Our strategy is to:

Develop a suite of specialized information products and services for South Africa and Africa

This is accomplished by using several different approaches:

• Sourcing public and private datasets
  Conducting primary research 
• Providing technical research support and capacity building
• Providing spatial data and developing web based applications
  

Specialist information products include tabular and spatial data:

Tabular data: A key focus area of AfricaScope is to develop and provide access to a suite of specialized products. These products are be generated within the financial, MSME, ICT, surveys and GIS areas. For example, within the financial sector AfricaScope has integrated FinScope surveys from across Africa into the ESPRI. These products will continue to be developed and made available for commercial purposes. Similarly, datasets will be sourced in the MSME, ICT, surveys and GIS sectors.

Spatial data: There is also be the development of spatial information products with a strong focus on the financial and ICT sectors. For example, AfricaScope has mapped the Financial Summary Measure (FSM) from the South African FinScope survey and will do the same for the FinScope survey undertaken in Kenya and Tanzania in 2009. Other variables like number of banked population, access to different bank accounts, main company banked with, knowledge of financial systems and financial literacy have been mapped. We are also working with ICT Research Africa to see how information from their ICT surveys can be mapped.

Other spatial data focuses on:

• Demographic data
• Census data in African Countries
• Crime
• Living Standards Measure (LSM)
• Financial access
• Media Footprints
• AutoParc statistics
• Credit Data
• Poverty
• GDP data
• Retail outlets

Sourcing public and private datasets

We also source key datasets for African countries including:

• Financial market data – the focus is on accessing data on financial access, MSME, and financial institutions in countries across Africa
• ICT Data – AfricaScope is presently negotiating access to ICT survey datasets for selected countries in Africa

• Census data – census data is foundational in being able to conduct nationally representative household surveys and being able to map information at a local level. It is also indispensable when looking at markets and planning the location of social (e.g. schools) and economic facilities (retail outlets). Presently AfricaScope is assisting to capture the census data for Tanzania and has developed a method of rapidly capturing census data into GIS.
• Poverty data – we will continue to work with national partners in African countries to source and developed poverty datasets. AfricaScope has developed such datasets for South Africa
• Opinion based data – AfricaScope will access datasets that provide a socio-economic, and psychographic view of African countries. In this regard AfricaScope sources datasets such as Afro-barometer and other opinion based surveys in Africa
• Information networks – AfricaScope has established networks across Africa that will provide critical information on the financial, ICT, surveys and GIS sectors

Conducting primary research

Manage and run research surveys across Africa: AfricaScope has established partnerships with key research organizations across Africa. The approach that we follow is to work with these organizations in implementing primary research in their countries. This includes providing technical support in the implementation of household surveys and developing spatial databases. AfricaScope has provided this type of technical support in countries like Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Zambia, Tanzania, Pakistan and Thailand.

Where capacity does not exist to implement household surveys, AfricaScope establishes such capacity with input from national partners. Presently AfricaScope has a field survey team of over 250 field workers in South Africa that enables it to implement nationally representative surveys. Areas of focus will include financial, ICT, socio-economic and GIS surveys.



Citizen Report Cards: AfricaScope has worked extensively with the World Bank in the implementation of Citizen Report Card surveys in countries like South Africa, Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone. The areas that AfricaScope specialize in is the sourcing of a reliable sampling frame, design and drawing of samples, questionnaire development, overseeing fieldwork and data capture, data analysis and report writing.

Conduct qualitative and quantitative surveys: We conduct qualitative (i.e. focus groups) and quantitative surveys in African countries. This is mostly done in partnership with national partners.

Sample Frame Development and Sample Design: AfricaScope is experienced in the developing sample frames in African countries. This involves sourcing census data and integrating it into a spatial format. Furthermore, using a combination of statistical techniques, mid-year estimates and satellite imagery, the sample frames can be updated on an annual basis.

Overall Survey Quality Assurance: AfricaScope has worked extensively in doing quality assurance of surveys conducted in Africa, especially in the financial and service delivery environments.

Analysis and Report Writing: Our research team has extensive experience in analysing primary research data using various statistical and data mining techniques. We also have extensive experience in producing reports and summary statistics booklets.

Providing technical research support and capacity building

Members of AfricaScope have had years of experience in providing technical support on surveys implemented in African countries. AfricaScope specialises in:

• Issuing terms of reference to research houses
• Evaluating research house submissions
• Developing questionnaires
• Designing survey samples
• Producing fieldwork maps
• Conducting fieldwork training and writing training manuals
• Monitoring fieldwork quality
• Quality controlling data capture and final datasets
• Analysing data and writing reports
• Data mining
• Segmenting survey data
• Strategic planning and product development
• Mapping survey results

Provide spatial data and develop web based applications

Spatial representation of survey data: AfricaScope specializes in the use of two techniques to spatially represent household survey data. The first is the use of point thematic maps, which provides a qualitative method of viewing survey results and trying to discern if there are any distinctive patterns. The second is small area estimation that uses statistical and artificial neural network techniques in extrapolating survey results from areas where interviews were conducted to all other areas.

Site Optimization using Accessibility Models: Using accessibility modelling methods AfricaScope is able to determine the present accessibility of service points. Furthermore, expansion models are used to identify the optimum location of new service points. Other models enable reduction and relocation of service points. AfricaScope has done extensive work in looking at the spatial optimization of government service points in South Africa.

Data base development: Members of AfricaScope have developed many national and international datasets. It is the intention of the company to continue to develop tabular and spatial datasets for South Africa and other African countries. Datasets that have been developed in the past include census, telecommunications, schools and clinics, crime, living standard measures, poverty and economic statistics.

Web mapping: In partnership with other organizations, AfricaScope is able to develop web mapping applications. One of the first applications was Social Mapping tool that maps the location of development projects and aggregates statistics to higher administrative level. It also allows other administrative and socio-economic data to be overlaid. This tool combines the use of databases and Google earth APIs to visualize the information.

AfricaScope has also developed a web application for the Confederation Cup held in South Africa in 2009. The application allowed the host cities and stadiums to be viewed as well as closure areas and park and rides. AfricaScope is looking at the opportunity to develop a similar application for the 2010 World Cup. Web applications will be developed for the crime auto stats and credit profiling products being developed by AfricaScope.