11TH SESSION OF THE AFRICAN SYMPOSIA ON STATISTICAL DEVELOPMENT AND 9TH SESSION OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE DIRECTORS GENERAL (CODGs) OF NATIONAL STATISTICS OFFICES
23 NOVEMBER 2015
LIBREVILLE GABON
H E Dr Anthony Mothae Maruping
Commissioner for Economic Affairs
African Union Commission

Your Excellency Prime Minister Daniel Ona Ondo,
Prime Minister De La Republique Gabonaise,
Honorable Ministers here present;
Your Wiorship the Lord Mayor of Libreville;
Traditional Leaders;
Excellencies Members of the Diplomatic Corps;
Directors General of National Statistics Offices
and Civil Registration Offices;
Invited Guests;
Ladies and Gentlemen

Allow me to commence by expressing gratitude to the authorities and people of the Republic of Gabon for graciously hosting, facilitating and gracing this important event. Allow me to thank, in particular, His Excellency Prime Minister Daniel Ona Ondo, Prime Minister of the Republic of Gabon, for sparing some time off his busy schedule, as Head of Government, to be with us this morning. I salute Your Excellency! We are truly appreciative of this noble gesture of support. We also commend those in charge of Statistics in Gabon, our hosts, for excellent arrangements put in place. Hospitality and courtesies accorded have been outstanding. May I also be permitted to express appreciation to brothers and sisters Directors General of National Statistics Offices and Civil Registration Offices for coming to this timely event in large numbers manifesting their resolve and dedication to improving quality, scope and timeliness of statistics on the continent, the sine quo non of transformative growth we seek. It is highly appreciated. All hands have to be on deck and all shoulders should be put to the wheel to realize the “Africa We Want” enshrined in Agenda 2063 and its 1st Ten Year Implementation Plan.

I bring very warm and fully supportive greetings of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, who very much wanted to be here personally were it not have been for conflicting engagements. To-day I speak both on behalf of the African Union Commission(AUC) and of the sister organization and neighbor, UNECA. AUC, AfDB and UNECA work very closely as a team in order to realize fully the potential of synergies and reap the fruits of symbiotic relationship.

Let me commence by attempting to give context; that is, how improving quality scope and timeliness of statistics fits within the broader picture of the implementation of Agenda 2063.

Only a few months ago every public referring to African economic performance recited a pacifying chorus or refrain that: “Six out of ten fastest growing economies in the world are in Africa”. The mantra of “Africa Rising” was recited everywhere. Average growth rates were said to be rising from 4 per cent plus to 5 per cent plus. Anyone who did not say this was relegated to pariah; even though Africa has fifty four economies making six countries a mere eleven percent. In addition, given that Africa is the home of over 30 least developed countries and several lower middle income countries, with rapidly growing populations, growth rates of 4 and 5 per cent fall short of what is required to transform continent’s economies. Sustained growth rate of 7 per cent plus in real terms is what will give promise to sufficiently rapid socio – economic development if accompanied by diversification, value addition and inclusivity as well as equitable distribution of income and wealth. This way resilience to external shocks would be attained and Africa would be set on the road to poverty eradication.

The between 4 and 5 per cent growth that Africa was persuaded to celebrate depended on commodity prices boom. Most African economies remain heavily commodities based. They thrive during commodities price boom. They suffer setbacks when commodities prices go bust. Hence need for transformative growth.

African Economies are currently going through a rough patch, temporary though this might be. Demand for raw materials exports has sharply declined, commodities prices have dropped drastically, drought is adversely affecting agricultural production and hydro – power generation, thus worsening energy generation deficit. Floods are leaving devastation on their path such infrastructure destruction, displacement of people and diseases such as typhoid and cholera. In most cases unemployment rate has risen and incomes have fallen. Tax bases have shrunk. Fiscal deficits have widened. Foreign exchange reserves have dwindled. Domestic borrowing has soared. External borrowing has been complicated by credit rating downgrades. Authorities in many cases are resorting to deep expenditure cuts. Essential supplies and services are being reduced. These are hard times.

