National National Strategies for the Strategies for the Development of Development of

StatisticsStatisticsClementina Ivan-UngureanuTraining: Essential SNA: Building the basics

Addis Ababa, 12-16 February 2012

Content

• What is NSDS?

• NSDS key principles

• Phases to develop a NSDS

National Strategies for the Development of Statistics

(NSDS)

Role of statistics:

- Present the economic and social situation

- Monitor national progress

- Support policymaking

Better statistics

Better policies BETTER DEVELOPMENT

Why statistics?Statistics help:• identify and clarify social and economic

issues that affect development• guide the design and choice of

economic and social policy• promote and assess the effectiveness

in the delivery of services provided by government

NSDSIn developing countries, - The statistical system is fragile- Growing requests from national and international

users- Limited technical and human resources available,

often devaluing the reliability and integrity of the data provided

- As part of government administration, the national statistical office has to work on low budgets while still ensuring efficiency and productivity.

NSDS

Under these conditions is important:

- to have a clear picture of further development and integrate this into Strategic planning.

( cont)

NSDS

Number of initiatives and systems that promote best statistical practices and serve as a framework for strategic planning

• Fundamental Principles – of Official Statistics• Data Quality Assessment Framework

(DQAF),• The PARIS21 Statistical Capacity Building

Indicators (SCBI)

( cont)

Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics

1. Relevance, impartiality and equal access

2. Professional standards and ethics

3. Accountability and transparency

4. Prevention of misuse

5. Sources of official statistics

6. Confidentiality

7. Legislation

8. National coordination

9. Use of international standards

10.International cooperation

Data Quality Assessment Framework (DQAF)

0. Prerequisites of quality

- Legal and institutional environment

- Resources

- Relevance

- Other quality management

1. Assurances of integrity -The principle of objectivity in the collection, processing, and dissemination of statistics

- Professionalism

- Transparency

- Ethical standards

Data Quality Assessment Framework (DQAF) (cont)

2. Methodological soundness- The methodological basis for the statistics follows Internationally accepted standards, guidelines, or good practices

- Concepts and definitions- Scope- Classification/ sectorization - Basis for recording 3 Accuracy and reliability- Source data and statistical

techniques are sound and statistical outputs sufficiently portray reality

- Source data- Assessment of source data - Statistical techniques- Assessment and validation of intermediate data and

statistical outputs- Revision studies

Data Quality Assessment Framework (DQAF) (cont)

4. Serviceability Statistics, with adequate periodicity and timeliness, are consistent and follow a predictable revisions policy

- Periodicity and timeliness - Consistency - Revision policy and practice 5. Accessibility-Data and metadata are easily

available and assistance to users is adequate- Data accessibility - Metadata accessibility- Assistance to users

Paris21 Statistical capacity indicators

• The SCB indicators measure the statistical conditions in a country through a prism that captures representative elements of these conditions;

• Sixteen quantitative indicators cover resources (domestically and externally funded annual budget, staff, and equipment), inputs (survey and administrative data sources), statistical products;

• Eighteen qualitative indicators focus on relevant aspects of environment (institution and organizational), of core statistical processes, and of statistical products.

NSDS

Need for statistics and strategic approaches reinforced by:

• Managing for Development Results

• Poverty Reduction Strategies

• Millennium Development Goals

Poverty Reduction Strategy

• Represents a replacement of the Structural Adjustment Programs required by IMF and WB to help countries in their activity for the poverty reduction.

• The papers presented by countries detail the plan to promote growth and reduce poverty through implementation of specific economic, social and structural policies. This allows WB and IMF to be sure that the country will use the aid towards development .

