The African Social Development Index (ASDI) is a tool that estimates human exclusion at different stages of the individual’s life. It was created in response to a request made by African countries during the second session of the Committee of Human and Social Development (CHSD) in 2011, to develop an index in order to better monitor exclusion and social outcomes in Africa.

The Index builds on the premise that exclusion can have different manifestations at different stages of life. The risk of being excluded indeed is not static but rather dynamic, and countries need to define policies that address the various patterns of exclusion over the life-cycle, to avoid the cumulative impact of being excluded.

Numerous studies show that exclusion can be transmitted from one stage of life to another, with incremental consequences over the entire life-cycle. For instance, a child who is malnourished (i.e. is excluded from access to adequate nutrition) is more likely to suffer from exclusion in education and job opportunities later in life. This in turn can affect access to a productive and decent life during adulthood. It is therefore important to address the factors that can affect exclusion from the earlier stages in life to avoid the cumulative impact on a long-life development.

Based on this framework, and for each phase of life, a dimension of development is identified from which individuals in that specific stage are more likely to be excluded. To make this framework operational, each dimension is associated with an indicator that best captures the aspect of exclusion identified in the model (see details in the Methodology section). The value of each indicator ranges between zero and one, and the aggregate value of the index lies between zero and six. The higher the value of the index, the higher the extent of human exclusion.

The Index goes further to measure the differential impacts of exclusion based on gender and location. This allows to capture inequalities within countries and among social groups that would otherwise remain unaccounted for. The findings are expected to guide development-planning processes and improve policy targeting at the local level and for different population groups.

Selection of indicators

Following a broad consultative process, indicators were selected by ECA in collaboration with national and regional experts as well as development partners, and on the basis of three main criteria:
• Relevance of dimensions and indicators in the African context
• Availability of data, possibly at various tiers of administration
• Ability to assess impact rather than output of the interventions

The final indicators represent the best proxy indicators based on available data and empirical evidence on exclusion in Africa.

Implementation strategy

The ASDI was piloted in 2014 in five countries: Cameroon, Kenya, Morocco, Senegal and Zambia. During the pilot phase, the index was refined to make it more responsive to the needs of the countries. A series of trainings on how to use and apply the index to measure exclusion were organized for representatives of 46 African countries and eight Regional Economic Communities (RECs). These workshops strengthened national and regional capacities to estimate the extent of exclusion using national data, and discuss inclusive policy options.

Important features of the index include its applicability at the subnational level, its potential to monitor implementation of regional and national development plans, and the ability to foster economic and social integration.

A policy-mapping framework is currently being developed to further assess the effectiveness of social policies in reducing human exclusion, based on the results and changes in the ASDI over time. This is a major step forward in using the Index for development planning and improved policy targeting. National Implementation Teams (NITs) have been set up in each country, ensuring ownership and buy-in of governments and RECs in the use of the index in policy-making processes.

The ASDI as a ‘policy mapping’ tool

The ASDI fills an important gap that allows countries to position their social transformation efforts in a continental context. At the same time, the ASDI can identify successes and lessons learned in the implementation of national and subnational social development strategies. ECA’s role is to strengthen the capacity of member States to design policies that identify and address the key drivers of human exclusion in Africa.

Member States have received guidance and capacity building on the potential use of the tool for mapping and designing more inclusive social policies. To enhance the impact, ownership, and sustainability of this initiative, the implementation of the ASDI, including data collection, production, and analysis of results, was led by experts from relevant ministries and national statistical institutions.