Integrated Data and Policy Resource Portal for the Time for Growth Collaborative
African Centre for Statistics (ACS) at the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA)
Multilateral
Time for Growth (T4G) Collaborative
Regional
The objective of the commitment is to establish an open-access, integrated data and policy resource portal that strengthens the use of time use data in policymaking across Africa. The commitment aims to improve access to policy-relevant time use data, indicators, metadata, analytical resources, country profiles and practical tools, while supporting countries to integrate this evidence into planning, budgeting, public expenditure, sector policies and inclusive growth strategies. Through knowledge sharing, capacity building, peer learning and selected AI-enabled applications, the portal will help transform time use data from a mainly statistical resource into a practical input for evidence-based policy decisions.
The Integrated Data and Policy Resource Portal for the Time for Growth Collaborative addresses the gap between the availability of time use data and its practical application in policymaking.
Despite its potential to inform productivity, planning, budgeting, public expenditure, and inclusive growth strategies, time use data are not consistently driven by policy priorities, integrated into macroeconomic and sectoral decision-making, or supported by strong mechanisms for sharing knowledge, methods, and tools across countries, limiting their uptake and use.
The portal will strengthen the utility of time use data for evidence-based policymaking across Africa through an open-access platform hosting policy documents, analytical resources, country profiles, metadata catalogues, and key indicators.
Key activities to build the portal include:
· Mapping and analysis: Assessing how time use data are utilised in policymaking, identifying gaps, investment priorities, and enabling conditions for improved data use and policy uptake in countries.
· Standards, guidance, and tools: Developing policy-relevant time use indicators, metadata and cataloguing standards, and practical tools for integrating time use data into planning, budgeting, sector policymaking, and public investment.
· Technical innovation and AI applications: Piloting AI-enabled tools for policy analysis, interoperability, data harmonisation, and accessibility.
· Capacity building and peer learning: Supporting training, workshops, and South-South exchanges.
Intended outcomes include improved accessibility and usability of time use data, stronger integration into policy processes, enhanced analytical capacity, and more consistent evidence-based decision-making across sectors and countries.
Progress will be monitored by UNECA and the T4G Collaborative, which will track implementation against the three-phased timeline and assess the delivery of key outputs. Progress will be monitored through periodic internal reporting and partner updates, including documentation of milestones, platform development, and use of outputs. Evaluation of success will focus on uptake and usability of the Portal, quality and relevance of analytical products, and user feedback.