Poverty Reduction Strategy

Is elaborated according to 5 principles:• is country-driven • is directed toward achieving results and

focused on outcomes • recognizes that tackling poverty requires a

comprehensive approach • is partnership-oriented • is based on a long-term perspective for

poverty reduction

Millennium development goals

• Eradicate extreme poverty• Achieve universally primary education• Promote gender equality• Reduce child mortality• Improve maternal health• Combat HIV/ AIDAS malaria and other

diseases• Ensure environmental sustainability• Develop a global partnership for development

NSDSThe NSDS approach has been adopted as a

new benchmark to:- Improve the statistical system in line with

the user needs and priorities. - Provides a vision for where the NSS

should be in 5 years and sets milestones for getting there,

- Is a comprehensive and unified framework for user needs and statistical capacity assessment and for priorities decision.

(cont)

NSDSBefore putting in place an NSDS, an analysis of

the strengths and weaknesses of the national statistical system has to be carried out.

Elements for analysis:– Institutional framework and decision-making

processes regarding official statistics (including producer coordination instruments and confidentiality protection);

– Statistical infrastructure (dissemination, networks with users and respondents, statistical registers, analytical capacity, etc.);

– Capacity to carry out household and business surveys such as regular data collection;

(cont)

NSDS KEY PRINCIPLES (i)

• Developed at national level, with high level political support

• Demand-focused and integrated within national development policy processes

• Developed in an inclusive and consultative way with the users

• Assess all statistical sectors and provide a vision and strategic plan for national statistics

• Set out an integrated statistical development programme

NSDS KEY PRINCIPLES (ii)• Address institutional and organizational

constraints and processes, including resources• Build based on quality as purpose• Build on what exists and continue to satisfy

immediate needs during the design process• Respond to user needs but is realistic about

resources• Serve as a coherence framework for

international support for statistical development

Countries currently

implementing a strategy

Countries currently

designing a strategy or awaiting adoption

Countries with strategy

expired or without

strategy and currently planning a

NSDS

Countries without

strategy nor planning one

TOTAL

No. % No. % No. % No. % Africa 22 55 15 37.5 2 5.0 1 2.5 40 Asia and Pacific

11 40.7 7 25.9 6 22.2 3 11.1 27

Latin America Caribbean

1 11.1 3 33.3 1 11.1 4 44.4 9

Europa 3 100 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 TOTAL 37 46.8 25 31.6 9 11.4 8 10.1 79 Source: National Strategies for Development of Statistics, Progress Report, May 2011

Phases for NSDS elaboration

• Phase I: Launching the process (NSDS Design Road Map)

• Phase II: Assessment of the Current Status of the National Statistical System

• Phase III: Developing the vision and identifying strategic options

• Phase IV: Preparing the implementation plan

• Phase V: Implementation, monitoring and evaluation

LAUCHING

ASSESSMENT Where we are

VISION Where we want to be

ACTION PLAN

How to get there

IMPLEMENTATION How to stay there

Phase I: Launching the process

Key outcomes of this critical phase - To take the decision to develop an NSDSWays:-Successful advocacy, sensitization, and

dialogue with politicians, policy-makers, and decision-makers

-Participation by the managers of the national statistical system in national policy discussions ( as GDDS)

How to develop advocacy strategies for statistics?

1. What changes are needed that advocacy can help to bring about?

2.What social, political, economic and institutional factors are affecting the dynamics and possibilities for change and improvement?

3.Which organizations and individuals (internal and external) can drive or help to drive that change?

4.What will motivate those key organizations and individuals and what messages will work best?

5. How can the messages be delivered, either directly or through intermediaries such as the media and other non-government channels?

Step 1 What changes are needed ?

• Develop an NSDS

• Implement new surveys

• Implement NA

• ….

• ….

Step 2. Factors affecting

POSITIVE FACTORS NEGATIVE FACTORS MDGs and PRSs have increased demand for monitoring information

Limited resources available to government

Donors becoming more interested in statistics to demonstrate effectiveness of aid; and to monitor budget support

Most donors not supporting statistics

Minister of Finance needs to demonstrate that development (and aid) is working

High profile statistics (e.g. Consumer Price Index) have raised media and public interest in statistics

Demand for statistics generally low

etc etc

Step 3. Which organizations and individuals can help

Increased resources will need to come from Government or from donors.

