture of quality decision-making To Produce quality statistics for Africa Roadmap To Coordinate the production of quality statistics for Africa To build sustainable Institutional capacity of the ASS

7. Strategic Pillars of SHaSA • Strategic objectives • Expand the statistical information base • Transform existing statistics for comparability • Hamonize standards and methods VISION 2028 To Produce quality statistics for Africa Roadmap

8. Strategic Pillars of SHaSA VISION • Strategic objectives • Strengthen cooperation among institutions in the ASS • Establish effective coordination mechanisms • Define statistical priorities for the implementation of the integration agenda 2028 Roadmap To Coordinate the production of quality statistics for Africa

9. Strategic Pillars of SHaSA VISION • Strategic objectives • Reform and enhance national statistical system • Build sustainable statistical capacity • Establish an effective technological environment 2028 Roadmap To build sustainable Institutional capacity of the ASS

10. Strategic Pillars of SHaSA VISION • Strategic objectives • Promote evidence based policies and decisions through the use of statistics • Improve the communication of statistical information 2028 To Inculcate a culture of quality decision-making Roadmap

13. Implementation Mechanism • Committee of DGs: • Monitoring/evaluating the implementation of the strategy as well as its pillars, • Making appropriate recommendations for its effective implementation, • Preparing reports on its implementation to the Ministers Finances, Planning and Economic Development and the Summit of Heads of State , • Considering and adopting statistical programmes based on data requirements for the integration agenda, as well as actions/programmes for their provision.

14. Implementation Mechanism AGSHa Group • Coordinate development and review of Implementation plan for SHaSA; • Coordinate the development and review of Implementation framework for African Charter on Statistics; • Prepare a report the Peer reviews; • Annual report to Committee of DGs and Ministers of finance, planning and economic development.

15. Implementation Mechanism • African Working Groups : • Prepare and ensure the implementation of the action plan; • Provide technical guidance and advice for the implementation of the Action Plan; • Prepare annual report to be considered by the Committee of DG;

16. The need for mapping! • Mapping onto SHaSA various ongoing initiatives, frameworks and strategies: • Provide a one-stop document of engagement with policy makers in fostering the statistical and integration agenda; and • Mapping existing statistical initiatives to support different integration processes; • Show how each initiative will contribute to the realization of SHaSA strategic objectives; • Mapping of: • Statistical governance • Frameworks and strategies • Statistical initiatives

17. A map of statistical governance in Africa

18. A map of statistical principles, frameworks, and strategies in Africa

19. Integration areas and existing initiatives: Social and cultural dimension

20. Integration areas and existing initiatives: Social and cultural dimension

21. Conclusion • Comparable statistics across countries will be generated to inform the implementation of integration and decision-making, • the adoption of international standards and common methods adjusted to African realities and • better coordination of statistical development efforts and sustained production of harmonized statistics to inform policy decisions. • Facilitate free movement of people and goods and services, harmonized economic policies, improved intra African trade flows and greater integration of Africa into the global economic system.