UNODC Regional Workshop on Drug Surveillance and Information Systems in West Africa

In many parts of the world, information on illicit drug use is non-existent or extremely limited. Where data do exist, they are rarely collected in a harmonized manner and, as a result, the comparability of information across countries is generally low. National Governments, as well as regional and global bodies, have all committed themselves to improving the quality and comparability of information collected on illicit drug use. These include the Lisbon Consensus, discussed on 20 and 21 January 2000, which envisages the principles, structures and indicators that would form the basis of an effective strategic information system.

In order to provide technical assistance to better streamline the collection, analysis and reporting of drug use data and to understand the extent and characteristics of drug use in French-speaking West African countries, UNODC is organizing a regional workshop on drug surveillance and information systems: Improving drug surveillance and information systems to strengthen the implementation of the Lisbon Consensus in French-speaking West African countries

The workshop brought together 34 people in Senegal to (1) explore opportunities for collaboration and improvement of national and sub-regional drug monitoring and information systems based on the Lisbon Consensus indicators; (2) Share information on ongoing national, regional and international efforts to improve drug surveillance and information systems; (3) Develop coordination strategies to improve the availability, quality, and sharing of data and information on the drug situation in countries and the region ; (4) Promote a regional community of specialists to improve drug surveillance and information systems.

The discussions were organized into three sessions (Coordination and Governance of Drug Surveillance and Information Systems; Tools for the collection of drug surveillance and information systems; Methodologies of Drug Surveillance and Information Systems and (1) identified stakeholders in drug surveillance and information systems, (2) exchanged similarities and differences by sharing best practice experiences, (3) and promoted multisectoral collaborations.

Following the regional workshop, UNODC will continue to work with individual countries to strengthen the implementation of the Lisbon Consensus.