Why Africa needs evidence-based policies

Policymaking is fraught with uncertainties and political considerations. Research-based evidence has to compete with many other factors in government decision making, but policy making based on evidence is gaining importance in several African countries. Angela Collings In the face of dwindling official development aid and competing needs, African countries must use the available resources cost-effectively and ensure that the revenue is channelled to the most important needs. For this, they need data for informed decision-making. African governments must face their challenges with policy decisions based on actual evidence and real-time data. Traditionally, data comes from long, manpower intensive and costly studies. Technology that has the ability to extract data in real-time from high volume transaction sectors provides a much easier and efficient solution when it comes to evidence-based policy making. Evidence-based policymaking is needed in all spheres of government. Telecommunications is an important economic sector for most emerging countries and a country like Rwanda has made great strides forward in this area. Accurate data has enabled the country to make enormous progress in the communications sector: extending Internet accessibility, improving infrastructure, and integrating ICTs, as well as prioritising e-Health and digital literacy initiatives - and the Rwandan government hopes to achieve 80% financial inclusion for the Rwandan people by 2017. These are no insignificant achievements. The successes Rwanda has achieved have come largely as a result of accurate data from a collaborative effort between the country and ICT partners like Global Voice Group. Tanzania is the first country in the world to have deployed mobile money monitoring technology — a progressive and important step which will give visibility into all mobile money transactions to protect the mobile money market and users, and also to enable better planning of the cashless economy. It will also limit the risk of fraud, money laundering and the financing of terrorists. We live in a digital world where ICT is at the centre of economic security and the telecommunication infrastructure forms the backbone of the whole ecosystem. A mobile phone can now be used as a terminal through which financial services can be provided or to connect people to the Internet Superhighway. By monitoring the different areas of activity, government can ensure that the necessary quality of service required for services like these is maintained. It can also channel resources to growth areas and smooth the way for future developments. The impact of these services on the economy as a whole can also be seen. Accurate market data leads to better governance of the telecommunications sector, to market growth, to increased revenue for both government and the private sector and to better pricing for consumers. Evidence-based policy making ultimately benefits the end-user or consumer as it allows the regulatory bodies to make informed policy and other decisions based on real-time evidence and not on speculation or political influence. The African continent is re-writing its history and shifting the paradigm of development. Africa is writing its own narrative for development embedded in social and economic structural transformation and underlined by industrialisation that leads to inclusive growth and sustainable economic development. The African Union’s global strategy is to optimise the use of Africa’s resources for the benefit of all Africans. Africa cannot afford to get it wrong this time, there is no room for error and these aspirations can only be achieved by catching the wave of momentum towards 2063, broadening partnerships, and bringing the private sector on board in policy planning and implementation and, above all, in evidence-based policy-making. The writer is a communications consultant with a focus on how technology and innovative finance can support economic growth in Africa, as well as the evolving political and regulatory environment in Africa.

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Why Africa needs evidence-based policies