hy does Malawi Wneed good statistics?

Transcription

1 hy does Malawi Wneed good statistics? Fisherman on Shire River Liwonde. Enumerators taking field measurements during the 2007 National Census of Agric ulture and Livestock. Photos: NSO Staff

2 Background The paradigm within which development programs and projects are planned, implemented, monitored and evaluated has shifted towards use of evidence based information obtained from good statistics. This shift has resulted in higher demand for good statistics that are timely, reliable and responsive for planning and decision making. It has therefore become imperative for governments including the Government of Malawi to foster collection, compilation and dissemination of good statistics through the National Statistical System (NSS). The NSS through the statistical Sector Wide Approach (SWAp) initiative will enhance coordination among producers and providers of statistics as well as users who create demand for statistics. The SWAp is an approach to supporting statistical development across the NSS through a single, comprehensive programme and budget framework, centred on the Strategic Plans for the NSO and NSS, incorporating both government and donor resources. Birds Island, Mangochi. Photo: NSO staff Did you know? The 2008 Malawi Population and Housing Census collected information on disability, emigration, maternal and general deaths, and orphanhood for children 18 years or younger.

3 Why does Malawi need good statistics? Use of good statistics leads to effective policies and development which benefits the people; enhances transparency and accountability at all levels of decision making, which is critical to good governance; improves resource mobilization and allocation; is essential for downstream processes such as monitoring and evaluation of development policies and interventions; enables people to judge the success of government policies and development activities. Statistics are used to inform government policy and to support public private sector dialogue. Why invest in statistics? Investment in good statistics will pay for itself many times over since good statistics will enable proper planning, resource mobilization, efficient resource allocation during the budgeting process, implementation and monitoring of policies and development activities. Statistics will enable beneficiaries of development to participate and track down activities that will improve their lives.

4 investment in statistics will pay itself many times over! k Investment in Statistics k Increased Resources h Sound Decision Making h Good Statistics Proper Planning j Efficient Resource Allocation l What are some of the available statistics? Available statistics aim at answering some of the development initiatives at local level such as the Malawi Growth and Development Strategy (MGDS) and at international level such as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and these include: Agricultural and Environmental statistics Demographic and Social statistics Economic statistics Education statistics Energy statistics Governance statistics Did you know? 19% of adult population of Malawi is banked? Finscope Malawi 2008

5 Where to get the statistics? MASEDA - The Malawi Socio-Economic Database available on CD-ROM and on the website ( NSO website ( NSO headquarters in Zomba NSO regional offices (Blantyre, Lilongwe and Mzuzu) Government line Ministries and Departments Reserve Bank of Malawi (RBM) Businessman selling vegetables at Zomba Market. Part of activities during the 2008 African Statistics Day celebrations in Mchinji. Photos: NSO Staff

6 Malawi profile INDICATOR VALUE UNIT SOURCE YEAR Total Population 13.1 Million Malawi Population and Housing Census Male population 6.4 Million Malawi Population and Housing Census Female population 6.7 Million Malawi Population and Housing Census Population growth rates 2.8 Percent Malawi Population and Housing Census Crude birth rate 46.8 Per 1,000 population Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2006 Poverty headcount 52.4 Percent Second Integrated Household 2005 Survey Gini coefficient 0.39 Proportion Second Integrated Household Survey 2005 Consumption of poorest 20% 22.4 Percent Second Integrated Household Survey Total Fertility rate 6.3 Per woman Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2006 Infant mortality rate 72 Per 1,000 live births Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2006 Under 5 mortality rate 122 Per 1,000 live births Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2006 Literacy rates 70 Percent Welfare Monitoring Survey 2007 Net primary enrolment 75 Percent Welfare Monitoring Survey 2007 rate Price inflation rates 8.7 Percent Statistical Year Book 2008 GDP growth rate 9.7 Percent Statistical Year Book Selling vegetables at Zomba Market. Photo: NSO staff

7 MAKING STATISTICS WORK FOR MALAWIANS To sum up The development paradigm shift has necessitated use of good statistics to foster evidence based development planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation. Realisation of good statistics is being achieved through a well planned and coordinated NSS. As such, increased and continued resource provision through a well coordinated statistical Sector Wide Approach will ensure timely collection, compilation and dissemination of good statistics to ensure statistics at the finger tips of users African Statistics Day celebrations, Mchinji. Photo: NSO Staff

8 This booklet has been prepared by the National Statistical System Secretariat of the National Statistical Office. The National Statistical System has set-up an advocacy team that comprises ministries of Education, Health, Labour and Information in addition to the National Statistical Office to develop advocacy materials that could be used to share the vision of the National Statistical System with the wider public. National Statistical Office P.O. Box 333 Zomba Malawi This Booklet has been prepared in collaboration with PARIS21