INFRASTRUCTURE STATISTICS

1. Background Information

Infrastructure

Statistics

The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) has been implementing an infrastructure statistical capacity building program among its member states since 2009. The program is part of the wider Statistical Capacity Building (SCB) program that is funded by the Africa Development Bank (AfDB) and supplemented by resources from the European Union supported Regional Integration Support Program (RISP). The overall objective of the COMESA infrastructure statistical development initiative is to ensure that infrastructure statistical data gathering and dissemination activities are mainstreamed into the national statistical system. In order to achieve this objective, COMESA Secretariat developed a conceptual framework that is guiding member states in their approach to sustainable development of infrastructure statistics. The framework was adopted by the COMESA Committee on Statistical Matters and endorsed by the COMESA Council of Ministers.  Among the key achievements of the COMESA infrastructure statistical program have been the compilation, publication and dissemination of the annual bulletin of infrastructure statistics for the sub-region and the related statistical capacity building activities.

In addition to the COMESA infrastructure statistical initiative, Member States are also implementing the Africa Infrastructure Knowledge Program (AIKP) - a continental infrastructure knowledge program being supported by AfDB and implemented with collaboration of sub-regional organizations. The AIKP is a successor program to the Africa Infrastructure Country Diagnostic (AICD) study that was implemented by the assistance of the World Bank.

2. Key Concepts, Definitions and Framework

Concepts and Definitions

Key concepts, definitions and framework adopted for the infrastructure statistics cluster are as per the Handbook of infrastructure statistics  that was prepared by the Africa Development Bank and World Bank. Regional experts from the statistical fraternity and sectoral infrastructure departments played a crucial role in the review of the handbook.  

3. Scope and Coverage of Data

Scope

The Infrastructure statistics cover the following sectors:

1. Transport,
2. Energy,
3. ICT,
4. Water Supply and Sanitation

Coverage

All COMESA Member States

4. Data Sources and Methodology used in Data Collection

Data Sources

Data is sourced from Member States, through the designated national infrastructure statistics focal person based at the national statistical offices. In some instances, data is sourced from recognized institutions and agencies in order to fill up gaps. These include infrastructure data from sub-regional, regional and international organizations and agencies and in such cases, due acknowledgement is made to that effect.