7th MEETING OF THE COMMITTEE OF DIRECTORS GENERAL OF NATIONAL STATISTICS OFFICES

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA
DECEMBER 5TH 2013

OPENING REMARKS BY H. E. DR ANTHONY MOTHAE MARUPING
COMMISSIONER FOR ECONOMIC AFFAIRS
THE AFRICAN UNION COMMISSION

- Director General Lujisa Fuzile, DG, Treasury Dept.,
- Representatives of partner organizations (UNDP, UNECA, AfDB, in Africa; World Bank, ILO, EUROSTAT, Paris21, and other Development Partners abroad);
- Directors General of National Statistics (under different country specific titles)
- Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen.

Good morning. You have been, or will be, warmly welcomed to ‘Benoni ya Thwathwa’ (or ‘Benoni ke Thwathwa’) by representative of the South African authorities, Director General Lujisa Fuzile. Mine is to welcome you to the 7th Meeting of the Committee of Directors General of National Statistics Offices, on behalf of AUC, Department of economic Affairs and partners as well as on my own behalf.

Let me share a secret right from the start that I too am a statistician. In fact I have taught economic statistics at the under-graduate level. My MBA was in operations research which involves a lot of statistics. That complemented what was learned in Economics (Econometrics and Economic Statistics).
I am one of you!

May I thank you all for being here to make this annual event a success. It gives us an opportunity to reflect; to look at any strides made forward in our programmes, especially in the 14 working groups under the framework of the Strategy for Harmonization of Statistics in Africa (SHaSA) even if at the glacial pace in some of them; to establish, consolidate or renew networks among ourselves; even to share experiences, and compare notes. In short let us make the most of this opportunity, both in formal and informal settings. Let us return home changed, transformed, even if in a small way, through gains made here from peers, resource persons and partners. This event offers great opportunity and holds great promise to the degree that we take advantage of it.

This gathering provides a platform for discussions among key players in the African statistics circles. IT thus ensure a co-ordinated and systematic way of addressing the continent’s statistics needs for development purposes.

In July I attended UN – ECOSOC session part of which addressed Post 2015 Development Agenda another part addressed technology development, transfer and innovation. I participated in the panel on the first subject, namely post 2015 Development Agenda. A couple of weeks ago the President of ECOSOC invited me to a retreat in which, in the light of the General Assembly decisions, was in search of realistic re-alignment to regain more meaningful relevance. Post 2015 development agenda featured. Not long ago UNECA assembled Ministers of Economy, private sector and representatives of civil society organizations in Africa to address Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as required by the Rio+20 outcome. What to do in Africa in the post 2015 era featured strongly and in a way merely validated material gathered from a broad spectrum of African stakeholders by the AUC team, supported by UNDP, AfDB, and UN-ECA over a long time. Then a couple of weeks ago UNDP office in Addis Ababa organized a Saturday morning consultations session for the Human Development Index 2014 edition. I was one of the panelists/discussants. Yet again MDGs and post 2015 development agenda surfaced in a strong way. Importance of quality statistics in these matters was highlighted. Over the weekend I was in Nairobi at the 25th Anniversary of the African Economic Research Consortium (AERC). The top African brains in Economics were in attendance from academia, think tanks, relevant national, regional and international organizations. The topic of discussion on Saturday was: “ Growth, Employment and Poverty Reduction in Africa: Lessons and Policy Implications”. The need for dependable statistics to enable analysis and policy prescriptions became clear during discussions. On Sunday the theme was: “Financial Inclusion and Innovation in Africa”. I had the privilege of opening this seminar and moderating discussions right through until closing. Even in this case the central role of quality statistics was glaring to all. Last but certainly not least in the last three days there has been the UNDP Africa Annual Meeting 2013 with the theme: “ Transforming Africa Through Inclusive Growth and sustainable Development”. Strategy in the work of UNDP in Africa in the coming twelve months and beyond, covering MDGs to 2015 and then beyond, was discussed. Necessity of good statistics nationally and regionally was fully recognized.

