State of data in Africa: National Workshop on SDGs Roadmaps and Data Ecosystem

Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Ministry of Devolution and Planning Mr. Mwangi Kiunjuri makes his remarks during the workshop    Photo:DPS

By Wesley Kipng’enoh(@Wess_kipp)

Creating Useful Data for a Changing World

“When I woke up this morning and the internet was working I immediately knew I was not in Sierra Leone,” Yeama Thompson joked during her presentation at SDGs Roadmaps and Data Ecosystem’s workshop.

In her own words, she felt that Kenya was ahead in terms of development and technological advancement.  Being the third speaker of the day, the commissioner from Sierra Leone used her bubbly personality to highlight on Data Roadmaps for Sustainable Development and show Sierra Leone’s position in newly adapted Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

She was one of the speakers of the first day of The Kenya National workshop on SDGs Roadmaps and Data Ecosystems held at the Aga Khan School of Media and Communication in Nairobi. The workshop, a follow-up of Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data (GPSDD) launched on 28^th September 2015 in New York, brought together multiple stakeholders to engage on practical collaboration on data driven initiatives.

Kenya having committed itself as Anchor partner carried the responsibility of hosting the workshop under the patronage of The Office of Deputy President.

Briefly before Madam Thompson’s presentation, Cabinet Secretary of Devolution and Planning Mr. Mwangi Kiunjuri the chief guest, had reaffirmed the Kenya’s commitment in data revolution in his opening remarks. “The SDGs couldn’t come at a better time, as the Government is integrating vision 2030” he said.

The Cabinet Secretary added that it was time to take action-oriented use of data rather than too much talk among the stakeholders. “We have groomed poverty for too long, we need to use the generated data to help Kenyans overcome poverty and better their lives,” he said in his speech.

His words, echoed by every panelist who gave a presentation, showed the need to source what Professor Sanjeev Khagram of Global Partnership, described as useful data. This, in his view, was kind of data that is accurate, of high quality and of utility in developing worlds like Kenya.

In his speech, Mr. Kiunjuri said that there was need for development partners to clarify their roles so that they could complement each other and consequently avoid duplication of efforts. Duplication, he said, was in fact a major conduit for corruption in the country.

By all means, the question of usefulness of data raised by the Cabinet Secretary must be given priority if the envisioned goals are to be achieved. “How would this data be useful to common mwananchi in Nyandarua who lacks water?” He challenged the stakeholders.

But again, to allow a flow of useful data, it is time governments created conducive environments for citizens to engage. The availability of e-government seen as one way that would give citizens a platform to submit data.  Its role in data delivery and data sourcing should be given a priority in the revolution. Muchiri Nyagah, from Local Research Development Institute recommended the need of adequate coverage on E-government in Kenya.

Data Revolution and theory of Useful data

Each presentation in the workshop made it clear that the data revolution across the globe was palpable owing to the rise in demand for information. Characterized by explosion of volumes of data; speed of dissemination; increase in number of producers of data and range of data, governments now have to cope with the surge.

While there’s been this explosion, Professor Rhina Breit, Associate Dean, Aga Khan University Graduate School said there was need to improve the usefulness of that data in Kenya. “Kenya was well placed to achieve some of the objectives faster than other countries in the region,” Part of her speech read.

She pointed out to a report published by Financial Times that recognized Kenya’s potential and conspicuous position in its expansive technological front. In the report, Financial Times noted that “The people of Kenya had relied on their ingenuity, creativity and not just on commodities to rise to its feet”

But still: Unemployment, high poverty prevalence and an economy that is susceptible to shock, keeps dragging down the country. Given these issues, the best way to rise would be to invest in useful data, Professor Breit recommended.

In its definition, the Sustainable Development Goals has the view to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. African countries have had the task of figuring out for the last one year (since the GPSDD launch) how to use data to curb some of the problems that pull down their economies.

For the Kenyan case, it will have to contextualize its data further and use available infrastructure to manage it. But for a country that recently embraced devolution and is transitioning, the challenge of sourcing and managing of data has emerged: A dragon that threatens to cripple efforts for the revolution.

Isabel Maina, showed the effort the Ministry of Health had put in, in terms of data collection and use.  Becoming the second country in the world to launch a Health Data Collaboration, the Ministry seems to be on the right track as far as data revolution is concern.

Besides the nightmare that came with devolution of Ministry of Health, a few other challenges emerged from her presentation. Sourcing of data, she admitted, was something the ministry was still grabbling with.

Deaths and births that had been registered in the ministry wasn’t the true picture of what was happening on ground. “A lot of deaths, and births still happen at home and our ministry misses out on this,” She said.

Not all counties across the country have same level of medical facilities. This imbalance has a negative impact on data sourcing and even in cases where there are similar medical facilities, lack of uniformity and consistency of data among sub-national facilities pose a threat to successful data ecosystem in health ministry.

Creating working data ecosystem between National and Sub-National level.

The two levels of government-a result of the new constitution, would have to stretch further if the takeoff is to be achieved in time. In his presentation, Muchiri Nyagah, from Local Research Development Institute said there was need to get it right while coming up with Medium Term Plan III (MTPIII): “There shouldn’t be disconnect between National and County government”

He pointed out during the break outs session that the current MTPII which reflects on section of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) was providing good transition in terms of integration of vision 2030 and MTPIII: “We have a chance to make it right for the sub-national level. If we make silly mistakes in policy making on top level, you can be sure it will trickle down to the counties” He said.

