Finding quality data in Africa: Lessons from the field

Abstract

As data becomes more important for decisionmakers, it also becomes increasingly critical to ensure data quality. However, in Africa, getting data can be hard – not to mention getting highquality data. Quantitative data is often outdated or incomplete, and even if data can be found, it is too limited for the intended purpose. Gathering qualitative data is often complicated by local cultural norms and the lack of education of respondents. Experienced scholars from both inside and outside the continent reflect on some of the challenges they experienced seeking to gather data in Africa and share their strategies to help others gather better data.