Collection and analysis of data and trends in drugs, crime and victimization

Project Summary Project code: 06/07R Executing entities: UNODC Funding:  US$ 480,000 Duration: 2006-2009 Theme: Social development, social integration and statistics Status: Active Region: Africa   Implementation Rate:       20.3%     Updated:       06/06/07

Background:

                Data on the situation of drugs and crime in Africa is limited and not well organized. This makes it most difficult to assess with accuracy whether any given situation is improving or worsening. Therefore, a mechanism urgently needs to be developed for the collection and analysis of data on drug, crime and victimization trends in Africa.

The proposed project is linked to the ongoing efforts of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime to collect and analyse data on major drug and crime issues. Economic and Social Council resolution 2004/32 called for an increased effort to combat drugs and crime as impediments to growth in Africa, including in the context of the Millennium Development Goals and the New Partnership for Africa’s Development. The project will rely on the expertise of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in the collection and analysis of data on drugs and crime and the support and input of its field offices and the network of African experts and institutions.

The project will focus on four subregions (North Africa, West and Central Africa, East Africa and southern Africa) and will involve eight countries (two in each subregion), to be selected. It is expected that at the end of the project the Governments of the participating countries will benefit from improved knowledge about the collection and analysis of data on crime and drugs, to support socio-economic development policies and programmes. It will also help the international community and the regional institutions to improve knowledge about the situation of drugs and crime in Africa, so that they can provide more effective and targeted assistance to the continent. The project will be executed by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, in collaboration with ECA and the Department of Economic and Social Affairs. The project will also cooperate with the Safer Cities Programme of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme.                     

Objectives:

To enhance the capacity of African countries to collect and analyse data on trends in drugs, crime and victimization.

Expected accomplishment:

(a)   Increased know-how of African Member States on cost-effective mechanisms for data collection and analysis

(b)   Improved knowledge of the drug and crime situation and victimization in Africa

(c)  Strengthened capacity of Member States to collect data and report to the United Nations on drug and crime issues

Implementation status:

The project will enhance the capacity of African countries to collect and analyse data and trends in drugs, crime and victimization. Specifically, the project will assist member states in Africa to generate better data and information on drugs and crime, strengthen data collection, analysis and reporting at the national, regional and international level, and provide a regional platform for exchange of data, information and experiences. While targeting primarily institutions at the national level, the project is designed to improve the availability of information on drugs and crime in Africa to a wider scope of stakeholders including the UN system and multilateral institutions. The project relies on the expertise of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime as the implementing agency including its field offices as well as on a network of African experts and institutions. As such, this project is part of the UNODC programme ‘Data for Africa’ (http://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/dfa.html).