His statement although solidly a top down approach will rely on bottom up approach for sourcing of data. The people on the ground know exactly what affects them, and will communicate these issues, and from the information they submit to policy makers (through well laid and user friendly channels), an all-inclusive and effective MTPIII will be created. NGOs and the sub-national levels on grassroots have that role, thanks to their proximity to the populace and their one-on-one interaction.

Bottom line is that disconnect should be closed down in order to allow the sub-national level to pick on MTPIII and Agenda 2063 swiftly, when that time comes.

Egypt for example, in an effort to champion data flow, gave its Municipalities the statistical role and authority over data ecosystem. Yosr Ibrahim from Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS) said they took this route because the lower level of government in Egypt they had inferred was better placed to source more accurate and useful date, thanks to proximity to people.

The pace of catching up with challenges affecting citizens, she said, was however still agonizingly slow. This in her view, is attributed to forecasting data that are needed faster than what sample surveys can produce. In simple language, too much expectation undersized by minimal results creating a gap between what is at hand and what is needed.

Open Data Initiatives

How easy would it be to have an Open Data Initiative in an ecosystem across the globe?  Madam Thompson, pointed out the strides Sierra Leone had made in terms of open data since the end of biting civil war in 2002 and recently having had to go through the Ebola scourge.

And yes, Sierra Leone became the first country in Africa to have Open Data Portal despite the burdening challenges it has been jostling through.

To allow synergy in government and other partners in its handling of SDGs, Sierra Leone embraced the LNOB; leaving No One behind Initiative. This style of handling SDGs roadmap caught the attention of everyone at the workshop. Under the initiative, the domestication of SDGs in Sierra Leone took into consideration and rather seriously the principle of leaving no one behind. Government agencies were sensitized to collect disaggregated data that will enable effective policy making. If such initiatives are taken seriously and especially in Kenya- a country that swings on two levels of government, it would perhaps be essential on creation of effective data ecosystems.

Open Data system can however, be challenging in terms of privacy. Some types of data are sometimes tailored for specific high level policy making. In such a case, it becomes difficult to have an open data system. Take a look at Safaricom’s case for example:  Even with a rich database, it would be illegal for the company to expose some of customer specific patterns as that would infringe on rights of individuals.

The idea of open data initiative is a tight rope to walk on in some instances and would take longer for some type of data to be retrieved or even used.

It’s challenging to come up with an Impeccable Data Ecosystem

Even as the benefits of Open data Portal were shared it is no doubt that data revolution had come with challenges for many governments. United States story of impediments in data revolution journey is true to many countries that are embracing SDGs.

Special Advisor to US department of State, Lawrence Sperling denoted the confusion and the difficulty that was created from dissemination and management of data in terms of top down versus bottom up approach.

For country like Kenya, it becomes even more complicated, owing to the national and county government structures. There’s is still no proven working systematic dissemination of information between these two levels and hence flow of data, is somehow choked in the confusion.

Something else that came up as a challenge is inter-agency coordination. For too long, government departments and ministries and especially in Africa, have not been sharing information. Madam Thompson from Sierra Leone said that although 15 ministries in her country subscribed to the Open Data initiative, it was still difficult to coordinate data between these ministries, something that would have eased creation of working data ecosystem.

But hardly a year after its political launch, SDGs ought to be synchronized with policies both at national level and sub-national level, a process the US special Advisor Lawrence Sperling confesses is a difficult thing to achieve.

The Role of Business Community and Philanthropy

Governments are undoubtedly at the center of implementation of SDGs, but what role do the private sector have in SDGs? In her speech during GPSDD launch in September 2015, H.E Dr. Ambassador Amina Mohammed said its success was pegged on an all-inclusive data ecosystem that involved Government, Private sectors among other key players.

Safaricom’s Saanda Ojiambo illuminated on Safaricom’s Corporate Responsibility acknowledging that SDGs had presented the opportunity to engage its entire multi-billion business. There was a keen interest on how the company handle data that they generate from their service operations.

It is no doubt that the Telecommunication Company has a massive database and with such detailed data, it was suggested this could be used to exploit on populace patterns. This however, it should be noted, must be done within the confines of the law and without overstepping on individuals privacy.

Ms OJiambo attributed Safaricom’s “quality” database to money transfer and micro financing services that they run.  Zachary Mwangi, the Director General Kenya National Bureau of Statistics(KNBS), challenged the private sector to be ready and reliable in terms of data sourcing(surveys or whichever other means) and especially if that data will have an impact.

KNBS, he said, is on a mission to bringing on board institutions and especially non-state partners to join the National Statistical System. The idea of National Statistical System is to bring together pool of data from different institutions who might have conducted surveys with cardinal purpose of improving lives. This as Cabinet Secretary Mr. Kiunjuri had indicated, would resolve duplication in terms of surveys and hence more resources would be channeled to pursue other wanting areas.

“Data is in fact the engine of philanthropy in the 21^st Century,” Maurice Makoloo, the Regional Director for Eastern Africa, Ford Foundation said.  For philanthropic institutions like Ford Foundation and Rockefeller, it is crucial to note that useful data gathered informs on best ways to address poverty.

Even as first day of the workshop came to a close, it was crystal clear that data in the new age must be precise, useful and of high quality owing to its critical role in decision and policy making.

Creating a vibrant data ecosystems will take time and combined efforts from all key players (government, private sector, NGOs, local communities and development partnerships) working together to meet the SDGs.

While such conversation and brainstorming will keep traversing around globe among stake holders and working groups, governments should use the most effective and engaging way possible to achieve useful data for Sustainable Development. This way they will create “A world in which the right data is available to the right people at the right time in the right ways to help make right decisions in support of sustainable development.”