United Nations Regional Seminar on Census Data Archiving for Africa

Addis Ababa – Ethiopia, 20-23 September 2011

Boubacar Sow, Ph.D, UNFPA Advisor

I. Context1. Review of the NSI information systems

II. Presentation of IMIS1. Vision IMIS2. Mission of IMIS3. Specific objectives of IMIS4. Emerging considerations5. Benefits of IMIS

III. Conception and implementation1. Conceptual framework: data development2. Some products of IMIS3. Steps for development of IMIS

IV. Uses1. Imis project in the countries2. Country experiences3. Links

V. Conclusion1. Lessons learned2. Perspectives / proposals

Limited interaction between data producers and data users

Poor integration of data systems Inadequate knowledge of existing

data and information Poor accessibility to data and Poor

dissemination of information Inconsistencies of data systems

A reliable one-stop shop national data source with

multiple purposes including generation of indicators for

monitoring development programmes and the MDGs

Strengthening the partnership between producers and users of data

Consolidation of data files available in an integrated and centralized database

Quick and easy access to data by all potential users

Monitoring the development through the generation of indicators (MAP) including the MDGs

Assistance to the NSI to fulfill their role as depositary of data

Create integrated databases complete and coherent

Create a reliable network for sharing data and information

Develop a strong interface (but easy) of indicators calculation

Strengthen national technical capacity in generation and maintenance of databases

Facilitate the development of the culture of using Databases

Development Initiatives : SRP, MAP, .. UN system Reform :

CCA/UNDAF/CPD/CPAP Indicators : SRP, MAP, MDGs, ICPD … decentralization DevInfo ICT : which require the creation of

databases and dissemination by intranet (Local network) and Internet

Easy and rapid access to voluminous micro and macro data

Compatibility with most usual software

Export to dissemination software such as DevInfo

Security : data stored in compressed encrypted format

Original file no longer needed, hence removing the fear to share original data

Selection of universe and a combination of geographical areas for specific analysis

Enhancement of existing data systems

Assistance to NIS to play its role of repository of statistical data

PRS ICPDMDGs

CCA/UNDAF/CPDSWAPs

…..

1. Conceptual framework : DATA for DEVELOPMENT

SOURCES

1- Households-based operations

-Censuses, Surveys (DHS, MICS,

CWIQ, etc), Baseline ... 2- Routine information Systems

- Health, Education, other …..

3- Vital and registration systems

4- Socio-Cultural, Formative research 5- Other available databases

Integrated statistical database Web-based database

(intranet/internet) Set of relevant indicators at national

and decentralized levels Large number of partners using the

database (rapid and easy access) By-products :

harmonization of methodologies of data collection, processing and analysis

Preservation and dissemination of data.

• Analysis of existing statistical system• Interaction between producers and

users of data• Technical capacity building (course of 2-3

weeks)

• Definition and generation of indicators• Establishment of IMIS• Monitoring and Evaluation System• Posting on the Intranet / Internet• Culture of using databases• System maintenance (adding data)

IMIS activities initiated in the countries : Kenya, Madagascar, Comoros, Cameroon, CAR, Gabon,

Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Mauritius, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Burundi, Rwanda, Niger…

Country Status

Rwanda Online

Cameroon Online

Gabon IMIS developed but not yet online

CAR IMIS developed but not yet online

Kenya --

Burkina Faso

IMIS developed but not yet online

Côte d’Ivoire

IMIS started, no other information

Madagascar

IMIS started, no other information

Comoros IMIS started, no other information

Sierra Leone

IMIS developed but not yet online

Niger IMIS developed but not yet online

Similarities Join local leaders in the project The implementation of the system is usually

defined by following the steps above The system is used for the dissemination of

census and survey indicators, the online processing and archiving

The problems with the quality of the data files is persistent

Loss of some data files and metadata recurring

Differences In some countries, IMIS has been

used for the analysis of the GPHC, including Burundi, Sierra Leone and Burkina Faso

Skills of local teams very different which slowed the progress of the implementation of IMIS in some countries

Challenges: Uploaded IMIS in the countries: the system is developed in some countries but is not yet available online, especially for technical, material and organizational reasons.

Update existing applications

Redatam: http://www.eclac.cl/redatam/

Indicators: http://www.eclac.cl/cgi-bin/getprod.asp?xml=/redatam/noticias/paginas/2/12892/P12892.xml&xsl=/redatam/tpl/p18f.xsl&base=/redatam/tpl-i/top-bottom.xsl

Online Census: http://www.eclac.cl/cgi-bin/getProd.asp?xml=/redatam/noticias/paginas/7/13277/P13277.xml&xsl=/redatam/tpl/p18f.xsl&base=/redatam/tpl/top-bottom.xsl

Cameroon: http://imis.stat.cm

Rwanda: http://www.imisrwanda.gov.rw

To implement IMIS in the countries, it is important to have a local team including computer scientists, statisticians and demographers in charge of calculating and interpreting the indicators, the project leaders and all those resources with knowledge of the surveys or censuses to incorporate into the system.

The posting is a bit difficult in some cases. IMIS is very useful and appropriate to:

Integrity checking and data quality Data analysis of GPHC

The regional office would help countries to the posting of IMIS. To my knowledge, there are only two countries in Africa who have their online system. By cons, in Latin America, all countries have their census online (see links)

Two options envisaged: Use a single host professional with whom we will work

for the online databases of all countries Support at the country level the online hosting using a

technical specific infrastructure or a local host Support for the finalization and validation of

IMIS of countries