Terms of reference for the Coordination of the National Statistical System, Administrative data systems and Statistical legislation Technical Team

 

  1. Background

The statistical community has globally recognized that producers of official statistics need to transform and modernize themselves to adequately respond to all data demands arising from SDG, Agenda 2063, national development plans and other agendas and frameworks. This transformation and modernization cover all areas of official statistics, including the institutional statistical environment, production processes, coordination and collaboration.

Several countries have undertaken steps on the institutional environment side, starting with the revision or amendment of their statistics legislation and regulations. Many efforts are put in the use of alternative and new data sources to fill existing data gaps, improve data quality and respond to new and emerging needs. Besides, technologies of information and communication are more present in statistical processes as illustrated by several initiatives on data sciences, big data, data campus, etc.

Pan African organizations and partners supporting statistics in the continent support different steps towards the modernization and transformation of official statistics in the continent. However, all their initiatives are done with limited coordination and minimum harmonization within and across countries. Besides, there are no standards yet established or a measurement defined to assess the degree of modernization of a statistical institution, for instance. Likewise, countries are at different levels of statistical development, with diverse priorities and needs that are not systematically taken into account in modernization projects proposed by statistics partners. Also, the lack of guidelines has, for instance, created confusions and problems in some countries after the revision of the statistics act. A framework was therefore needed to address these issues and to guide transformation and modernization of national statistical systems in Africa. The African group on modernization and transformation of official statistics was created by the Statistical Commission for Africa for this purpose during its seventh meeting in October 2020.

  1. Establishment of the Technical Teams

During the second meeting of the African Group on Transformation and Modernization of Official Statistics (AGTM) held virtually on 8th March 2021, the vision of the Group was developed to read as follows:

“Modernized statistical systems for a competitive and prosperous Africa”.

The meeting also approved the creation of three technical teams (TT) that will spearhead the work in the following thematic areas for transformation and modernization of official statistics. 

TT1: Digitalization and Integration of data science initiatives

TT2: Survey methodology

TT3: Coordination of the national statistical system (NSS) and Statistical legislation (including Administrative data systems and other sources)

 

  1. TT3: Coordination of the NSS, Administrative data systems and Statistical legislation

The proposed Terms of Reference for the technical team for TT3 are as follows:

  1. Coordination of the NSS

The Technical Team will aim at Strengthening the collaboration between the various statistical organizations and units involved production of official statistics. Specifically, TT3 shall undertake the following activities;

  1. Determine, review and propose the scope of the National Statistical system to encompass all the data producers in the data ecosystem to ensure players in data value chain are within the system and the legal frameworks support them.
  2. Spearhead the assessment of the coordination of the national Statistical Systems (NSSs) through the various tools for coordination and the capacity gaps therein.
  3. Assess the communication within and amongst the NSSs, identify gaps and recommend capacity building on the same
  4. Determine the effectiveness of the development and implementation the National Strategies for Development of Statistics(NSDSs) in building statistical capacity in the NSSs
  5. Conduct an assessment on statistical activities and programmes in the NSSs, identify related risks and measures to mitigate against these risks
  6. Spearhead the assessment of the uptake of modern technology and innovation in data collection, data analysis, and dissemination in the NSSs.
  7. Assess the NSS’s use as well as its readiness in use of alternative sources of data such as big data and citizen generated data
  8. Develop and recommend to the NSSs a framework for strengthening and exploiting administrative data with focus on the producers.
  9. Develop and recommend a framework for interaction of the producers of statistics with the users and provide sensitization on the entire data value chain.
  10. Develop and recommend a plan to facilitate monitoring and; internal and external evaluation of statistical activities in the NSSs including peer review.
  11. Recommend technical support for countries with gaps in coordination of the NSS
  12. Hold regular meetings as may be required to deliberate on the tasks.

 

  1. Administrative data systems

Under administrative data systems the Technical will undertake the following activities

  1. Carry out a desk review of the practice on use of administrative records in African countries
  2. Carry out short survey of all countries on
    1. stock of administrative systems in use in Africa
    2. challenges and best practices in using admin data systems in the continent
    3. evaluate administrative data systems that are in place in African countries

 

  1. Gather information on international best practice in the use of administrative data systems and recommend how African countries can improve uptake of the administrative data systems  
  2. Develop a prototype strategy on strengthening of administrative data systems to guide the African countries
  3. Propose pragmatic approach of identifying suitable administrative data sources and analyze issues of generating, processing and disseminating administrative data from existing information systems

 

  1. Statistical legislation

The Technical Team will undertake the following activities with respect to statistical legislation:

  1. Identify common elements of national statistical legislation in line with Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics and the African Charter on Statistics and define their intended outcomes
  2. Review the existing statistical legislation and identify gaps, weaknesses, strengths, and best practices
  3. Recommend ways of improving statistical legislation in the continent on consideration of statistical needs, strengthening of NSS, implementation of UN fundamental principles of official statistics and the African Charter on Statistics, application of international best practices, adoption of alternative data sources, other legislations touching on data, among others
  4. Develop guidelines to support countries in implementing and reinforcing their legal frameworks to guarantee independence, integrity and accountability of national statistical systems
  5.  Develop guidelines to support countries in production of high quality of official statistics, and help remove legislative barriers to dissemination of official statistics
  6. Develop a generic law on official statistics and accompanying explanatory notes to guide countries on revision and adoption of suitable legislation

IV.      Timetable

The Technical Team will produce a progress report every one year to the African Group on Transformation and Modernization of official Statistics. In between, biannual progress reports will be submitted to the bureau of the African Group.

 

 

V.       Membership

The Technical Team is composed of persons who are experts in the subject matter from the national statistical offices. The Technical Team will be country led and to ensure geographical balance, each sub region of the Economic Commission for Africa will be represented by experts of at least two countries.

The members of the Technical Team will commit to devote the necessary time to discharge their duties. They will select the Chairperson among themselves. The Economic Commission for Africa ensures the secretariat of the Group.