Clearly there is need for a new strategy for African economies. Fifty years of externally inspired ideas and transplanted policies, at times sheer cut and paste, have not borne much fruit for Africa. It is time for Africa’s homegrown strategies, policies and priorities. Time is ripe for African Agenda 2063. First Ten Year Implementation Plan has come to the rescue. Ours is to implement it meticulously.

Africa hosted the 3rd International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD3), successor to Monterrey and Doha, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, July 13 – 16, 2015. Developing countries were aiming for Addis Ababa Accord (AAA) outcome document, that is, a document with a higher degree of commitment by all. Instead the diluted and less committal version named Addis Ababa Action Agenda (AAAA) was adopted. African negotiators were actively engaged. Paragraph 24 of the outcome document referred to combating Illicit Financial Flows. Leadership of Africa in this endeavor is recognized. Global approach to this global challenge is urged. Meantime Africa had worked on own means of implementation within the framework of Agenda 2063. As some of your leadership have been insisting, strong and effective liaison among financial supervisory authorities, public revenue services and statisticians is imperative to curb illicit flows and to maximize domestic revenue mobilization potential in this beloved continent.

On September 25 the General Assembly adopted by acclamation and standing ovation the post 2015 development agenda: Transforming Our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It was the outcome of the informal negotiations exercise in the format of the Open Working Group (OWG), later refined by the more formal inter-governmental negotiations. Africa had commenced in 2011 to work on the Common African Position on Past 2015 Development Agenda (CAP on P2015 DA) as her well articulated contribution to the global P2015 DA and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This was done through a broad based consultative process with a wide variety of African stakeholders. AU had appointed a High Level Committee of ten Heads of State and Government (HOS&G) to develop CAP.
CAP was adopted by AU Summit on January 2014 and launched in Ndjamena February 2014. CAP being the only well articulated and documented regional contribution heavily influenced the work of OWG and inter – governmental negotiations. Most SDGs derived from CAP. Africa also had the fortune of holding General Assembly Presidency and G77 + China Presidency as well as co – facilitating negotiations. In addition UN SG advisor on P2015 DA was African. The 17 SDGs by and large mirrored CAP. Clearly Africa took the leadership in this process.

Meantime AU had commenced in 2013 to formulate African Agenda 2063. Whereas OAU had focused on the decolonization of Africa, transition to AU meant focusing on economic, social and political development on the continent. In 2013 the successful, albeit still not entirely complete, decolonization effort was lauded and celebrated. It was decided to draw a road map for the way forward. Consultations with a wide spectrum of African stakeholders were held, submissions from member states were received, interactive website was activated, and existing continental, sub – regional and national strategic frameworks and programmes were studied and their elements incorporated to formulate African Agenda 2063. The conceptual strategic framework with the vision and the seven African aspirations was adopted in January 2015. The more detailed First Ten Year Implementation Plan was adopted in June 2015.

Agenda 2063 strategic thrust is to transform African economies away from commodities reliant to diversified economies with high value addition and joining regional and global supply chains. High, stable and sustained economic growth rate which is inclusive, job creating and mitigate income and wealth distribution inequalities, is to be vigorously pursued. To this end aggressive development of the following is to be the pre-occupation, among other steps:

- Infrastructure and energy;
- Agriculture and agro-industry;
- Human capital and human development in its broad context;
- Science, technology and innovation for development;
- Private sector development (home grown private sector);
- Accelerated industrialization;
- Services sector boost;
- expedited integration;
- Trade.
In short Africa is to strive hard to strengthen productive capacities, to be more competitive, diversify, invest, add value, and join supply chains regionally and globally.

