A local development index for the CAR and Mali

This chapter discusses a Local Development Index (LDI) for CAR and Mali, combining data on administration, infrastructure, and services.

It offers M&E practitioners in FCV settings an innovative approach to district-level data collection and monitoring, especially in challenging environments with security and logistical issues.

In this chapter from Data collection in fragile states: Innovations from Africa and beyond, Coulibaly, Hoogeveen, Katayama and Yama (2020) discuss an innovative approach to data collection in fragile and conflict-affected settings (FCV), focusing on the Central African Republic (CAR) and Mali. In response to the severe logistical and security challenges in CAR, the World Bank proposed a district-level census, the Enquête Nationale sur les Monographies Communales (ENMC), to inform recovery efforts and monitor progress. The census is modelled after Mali's District Poverty Index, providing a composite Local Development Index (LDI) to assess local conditions in the CAR. The resource is highly relevant for M&E practitioners working in similar FCV contexts, offering insight into data collection in challenging environments and the use of indices to inform recovery planning.

Key features

• Composite index for decision-making: The LDI integrates data on local administration, infrastructure, and basic services, providing a clear, policy-relevant overview of development conditions in each district.
• Adaptation to FCV environments: The LDI was designed to work in conflict-affected regions, where traditional surveys are not feasible due to security concerns, damaged infrastructure, and displacement.
• Sampling methods for data collection: Instead of relying on a traditional sampling frame, the census adapted to the absence of statistical systems and displacement caused by conflict. Enumerators used unorthodox sampling methods, interviewing any available local representatives or officials in districts where some officials were absent, ensuring data collection could proceed despite disruptions. For the household survey, 10 households were randomly selected in each district, with five chosen from the district capital and five from a village 20-40 km away, providing a representative sample while minimising security risks.
• Poverty and development insights: While focused on development, the LDI serves as an alternative to poverty maps, helping identify areas most in need of investment and recovery support.
• Cost-effective, rapid data collection: The index was constructed quickly and at a low cost, facilitating its potential for regular updates and continued use in monitoring recovery and development progress.
• Challenges of implementation: The resource details how security risks, logistical difficulties, and questionnaire limitations were managed during the census, offering practical lessons for similar efforts in FCV contexts.

How would you use the resource?

This resource is highly practical for M&E practitioners seeking innovative methods for rapid data collection in challenging environments. For example, it can inform the design of monitoring tools in FCV settings where traditional methods are unfeasible due to insecurity, poor infrastructure, or a lack of statistical capacity. The approach of using local representatives to gather district-level data and developing an actionable composite index can be replicated in other fragile settings to guide targeted recovery efforts. Furthermore, the lessons learned from the logistical and security challenges in CAR provide valuable insights for designing safe and efficient data collection methodologies in other FCV contexts.

Why are we recommending it?

The resource is recommended for its relevance in FCV settings, particularly for its innovative approach to data collection and monitoring when traditional methods are impractical. The Local Development Index offers a simple but effective tool for prioritising development investments based on reliable, district-level data. Its applicability to other fragile states makes it a valuable resource for practitioners facing similar challenges.