Clearly recognition for the need of adequate statistics in scope, which are accurate and so dependable, and are available on a timely basis is widespread nationally, regionally and internationally.

I remember vividly as a policy maker and economic manager how frustrating it was to work with scanty and stale statistics. In collaboration with the IMF and the World Bank staff, during Article IV consultations, staff in the Research Department of the Central had to move from office to office compiling data. At the end of it all only interpolations, extrapolations and guesstimates could be managed. Information in the offices was not up to date. Consequently national macro – economic policy had to be based on inadequate, inaccurate and awfully stale data. I know for sure that the story of Lesotho then was not, and is not, unique. In many of our countries National Accounts Statistics are at best three years in arrears. Monetary statistics are at best six weeks in arrears. Challenges are enormous in this field.

Let me hasten to exonerate heads of national statistics offices. It is not at all your fault that things are that way. It is the system/environment in which statistics offices operate in. It is the manner in which national priorities are set. There is need for adequate staff that is suitably qualified, well equipped and well supplied. In short there is often limited human, financial, and technical resources as well as weak capacity and statistical infrastructure. Capacity building and staff retention are key. I think I know and appreciate the difficulties that you are facing. Together, hand – in – hand, we should work to change the situation for the better. Statistics must be accorded the priority deserved in all our countries.

Any National policy, be it in health, education, immigration/emigration, fiscal, incomes or monetary, in order to be an informed one and most likely to succeed, would require sufficient, reliable and fresh statistics. Hon Minister of Foreign Affairs of South Africa, Mme Maite Nkoana – Mashabane, emphasized this point at the official opening of the UNDP Africa Annual Meeting 2013 which I mentioned earlier.

The theme of this year’s meeting : “Production of Economic Statistics in Africa” is both timely and pertinent, particularly in the wake of preparing Common African Position on the Post 2015 Development Agenda and Africa 2063: A Shared Strategic Framework for Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Development by the AU. The two documents are to be based on the results of the consultations of a broad spectrum of stakeholders. There will be need for setting indicators/targets for these two documents at some point.

In order to overcome the challenges encountered in the compilation of national accounts statistics, African countries, under the framework of the Strategy for Harmonisation of Statistics in Africa (SHaSA) have developed a continental strategy and an action plan for the implementation of the 2008 System of National Accounts (SNA) with the support of collaborative action by AUC, UN ECA, AfDB and the Regional Economic Communities (RECs).

In order to have timely and reliable data on economic statistics it is becomes crucial to lend support to countries in undertaking assessments of current practices in collecting, compiling and disseminating economic statistics and national accounts and establish reporting, monitoring and evaluation systems.

I am highly confident that we all welcome the envisaged establishment of a global partnership for statistical capacity building on the continent for the proper conduct and effectiveness of the initiatives, and by so doing ensure that the said initiatives attain the set objectives.

African Heads of State and Government decided to establish Pan African Statistics institute whose primary role will be to regulate and co-ordinate African statistical system for the purpose of producing official statistics on Africa mainly through the compilation, harmonization, aggregation and publication of data produced at the national level. It is envisaged that the main purpose of the institute will be to regulate and co-ordinate the African statistics system by harmonizing the production of quality statistics.

The Institute will lead the way, collaborating with RECs and partners, in peddling through the implementation of the Charter and SHaSA. We pray for progress in this regard.

This is a good point to join others in congratulating those AU member countries that have signed and ratified the African Charter on Statistics. May I appeal to those who have not yet done so to kindly follow suit. May I encourage to do so expeditiously. May we also continue to urge those that have not yet signed to do so at the earliest opportunity. The decision was that of the entire membership. It should be adhered to.

May I urge all member states to actively participate in the fourteen SHaSA working groups. It would really be gainful to do so.

In good time, sooner than later, you will be requested to lend a helping hand in setting measurable indicators/targets for both Common African Position on Post 2015 Development Agenda and for Africa Agenda 2063.

May I wish a truly fruitful annual meeting. It is truly a distinct honour and privilege to meet most of you for the first time. I look forward to working with you closely henceforth.

I thank you for your kind attention.