Khartoum, August 20, 2009 - SudanInfo – A National Data System Will Facilitate Monitoring of Human Development Indicators in Sudan
An online socio-economic database designed to enhance data storage and access by policy makers, development partners, civil societies, and research organizations was jointly launched today by the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) and the Southern Sudan Centre for Census, Statistics and Evaluation (SSCCSE) with the assistance of UNICEF and other UN agencies. The SudanInfo (http://www.devinfo.info/sudaninfo/) online data system will be used to monitor progress of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in Sudan and measure the efficiency and effectiveness of public policies and service delivery as part of the government’s commitment to improve transparency and accountability. SudanInfo is customized from DevInfo, a powerful software tool for monitoring human development that includes a database for organizing, storing, and displaying data in standardized formats, including tables, graphs, and maps. SudanInfo database contains 210 indicators and 12,030 records, classified by Millennium Development Goals and by Sectors; besides, it has data up to the state level. The database system is expected to be used by government ministries, UN agencies, NGOs, academics and others for data management and utilization in report writing, advocacy and planning purposes. To date, 155 people have been trained as DevInfo users and 58 people have been trained as administrators. Support for development of SudanInfo in the form of funding, training, equipment, and human resources came from the UN Country Team, including UNICEF, UNDP, UNFPA and UNOCHA. By virtue of their statistical function and mandate, CBS and SSCCSE are responsible for leadership and coordination of SudanInfo activities, including updating the database. “With the partnership of the United Nations, the Government of National Unity, and the Government of Southern Sudan, SudanInfo is gaining ground as the MDG progress tracking tool,” said Yassin ElHag Abdin, the Director General of CBS and the Chair of SudanInfo Steering Committee. “A cooperative approach – involving United Nations, CBS/SSCCSE and line ministries – adopted throughout the whole process combined with the involvement of technical professionals enabled us to customize DevInfo into SudanInfo,” said Yassin ElHag Abdin, adding that this cooperative approach will be used to continue promotion of this database as a national monitoring system.
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