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Statistical development, ICT, & Sectoral priorities
Up one levelThis community of practice will focus on supporting the establishment of strong statistical systems in African countries and enabling proper tracking of the progress made in attainment of the Millennium Development Goals. ECA’s work programme on statistics will focus on: monitoring progress of statistical capacity building; strengthening the coordination and harmonization of statistical development activities; supporting the implementation of National Strategies for the Development of Statistics; and providing technical assistance and capacity building to member States.
Statistical Development
Many African countries do not have strong statistical systems and therefore lack the data needed for planning and tracking of economic development. This is partly due to a lack of adequate statistical capacity in these countries. ECA will therefore seek to assist African countries in improving their statistical databases and also their statistical capacity at various levels. In particular, the desired outcome would be to enable proper planning for MDG achievements as well as the monitoring of progress made in this regard. The service line on Statistical Development will focus on the implementation of the Reference Regional Strategic Framework, which encompasses all the critical objectives and strategies to develop the continent’s statistical systems. It will consist of a platform of exchange of information and know-how on the implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and reporting on the RRSF as recommended by the Forum on African Statistical Development (FASDEV). As the RRSF addresses all areas of statistical development, the COP is expected to be a one-stop shop of knowledge creation and dissemination on African Statistical Development.
Agriculture
Agriculture, the backbone of the continent’s economy, produces the lowest yields in the world. It is beset, among others, with abiotic stressors (drought, high temperature, poor soil fertility, vast marginal land areas); biotic factors (insect pests, weeds, diseases); high costs of pesticides, herbicides, chemical fertilizers and irrigation; and drug resistance. Some 200 million people are chronically hungry in Africa and more than half of the countries on the continent need food aid. ECA will assist its member States in enhancing regional food security through support for the creation of regional agricultural market information systems and databases. To further foster broad-based agricultural growth and poverty reduction, ECA will undertake in-depth studies on strategic food and agricultural commodity chains with emphasis on regional integration aspects. This service line will include agricultural production and food security issues. Services provided though this service line will bring food security, a major concern for many African countries, back to the forefront of ECA’s programme priorities thus ensuring its visibility. Biotechnology has been recognized by the Heads of African States in the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) as “an important priority area in science and technology for the continent’s development”. The United Nations (UN) has also recognized Biotechnology as a tool of ‘unique opportunities for developed and developing countries and small and large enterprises’. Representatives of many Addis Ababa-based UN institutions held, in 2003 and 2004 at ECA, a series of consultative meetings on issues related to biotechnology uptake in Africa. They recommended the establishment and implementation of a UN Inter-Agency Partnership on Biotechnology for Africa’s development or UN- Biotech/Africa in support of NEPAD. UN Biotech Africa is expected, among others, to (i) coordinate policies, strategic approach and actions among agencies and programmes of UN system in support of NEPAD in the area of biotechnology; (ii) generate synergies between activities of UN institutions for greater impact through greater efficiency in the use of UN resources; and (iii) create an effective platform of exchange of biotechnology-related information, experiences and perspectives
ICT for Development
ECA’s activities in ICT for development are geared towards supporting African countries to participate fully in the rapidly evolving people-centred, inclusive, development-oriented Information Society where everyone can create, utilize and share information and knowledge and empowered to achieve their full potential in order to gain improved quality of life, and where communities are enabled to attain sustainable development. It is widely recognized that without embracing information and communications technologies (ICT), the development gap between Africa and the rest of the world will continue to expand. Information and knowledge have increasingly become essential resources and raw materials in the global networked economy. Africa can exploit these technologies to become fully integrated into the global economy and accelerate socio-economic development. The ICT Team is primarily responsible for implementing the African Information Society Initiative (AISI) and develops practical strategies and programs that will help lead Africa towards the realization of digital inclusion. ISTD's ICT's work programme falls under the framework of the African Information Society Initiative (AISI), which remains the key framework for the development and implementation of national e-strategies of National Information and Communication Infrastructure (NICI) plans. With ECA's assistance, approximately 32 African countries have already developed such strategies and in the coming years, efforts will be geared towards financing the NICI process, building the implementation capacity of relevant institutions and stakeholders and harmonizing regulatory and legal frameworks.
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