Let’s Invest in Data Infrastructure to Develop Africa – Johnson Sirleaf

A former president of Liberia and founder of the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Presidential Centre for Women and Development, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf , has called for investment in data infrastructure and capacity building to ensure availability of timely data for the facilitation of Africa’s development.

She said this should include the building of technical and human capacity to collect, manage, and analyze data and investing in essential tools and technologies.

“Greater investment in data infrastructure and capacity building must be made to make data a reality in Africa,” emphasized president Sirleaf, who was speaking at Afrobarometer’s Round 10 planning meeting in Ada in the Greater Accra region on Monday May 15, 2023.

Emphasizing the need for data-driven decision-making in Africa, she said “Policymakers and practitioners need to be trained in the use of data, and there needs to be a greater emphasis on evidence-based policymaking”.

Data, Afrobarometer, She explained that this can be achieved through the development of data-driven decision-making frameworks, as well as through the establishment of partnerships between governments, academia, and civil society.

There needs to be greater recognition of the importance of timely data at all levels of society. This includes the development of public awareness campaigns that highlight the importance of data in the context of African development, as well as establishing mechanisms to ensure that data is used effectively to inform policymaking,” she stressed.

President Sirleaf was of the view that the need for timely data in Africa has become increasingly important in recent years. And, with the continent experiencing significant economic growth and development, data has become an essential tool for policymakers and development practitioners seeking to track progress, identify areas for intervention, and make informed decisions that can impact the lives of millions of people.

However, despite the importance of data, Africa has long faced significant challenges in accessing and utilizing timely data. These challenges have hindered the continent’s ability to effectively monitor progress, identify gaps, and take corrective action when needed.

In many cases, the lack of timely data has led to the implementation of ineffective policies, the misallocation of resources, and the perpetuation of inequalities,” she lamented.

She identified one of the biggest challenges facing timely data in Africa as lack of infrastructure and resources to collect and analyze data promptly.

Many countries on the continent lack the necessary tools and expertise to collect, manage, and analyze data effectively. This has led to data availability delays and serious consequences for policymakers and practitioners,” she noted.

Another challenge, she further noted, was facing the lack of a culture of data-driven decision-making. “Instead, many African policymakers and practitioners still rely on intuition, anecdotal evidence, and personal experience to make decisions. The misalignment between policies and actual needs has resulted in suboptimal outcomes,” she observed.

President Sirleaf however noted that, despite these challenges, progress is being made in many areas. She observed that there is increasing recognition of the importance of data in the context of African development, and many governments and organizations are investing in building the necessary infrastructure and capacity to collect and analyze data on time.

She acknowledged Afrobarometer’s 20 years contribution to this achievement, adding that “Your work is of great importance because it provides valuable data on public opinion, political attitudes, and socioeconomic issues crucial for policymakers, CSOs, researchers, and other stakeholders in understanding African countries’ challenges and opportunities. Moreover, by gathering data from diverse populations across the continent, your work helps inform evidence-based decision-making and contribute to developing policies and programs that respond to the needs and aspirations of African citizens”.

I must acknowledge another aspect of your work that is dear to my heart – your focus on promoting social inclusion and equality. Through your surveys, you collect information on issues such as access to education, healthcare, and other basic services and attitudes towards minority groups and marginalized communities. We all understand how such data can help promote social justice and reduce inequality, thereby contributing to a more inclusive and equitable society,” she noted.

Afrobarometer CEO, Joseph Asunka, in his welcome address announced that Afrobarometer completed an extensive institutional development process in 2019 and is now registered as an independent non-profit organization headquartered in Ghana.

He explained that in line with its strategic objective to increase the uptake of its data, Afrobarometer actively collaborate with government and inter-governmental agencies, other research and advocacy organizations, policy actors, and the media, among others, to ensure that the data and analytic insights generated inform media reporting, development and advocacy strategies, and public policies.

He mentioned that Afrobarometer last year adopted a new strategy which highlights strengthening the capacities of young African researchers as well as the ability of governments, development partners, civil society, and the media to understand and use data and evidence in their work. “We have developed a robust capacity building program to ensure that we deliver on this objective,” Asunka added.

Afrobarometer creates a platform for ordinary African citizens to continually make their views and experiences known to their elected representatives.

Afrobarometer started its surveys in 12 countries in 1999. Today, it is present in 40 countries. Its goal is to cover all countries on the continent.

By Kofi Ahovi