In order for these to be realized and to ear fruit there should be:

. gender parity and women empowerment; economic engagement of youth; and inclusion of people living with disability ( in order to use all human resources and talents available to the society);
. peace, stability and security;
. good governance in its broad context;

among other necessary conducive conditions.

Africa has streamlined her endeavors. There is now coherence and requisite alignment. There is a clear vision, seven aspirations, twenty goals, and forty one priorities in Agenda 2063. In addition there are 12 fast track (quick wins) mega projects and programmes. The 17 SDGs are encapsulated in the 20 Agenda 2063 goals. This makes Agenda 2063 a suitable African implementing instrument of SDGs plus much more as it is more comprehensive. By pursuing the 20 goals of Agenda 2063 automatically the African global obligations on the 17 global SDGs will be met.

All these must be financed. Official Development Assistance (ODA) has history of being selective, laden with conditions, broken promises and often unfulfilled commitments. Similarly foreign direct investment (FDI) has habitually side-stepped Africa, except when it comes to extractive industry. Heavy reliance, therefore, will be on domestic resources mobilisation (DRM), which is a broad subject in itself. Viability of DRM depends, among other things, on combating IFF which erodes tax bases, drains the financial sector of liquidity and thus frustrates financial deepening, cause external account imbalances, and leads to heavy indebtedness etc.

At the joint meeting of UN ECOSOC and the General Assembly 2nd Committee October 23rd, 2015,
I referred to IFF as: “… massive, growing and very complex as well as mutable.” Let me reiterate that it is multifaceted much like “… a hydra maneuvering in a labyrinth.” There is an acute sense of urgency in curbing IFF as the continent’s Agenda 2063 first Ten Year Implementation Plan and the 12 fast track projects have to be financed.

Considering that IFF is a global challenge, though more so for Africa than the rest of the world, the African Union Commission, UNCTAD and UNECA persuaded ECOSOC and GA 2nd Committee to put the subject at the centre of their ‘radar screens’; to put it on the global platform with the view to developing a global roadmap and even a framework for curbing IFF. Doing so would be in keeping with the spirit and letter of paragraph 24 of AAAA. Africa can fully play her part; but unless other regions of the world co-operate it will only amount to a mere partial solution in the end.

Successful implementation of the First Ten Year Implementation Plan of Agenda 2063, which encompass SDGs fully, requires gathering, compilating, analysing, interpretating and applying of hard data. Baselines have to be set. Credible programming has to be founded on adequate, accurate and up-to-date data. Accountability mechanism will require the same. Results based implementation endeavor requires clear goals, specific targets and quantified indicators. Clearly statisticians are called upon to play key role in making “Africa We Want” a reality. Your quality work is a necessary condition for success. May I thank you for your active participation in the quantification of SDGs indicators. May the same be expeditiously done for Agenda 2063 20 goals and 41 priorities.

Let us join and keep abreast with the global data revolution. Let us accelerate SHASA in collaboration with partners. Let us really take the offensive in Civil Registration and Vital Statistics. Those of us who have not yet adopted current System of National Account (SNA) can we catch up and keep abreast. Let us close the wide arrears gap in data availability especially in the area of National Accounts. This is vital for proper and timely diagnosis, accurate policy prescription and appropriate dosage as well as informed policy implementation.

Statistics are the light. It is through high quality statistics that we know where we have been, where we are and where we should be safely and gainfully going. Let there be light for Agenda 2063. We need those statistical headlights to read the topography and the dynamics on the ground and ahead in order to reach our destination: the “Africa We Want”.

Inclusion of credible non-governmental sources of statistics into our statistical systems is a step in the right direction.

Both themes of ASSD and CODGs are timely and pertinent. “Promoting Use of Information and Communication Technology Solutions in Improving Civil Registration and Vital Statistics in Africa” and “SDGs, Agenda 2063 and Data Revolution” respectively.

May I wish you fruitful and path-finding deliberations and profound recommendations.

Thank you all for your kind attention