Forum on African Statistical Development

1. Forum on African Statistical Development UNICEF and Statistical Capacity Building Trevor Croft UNICEF – New York DPP/Strategic Information FASDEV Addis Ababa May 13, 2004

2. DevInfo • Generalized database system for organization, storage and presentation of data for indicators • Tables • Graphs • Maps • Permits disaggregation by sub populations, including up to 10 levels of geography • Simple, but powerful, data dissemination tool

3. DevInfo • Offered to the Secretary General as software package to support MDG monitoring • UNDG endorsed its selection as the standard UN package for MDG monitoring • Developed from ChildInfo – a tried and tested package in use in national statistical systems in over 40 countries, including ~20 in Africa

4. DevInfo • Currently in final testing • Due for release late June 2004 • Free • Customizable interface • Available in 6 UN languages • Boundary files to 2nd admin. level in each country

5. DevInfo • Rollout plans include • Regional training to introduce the software • Training of trainers courses to develop cadre of certified trainers • Sub-regional, country and sub-national training in • Data Utilization • Data Entry and Management • Customization and Data Dissemination

6. Why Use DevInfo? • Simple to use • Powerful dissemination tool • Compatible with MS Office • Owned by national statistical system • Helps generate wider use of data • Brings more data to light • Encourages greater use of data for advocacy and policy making • Leads to improved data quality through review and assessment of data

7. Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys • Household survey covering households, women 15-49 and children under 5 • Covers indicators for monitoring progress towards the goals of • The World Fit for Children Declaration (60+ indicators), • The Millennium Declaration (20+ indicators) • Other major commitments (UNGASS on AIDS, Abuja targets, etc.) • Statistically sound • Produces internationally comparable estimates of indicators • Modular — to suit country requirements • Reasonably inexpensive • Designed to fill data gaps • Collaboration with Demographic and Health Surveys programme

8. Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys • MICS rounds • ~1995: World Summit for Children mid-decade assessment (approx. 60 countries) • ~2000: World Summit for Children end-decade assessment (approx. 65 countries) • ~2005: World Fit for Children “+5” assessment • MICS3 expected to include surveys in 60+ countries, ~30 in Africa

9. MICS Tools • MICS manual and model questionnaires • Data processing programs • Model MICS analyses and reports • Technical workshops • Website: http://www.childinfo.org

10. Questionnaire design and sampling Data processing Data quality and data analysis Report writing and dissemination 1 week – Q4 2004 2 weeks – Q1/2 2005 1 week – Q3/4 2005 1 week – Q4 2005/Q1 2006 MICS Regional Workshops • Technical assistance provided through regional capacity building workshops • Surveys executed with limited direct technical assistance

11. Capacity Building Successes • MICS: • Two prior rounds have lead to datasets providing baseline and trend data for numerous indicators • Capacity to execute household surveys enhanced in organizations involved • DevInfo • Over 40 national statistical systems owning and using ChildInfo • Proven effective as powerful tool for dissemination, advocacy and policy making

12. Capacity Building Challenges • National statistical systems are not just NSOs – all government organizations are part of the system • Need to include all stakeholders in all stages of statistical production and use • Data should be demand driven • Need to generate understanding of and demand for high quality statistics at all levels of society • Tools like DevInfo can help • Data quality needs to improve • Making data widely available in accessible ways will allow greater assessment of data and lead to improvements in quality

13. For every childHealth, Education, Equality, ProtectionADVANCE HUMANITY Thank you