desktop unit - cso, zambia1 development of information for poverty reduction strategy paper (prsp)...

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Development of Information For Development of Information For Poverty Reduction Strategy Poverty Reduction Strategy

Paper (PRSP) In ZambiaPaper (PRSP) In Zambia

Oliver J. M. Chinganya

Central Statistical Office

Zambia


PRSP ProcessPRSP Process

Zambia is preparing the PRSP which is intended to map out its development goals and indicate the strategies that will be employed to attain the set goals.

The PRSP is being co-ordinated by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development (MOFED). A unit has been set up to specifically manage the process.


PRSP ProcessPRSP Process

The government realized that in order to achieve sustainable poverty reduction, strong pro-poor economic growth and continued strong social action programmes are required.

In order to achieve this, relevant accurate and timely data should be made available.


Development of the PRSPDevelopment of the PRSP

The preparation of PRSP began with an I-PRSP.

The process involved interactive consultation with

- Government institutions

- NGO’s

- Civil Society

- Other stakeholders.



Various sensitization workshops were held for:

- Senior Government officials

- Programme managers

- MPs and Cabinet Ministers

Discussions were made on how best to prepare the PRSP.



In order to develop the paper, 3 themes were considered

- Economic theme

- Social theme

- Cross-cutting issues

Under economic and social themes, the following expert groups were formed

- Macro-economic- Agriculture- Tourism- Mining- Industry- Governance- Health- Education



The cross cutting issues included:- HIV/AIDs- Gender- Water and Sanitation- Energy- Environment and Natural Resources- Roads

The groups discussed at various forums and it was clear that in order to write an informative and comprehensive paper, data and information was needed.


PRSP Process Links with PARIS21PRSP Process Links with PARIS21 Whilst in the preparation of the PRSP was going on, OECD countries

and other international agencies formed the PARIS 21 Consortium. Its objectives are:

- Developing evidenced based culture forsetting and monitoring policy.

- Developing well-managed statistical systems,utilizing available resources effectively.

These objectives were complementary to achieving the PRSP initiative.


SADC/Paris21SADC/Paris21 As a follow-up to PARIS 21 objectives, a meeting was held in

December 2000 with a theme “Developing Partnership for Information needs of Poverty Reduction Strategies and other Priority Policy Areas”

The workshop was attended by- SADC member countries- Programme managers- Government and Private sector- NGO’s- Representatives of International agencies such as

World Bank, IMF, AFRISTAT, etc including anexpert on Poverty from Uganda.


Issues Discussed at the SADC/Paris21 Issues Discussed at the SADC/Paris21 WorkshopWorkshop

The status of information requirements of PRSP

Current issues around the information Requirements and Poverty Monitoring

Priority Information Needs of sector ministries.

Information Needs of other stakeholders

SADC and other Regional organization information needs


Issues Discussed at the SADC/Paris21 Issues Discussed at the SADC/Paris21 WorkshopWorkshop

Information Needs of Civil Society Information Needs of the Private Sector Experiences and progress in Poverty Monitoring. Dissemination and Information Accessibility Supporting Poverty Monitoring and Information.

As a follow-up to this meeting another meeting was planned to specifically look at the data requirements of the PRSP in Zambia.


Consultative Process in Developing an Consultative Process in Developing an Information Strategy for PRSPInformation Strategy for PRSP

The CSO is the main government organ mandated to carry out all censuses and surveys.

CSO organizes a coordinated scheme of social and economic statistics relating to Zambia and ensures that data is available.

The OECD through Euro-stat and CSO agreed to undertake a feasibility study to assess the knowledge and practice in the production and use of comprehensive statistical poverty data.


Consultative Process in Developing an Consultative Process in Developing an Information Strategy for PRSPInformation Strategy for PRSP

In order to undertake the study, a consultant was

engaged. The mission consultant was to:

To determine facts about poverty issues. Examine basic information (concepts and

definitions). Data gathering. Identify participants for the workshop.


Planning of the WorkshopPlanning of the Workshop

The Mission Consultant had a series of meetings with stakeholders to look at institutional data requirements and obtain their perspective on poverty issues.

The mission consultant also discussed the plan and focus of the Data Requirements workshop.



It was agreed that the workshop would cover:

A comprehensive analysis of the needs of all users. A comprehensive review of all types of poverty

data. Analysis of the major data gaps and methodological

weaknesses. Analysis of where action is needed to strengthen the

underlying data required for target setting, monitoring, and further policy making.



A review of the areas where poverty analysis is weak.

