National Strategies for Development of Official Statistics

Mustafa DincThe World BankPrepared for the 7th SPECA Project Working Group on Statistics (PWGS)

August 28-29, 2012, Issyk-Kul, Kyrgyzstan

New Approach to Statistical Capacity Improvement

• Coordinate support for statistics through a “system wide approach” • Increase funding for statistics• Coordinate technical assistance to countries• Build on existing mechanisms and programs, with improved

monitoring and feedback• Focus on implementation of country-owned strategies• Pool donor funding to support country-led programs• Target countries with weak statistical systems and with a

commitment to change

The first step is to design an NSDS that could provide a country with a vision of the development of statistics and a detailed, costed action plan over a period of 5 to 10 years that covers the production of all official statistics.

2004 Marrakech Action Plan forStatistics (MAPS)

Mainstream strategic planning for statistical systems and prepare national statistical development strategies for all low-income countries by 2006. A well designed plan should:

• Provide detailed analysis of current strengths and weaknesses• Address national, regional and international needs for data• Be aligned with the country’s development program and poverty

reduction strategy• Include all the main data producers and users• Build upon and increase the value of existing data processes• Promote data quality improvements in line with international standards

and good practice• Serve as a coordinating framework for international and bilateral

assistance

Progress after MAPS

 

Countries currently

implementing a strategy

Countries currently designing a strategy or awaiting adoption

Countries with strategy expired or without strategy,

but currently planning an NSDS

Countries without a

strategy or with expired strategy and not planning

one

TOTAL

  No % No % No % No %  

Low income countries 49 62% 6 8.9% 23 27.8% 1 1.3% 79Lower-middle income Countries 20 50% 6 15% 12 30% 2 5% 40

TOTAL 69   12   35   3   119

Source: Paris21, http://www.paris21.org/nsds-status

2011 Busan Action Plan for Statistics (BAPS)

Strengthen and re-focus national statistical strategies with particular emphasis on improving statistical systems that address country-level development priorities to increase in-country capacity to respond to emerging and unforeseen data needs.

• Update strategies to reflect new challenges and opportunities and integrate international and domestic data collection activities.

• Prioritize implementation to ensure that crucial domestic policy priorities are addressed first

• Establish partnerships among data users and producers

• Improve existing data collection approaches and develop new ones that are implemented on a regular basis

• Address weaknesses in vital registration systems, gender statistics and data for monitoring and evaluation of progress

• Ensure that the development of sectoral data is fully integrated into and synchronized with national statistical strategies

• Deliver more efficient and effective aid and TA for strengthening statistical systems and results measurement

• Promote improved coordination and partnerships between statistics users and producers

• Promote a system-wide approach in statistics at country level

• Include other stakeholders in statistical production and dialogue

Assist setting up results oriented measurement frameworks

Provide support in a harmonized

and well coordinated

manner

Respect country

leadership and leave

sustainable capacity

Support nationally-agreed statistics priorities

NSDS and Statistical Capacity Building Today

New NSDS Guidelines

• A PARIS21 Task Team is working to update the existing NSDS guidelines

• New guidelines will take account of recent initiatives, share good practices in key areas, address specific needs (sectoral, fragile states, small states, sub-national and regional approaches), and emphasize the implementation

• Lessons learned from previous NSDSs on preparation and implementation will be reflected

• It is expected to be completed later this year

WB Programs for Supporting Statistical Capacity Development

• Trust Fund for Statistical Capacity Building (TFSCB)• Statistics for Results Facility Catalytic Fund (SRF)• ECASTAT Trust Fund• Lending operations, including the STATCAP program• International Household Survey Network (IHSN) and

Accelerated Data Program (ADP)• Virtual Statistical System (VSS)• Bulletin Board on Statistical Capacity• E-learning

WB Support to SPECA Countries

  TFSCB STATCAP SRF ECASTAT

  Project Amount

(thousand USD)

Amount (thousand

USD)

Amount (thousand

USD)

Amount (thousand

USD)Afghanistan       14,000 Azarbaijan SCB (Proposed) 250     

Kazakhstan NSDS, NSDS update 170 22,813 

Kyrgyzstan SCB+NSDS, SCB, NSDS 663     In planning

Tajikistan SCB+NSDS, NSDS 433.4 5,900   In planning

Turkmenistan SCB+NSDS 387.5      Uzbekistan          

TOTAL 9 1,904 28,713 14,000 

Challenges Ahead

• The budgets, human resources and IT infrastructures of statistical institutions could not keep up with the growing demand statistics.

• This widening gap could be bridged by effective and efficient use of resources

• Using new and innovative approaches would be needed • Greater use of administrative data• Use of new survey techniques that rely on different approaches and

technologies based on various population segments • Better planning and management methods should be introduced

• Existing NSDSs need to be reviewed to make them more realistic and conducive to implementation