PARIS21Partnership in Statistics for

Development in the 21st Century

The Data Revolution in Africa: old wine in new bottles?

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“A true data revolution would draw on existing and new sources of data to fully integrate statistics into decision making, promote open access to, and use of, data and ensure increased support for statistical systems.”

A new global partnership: eradicate poverty and transform economies through sustainable development: The Report of the High-Level Panel of Eminent Persons on the Post-2015 Development Agenda, 30 May 2013, Chapter 4

Wanted: a new data revolution

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Call for data revolution parallels Busan Action Plan on Statistics, that seeks to :

Fully integrate statistics in decision making

Promote open access to and use of data

Increase resources for statistical systems

Data revolution or evolution?

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“Statisticians of the world unite”

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Why do we need a “data revolution”?

What should a “data revolution” include?

How can it be achieved?

Key questions

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Why do we need a data revolution?

• Old problems• Emerging priorities• New opportunities

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Old problem: what’s a data gap? Data does not exist

Data exists, but not in a useable forms for users

Data exists, in useable forms, but nobody knows how to use it and or cares

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CRVS Coverage

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

% of countries have a CRVS coverage over 90 %

Africa

Asia-Pacific

Eastern Europe

Latin America andCaribbean

ECOWAS

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, accessed via PARIS21 Metabase

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Agricultural Census

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

% of the countries conducted a agricultural census inthe last five years

Africa

Asia-Pacific

Eastern Europe

Latin America andCaribbean

ECOWAS

Source: Worldbank, accessed via PARIS21 Metabase

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National Accounts

Source: Ghana Statistical Service, 2013

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How can we achieve a data revolution?

• Build on what we have• Harness new opportunities• Build new partnerships

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Using big data: and setbacks

• Google’s “Flu Trends” drastically overestimated peak flu levels in 2013

• Data quality control is important when dealing with issues that have serious implications, such as national health

Source: OECD Project on Data and Data Analytics: Prospects for Growth and Well-Being (http://oe.cd/bigdata)

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New opportunities: phone companies and cellular data

Source: Using ICT’s to shape the post-2015 framework, European Development Days 2013, Orange

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Using big data: implications for NSOs

• Should NSOs… take on a new mission as a trusted third party

whose role would be to certify the statistical quality of these new sources?

use non-traditional sources to augment (and perhaps replace) their official series?

issue statistical best practices in the use of non-traditional sources and the mining of big data?

be given legal power to collect personal information?

Source: OECD Project on Data and Data Analytics: Prospects for Growth and Well-Being (http://oe.cd/bigdata)

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International comparisonOfficial / non-official

Real-time dataInnovative approaches

Open data

National monitoringHigh-/ low-qualityVetted statsGlobal standardsPrivacy protection

Need to strike a balance

vs.

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Informing a Data Revolution

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The data revolutionShould …1. Get the right data, to the right people, at the right

time, in the right format2. Build on past successes (such as NSDS)3. Support decision makers to make informed decision

for better lives 4. Be implemented in ways to strengthen statistical

capacity and improve data production

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The IDR Project

• Taking stock of the situation in National Statistical Systems and the needs of producers and users in developing countries

• Exploring innovations and seeing if and how they can be replicated

• Producing a Road Map for the next five years• Carrying out Research to feed into the Road Map • Advocating for and promoting a data revolution

in context of Post2015 and OWG discussions

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The Metabase is…

…an information tool on the capacity of a national statistical system…a data directory, not a data repository…a knowledge hub for innovations in statistics…a foundation for IDR country selection process

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What does all this mean for Africa?

• A huge chance! Harnessing new innovations (mobile devices,

engaging with private sector,…) Leapfrogging Taking the lead

• ….and some risks…..• Get engaged!

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In Conclusion

• The data revolution will look different in every country and region – it will be quite often old wine in new bottles

• Common principles needed: Better coordination Increased support Strengthened capacity

• Ultimate goal remains: improving lives

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PARIS21 SecretariatOECD/DCD4 Quai du Point du Jour92100 Boulogne-Billancourt, Francecontact@paris21.orgwww.paris21.org