Poverty Analysis and Data Initiative (PADI)

Organizational Structure and Regional Research Agenda 2004-06

This note lays out the organizational structure for the Poverty Analysis and Data Initiative and the proposed regional research agenda for the period 2004-2006.

A. Background
A meeting of the East Africa Poverty Data Analysis Initiative interim task force was held on June 5–6 2003 in Nairobi, Kenya. The objective of the meeting was to develop concrete recommendations on the set of activities to be undertaken by PADI in 2004-06 and to clarify the organizational structure, delivery mechanisms, funding plan, and next steps for the work program. Following that meeting, the interim task force prepared a proposal and obtained initial funding for the initiative.

B. PADI structure and organization

1. Executive Committee

PADI will count with a small executive committee (5-6 members) to ensure smooth organization and implementation of PADI work program. The Committee would manage funding and transfer funds to implementing agencies for organization of events. The Committee would also ensure the quality of PADI outputs.

The committee will be composed of the following members: two members from each National Chapter, a representative from AERC and the World Bank.

2. National Chapters

Each participating country will propose/select an institute to function as the PADI national chapter, preferably located in a local research institute with sufficient capacity to mobilize local researchers and organize PADI events in their countries.

• National Chapters will count with one part time coordinator who will be responsible for:
• being the point of contact for national, regional and WB individuals seeking information and/or collaboration
• organizing events
• disseminating information in the country (e.g., posting of research announcements, distributing literature, publicizing events)
• liaising with national and regional research institutions, statistical offices and relevant governmental agencies

The National Chapter coordinator will mobilize/contract additional collaborators as needed.

3. Networks

PADI will work to establish a network of statistical bureaus and a network of researchers and statisticians working or interested in working on poverty relevant issues in the East African region.

Network of Statistical Bureaus. The purpose of this network would be engage in region wide initiatives for capacity building and best practice dissemination and adoption.

Network of researchers and statisticians. The purpose of this network would be to create stronger linkages between users and providers of data. Among others, the network would be a venue for discussing and improving the design of survey questionnaires, facilitating the adoption of research relevant modules within existing questionnaires, and discussing the introduction of new data collection modalities (e.g. panel data).