Data Collection

1
Data Collection Availability Challenges
Center for Policy and Human Development

• Bangkok, Thailand
• September 2009

Afghanistan
2
Introduction

• Habibullah Wahidi
• Deputy Project Manager
• Center for Policy and Human Development
• United Nations Development Programme
• Kabul, Afghanistan

3
Contents

• CPHD Background
• CPHD Mandate
• NHDR Challenges
• Data Collection Availability Challenges
• How to Overcome

4
CPHD Background

• Established in 2004, National Human Development
  Project, in UNDP CO with the sole focus of
  producing ANHDR
• Moved to Kabul University in 2006 and the project
  was expanded to include capacity building and
  exchange components

5
CPHD Mandate

• Capacity building and Policy support
• Academic Exchange Programme (HD Research
  Methodology)
• Human Development Report Production
• The first Afghanistan NHDR published in 2004 with
  a core theme Security with a Human Face
  Challenges and Responsibilities
• Second ANHDR published in 2007 with a theme of
  Rule of Law and the Search for Justice
• Upcoming (3rd) ANHDR - 2010 will focus on Water
  Security for Human Development.

6
NHDR Preparation Challenges

• Insecurity-affecting the level of participation
  and inclusiveness of the report- collection of
  data to indentify sub-national needs and voices,
  research problems
• Quality of analysis is hindered by data
  reliability and unavailability
• Too many reports so what is the value of another
  report, NHDR

7
NHDR Preparation Challenges..

• Low buy-in from the government
• Policy dialogue environment in the country is
  constrained by the political and social factors
• National HD specialized knowledge and report
  writing skills are limited

8
Data Collection Availability Challenges

• More than three decades of long war in the
  country has resulted in the brain drain as a
  result, key development data are lacking/
  incomplete
• Field research is difficult in a conflict
  situation
• High education institutions have not received
  adequate attention from the donors and the
  government thus, resulting in outdated teaching
  methodology of memorization without focus on
  research

9
Data Collection Availability Challenges

• Population censes has not been conducted in the
  country since 1979
• National demand for the statistics in the country
  is not very strong and is donor driven
• Reliability of most of the data generated in the
  country is questionable as they are produced
  without proper statistical procedures
• Weak capacity of statistical professionals
  (skills, procedures).

10
How to Overcome

• Strengthening of statistical coordination system
  in the county
• In order to fill data gaps, the focus group
  discussion, in-depth interviews, surveys and case
  studies are accomplished for ANHDR.
• Use of proxy indicators for Human Development
  Indices calculation.
• Advocacy and Training on Human Development.

11
THANK YOU!