Consultation for such a workshop was important as this resulted in facilitating those working in different areas, with different approaches and methodologies to engage in a dialogue in order to develop techniques to achieve better synthesis between their methods and sources.

Secondly, it would foster a more effective and sustainable dialogue between users and producers, so that producers have a clearer idea of user’s needs, that users are better able to interpret the data and analyses which are made available to them.


Workshop Brief ProceedingsWorkshop Brief Proceedings(a) (a) Policy RemarksPolicy Remarks

The workshop was opened by the Minister ofMOFED and attended by stakeholders. AlsoStats. South Africa sent representatives. The Headof EU Delegation was also in attendance.The Minister emphasized on:-

A comprehensive review of the needs of users of poverty data.

That the data to be used in the PRSP must be supported by evidence based policies which must be growth oriented and politically implementable.


Workshop Brief ProceedingsWorkshop Brief Proceedings(a) (a) Policy Remarks (Cont’d)Policy Remarks (Cont’d)

The EU Delegation leader raised concerns on:

Information not penetrating to the ordinary people.

Translation of information so that the ordinary people can benefit.

Collection and analysis of data should be based on quantitative and qualitative approaches.


Workshop Brief ProceedingsWorkshop Brief Proceedings(b) (b) CSO’s PositionCSO’s Position

The CSO which operates under the Census and Statistics Act Cap 425 of the Laws of Zambia gave an overview of the Zambian Statistical System. It also highlighted on its products, particularly in relation of the PRSP data requirements


Workshop Brief ProceedingWorkshop Brief Proceeding(b) (b) CSO’s Position (Cont’d)CSO’s Position (Cont’d)

The CSO presentations raised in the discussions concerns on:

Collection of certain type of information. Analysis of certain data not comprehensive. Also that even if it was the main central organ which is supposed

to overall surprise the data collection including methodology it did not have administrative authority/control

It was therefore recommended that a National StatisticalCoordinating Committee be setup to oversee the production ofall statistics.


Workshop Brief ProceedingsWorkshop Brief Proceedings(c) (c) Poverty Unit at MOFEDPoverty Unit at MOFED

The unit presented an overview and the currentstatus of PRSP. In addition, the working groups andrespective institutions presented papers. The presentation and follow-up discussions revealedthe need for PRSP data to: • Understand the status in terms of poverty and what data

were needed.• Understand the relationship between sector interventions

and poverty.


Workshop Brief ProceedingsWorkshop Brief Proceedings(c) (c) Poverty Unit at MOFED (Cont’d)Poverty Unit at MOFED (Cont’d)

Monitor and evaluate the impact of intervention and the ultimate objective for PRSP.

Discussions also confirmed that the PRSP had

brought an opportunity to prioritize the data

requirements and created a stronger relationship

between producers and users of information.


Workshop Brief ProceedingsWorkshop Brief Proceedings(d) (d) Other Papers PresentedOther Papers Presented

The private sector and the civil society.

Both dwelt on specific data generation, including

data mining of exiting data.

The donor/international agencies concentrated on their programmes which played an intervention role in poverty alleviation.


Workshop Brief ProceedingWorkshop Brief Proceeding(e) (e) Papers on Data Production and ProceduresPapers on Data Production and Procedures

The papers discussed about the classical quantitative methods by CSO and, the qualitative methods by PAG.

It was recommended that both methods be

used together to obtain best results.


ConclusionConclusion

Need to co-ordinate the activities of various agencies dealing with poverty for effectiveness of poverty reduction.

Data mining of existing data should be encouraged.

Analytical skills for poverty analysts, programmer managers, policy makers and statisticians should be enhanced.


Provisional Future AgendaProvisional Future Agenda

Taking stock of available data.

Establishment of a body to oversee and provide guidelines to the production of statistics.

Establishment of Producer/Producer Committee and User/Producer committee.

Develop an integrated database for poverty statistics.

Develop a system of disseminating data and information regularly.


Follow-up ActivitiesFollow-up Activities

Transformation of CSO into a semi-autonomous body – being rigorous done.

Preparation for an integrated database – 2gldb .

Dissemination strategies being developed.


It is clear from the Zambian experience of involving policy makers, programme managers, major data users and producers in the process of statistical development that, statistical capacity building to support the PRSP planning and implementation will require the participation of all concerned at all levels. It is not a one person’s or institution issue but all stakeholders.


THE ENDTHE END

desktop unit - cso, zambia1 development of information for poverty reduction strategy paper (prsp)...

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