The Mo Ibrahim Foundation (MIF) and PARIS21 are pleased to announce the release of the report “Bridging the data-policy gap in Africa”.
The key findings of the joint publication were presented in a webinar on 30 April and discussed by representatives from the statistical community as well as the policy-making arena. The publication illustrates the need to close data gaps across the African continent, focusing on six solutions to strengthen data supply, build partnerships, improve communications, boost demand, establish data governance and strengthen data literacy.
Recommendations as part of a six-point roadmap for bridging the data-policy map include:
- Creating a statistical capacity strategy to raise funds
- Connecting to knowledge banks to hire and retain talent
- Building good narratives for better data use
- Recognise the power of foundational data
- Strengthening statistical laws to harness the data revolution
- Encouraging data use in policy design and implementation
In view of fundamental data gaps in Africa, notably in relation to health and civil registration, PARIS21 and the MIF aim to stress the importance of data for good governance with this new publication. It brings together PARIS21’s technical expertise in supporting the development of statistical capacity globally, and the MIF’s African perspective.
Relying on data-driven and expert analyses of the current data and statistics landscape in Africa, it offers avenues for both governments and national statistical systems to bridge the data-policy gap.
Watch the recording of the launch webinar.