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Report on Study Tour to Statistics South Africa by MOC
Chairman and Rapporteur
1.
The tour extended from June 11th
to June 16th ,2007 based on an invitation by
Statistician General ,South Africa. An agreed upon
program was prepared by Statistics S.A.
We
received very warm and pleasant welcome, as "Sudan
Delegation", from all Statistics South Africa; this
continued from the time we arrived to Johannesburg
Airport up to the time we left the Airport back.
2. The first activity was a meeting with
Statistics South Africa Senior Staff , including the
Statistician General . (One of Senior Staff is Dr.Jairo
Arrow, Deputy Director General Quality &Integration ,a
South African National of Sudanese origin –Dinka from
the South ,who left Khartoum 1970 ; however , Dr.Arrow
is keeping his Sudanese Nationality and catching up in
all the developments in Sudan up to date .) We
explained our mission ,and what we would like to see and
know; it is centered around the idea of observation
,monitoring and evaluation of different phases of any
statistical operation in general ,and population
censuses in particular .On their side they told us what
they have for us, and what they can do .
3 .At the "Geography Division" which
"speaks statistics" we have been exposed to, and
witnessed a great experiment in which the Division
headed by a learned geographer who is originally
statistician , makes every geographic aspect or
information "speaks statistics" .We learnt about the
use of the technologies of the GIS,GPS, and GPRS ,and
where to look to evaluate the results ;also what are
the weaknesses and what are the great advantages .We saw
the type of maps produced, and a lot of satellite images
as samples .
The
Division is presently involved in a big project:
building the Dwelling Frame to cover the whole country,
with detailed information about the location , the
addresses, type of dwelling …etc ; all supported by a
picture of the dwelling .
4.
At the Data Processing Center, which has just
completed the work on the "Community Survey " conducted
2006 ,as an intercensal study, after South Africa
shifted the planned population census of 2006 to 2011
–ten years after 2001 census .Step by step we followed
the data treatment including the scanning process. 8
scanners were operating , plus two stand by to guarantee
continuation .We learned where to look for weak points
and where to concentrate on checking and evaluating .
Again
here in the Data Processing Center, the chief person is
originally a statistician. Of the things that attracted
our attention in the Center ,is the strict and high
level of security maintained.(in fact security is
observed every where in the premises of Statistics
South Africa ).
In the
Center every step of the processing is separated from
the other, but arranged in linkage form and line .The
erroneous and/or defective forms are treated separately
and put in shape before scanning .
With
regards to power supply ,There are stand –by enough
generators ; but over and above ,there is a machine
(one-room big) that automatically operates in case the
power supply goes off ;it guarantees the continuation of
the supply of power up to 28 minutes .
5.
Attended the meeting of "Population
Statistics Committee", one the committees of "South
Africa Statistics Council ". The meeting was mainly to
discuss the Community Survey for evaluation .All phases
of the survey have been tackled and discussed and
evtually assessed by professional experts; we were
observing and noting .
6.Met
,then with the Chairman ,and members of "South Africa
Statistics Council " ,the highest body in the
Statistical System in South Africa . It is non
government body composed of professionals and other
specialties, mainly statistics users .The Council is
responsible for putting the policies and priorities of
statistical work , plan for that and name the agency to
conduct it . The Council reports its proposals and
recommendations to the Minister ,who usually takes them
for execution ; the Council even plans the budget for
whatever statistical undertaking it considers.
The
Chairman and members of South Africa Statistics Council
,explained to us how the statistics system in S.A. is
working ;it is every efficient and the Council is
finding full the support and assistance from the
Government . The Council Chairman assured us that they
will do all possible steps to help Sudan in the field
of Statistics, provided the negotiations and steps come
from the two Statistics Agencies in South Africa and
Sudan .
7. The meeting with Prof.Pali J.Lihola
,Statistician General of South Africa was the last
activity in our official program. The man expressed his
gratitude and thanks for visit and welcomed and
encouraged such visits between the African Countries to
exchange knowledge and expediencies .
Prof.Lihola told that he is ready to do whatever they
can to help Sudan in the field ; he and his organization
,are involved in a joint work to bring the African
Statisticians together in what could be called
"Statistical Pan Africanism" ,so to speak . Already
decision is taken by the group to help Sudan ,among
other African Countries ,conduct its forthcoming Census
.Statistics South Africa is ready to sign a memorandum
of understanding with CBS for mutual corporation and
assistance. We thanks Prof.Lihola for everything and
offerd that MOC Chairman talk to the PCC Chairman to
add Statistics South Africa to MOC membership with their
experience .He welcomed the idea and promised they will
do their best to enrich MOC work ; anyway Prof.Lihola
personally will be attending the 4th MOC
regular meeting ,the 3rd of July 2007 in
Khartoum .
8 .At the Closure of our tour we paid a
visit to Sudan Embassy in Pretoria we met with H.E.
Embassador Kuol Alor how warmly welcomed us, and higly
rated the visit to the Embassy when he knew why we were
in Pretoria .We exchanged business cards with promises
for future contacts.
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