NSO can advocate directly to the government and donors and/or indirectly through the media and civil society groups interested in holding their government accountable.

Step 4. What will motivate them those and what

messages will work best? WHO CAN SUPPORT MESSAGE

Government Improvement in quality of data, timeliness, new indicators needed for economic and social policy

Donor group Better statistics will improve allocation and monitoring of aid Statistics are needed to manage for results

Media (and civil society) Better statistics will improve means to hold government accountable for its policies

Step 5. How can the messages be delivered

HOW TO DELIVER THE MESSAGE DIRECTLY TRHOUGT

INTERMEDIARS Government - Demonstrate impact of good

statistics (good and bad examples) - Deliver quality statistics, subject to budget limitations

Regular media coverage Donor interest in statist

Donor group - Meeting with DAC donor group - Individual donor meetings - Make sure donor representatives see statistics that are produced

Regular media coverage

Media (and civil society)

- Press releases - Interviews with journalists - Press briefing/ training sessions - Posters, leaflets - User-friendly publications

Phase II: Assessment of the Current Status of the NSS

The assessment includes:1.Identifying user satisfaction, 2.Assessing each key statistical output 3.Assessing methodologies4.Analysing the existing capacity (for example,

infrastructural, technical, and resources) 5.Legal and institutional framework

1.Identifying user satisfaction

Issues:- How is statistics used;- Availability of required statistics and how they may

have been constrained by lack of adequate statistics;- User opinion about the existing statistics in terms of

relevance, accuracy, consistency, completeness, timeliness, level of details (geographic, gender, etc.);

- NSI relationships with main producers of statistics and their role in contributing to the development of the NSS;

- Users future statistical needs and priorities and where there are gaps;

- How the users think their needs can be integrated in the context of the NSDS.

1.Identifying user satisfaction (cont)

Approaches:

- To identify users who are interested in particular data sets or groups of data and contact them

- Use GDDS relationships frame

- Others ; organize workshops, media support, etc

2, 3, 4 Assessments

• GDDS frame

- Data coverage, periodicity, and timeliness

- Data quality: transparency on methodology, sources and cross-checks

- Integrity: transparency, objectivity and professionalism

- Access by the public: timetable of releases and simultaneous release to all users

• Capacity : IT tools, HR, financial

5.Legal and institutional framework

Issues:- Level of statistical awareness in the country; - The extent to which existing statistics are utilized

for evidence-based policy and decision-making; - Statistical legislation;- The position and status of statistical agencies

within government for instance, as autonomous or semi-autonomous agencies or as part of a government ministry or department

Phase III: Developing the vision and identifying strategic

options

1. Deciding the mission and vision statements

2. Agreeing on desired results

3. Setting priorities and strategies, employing scenarios to deliver the vision and results

1.Mission• A mission answers the question: what is our

business and why do we exist as an agency or a system.

It provides :- the basis for priorities, strategies, plans and

work assignments.- describe the purpose, customers, products or

services, markets, - presents the basic technology used by the

statistical system to realise its vision.

Examples of missions• NSI Jamaica- To provide relevant, timely and

accurate statistical information and technical services, consistent with international standards, to national and international client.

• NSI UK- Our mission is to improve understanding of life in the United Kingdom and enable informed decisions through trusted, relevant, and independent statistics and analysis.

• NSI Mauritius -To provide timely, relevant and reliable statistics, consistent with international principles and standards, for effective decision-making and monitoring

Vision

The vision, presents the desired future state and answers to the question:

What do we want to become in the longer-term 5-10 years

Examples of vision

• NSI Jamaica - To be a learning organization that is on the cutting edge of Information and Technology and is responsive to the needs of our clients

• NSI Mauritius- To be a key provider of world-class statistical information

Examples of vision (cont)• NSI- UKONS - where people come first for trusted statistics• Customers value our statistics, analysis and advice to drive their

decisions and meet their prioritiesThis vision will deliver our strategic outcomes:• CustomersWho are informed about how statistics drive their decisions, the quality of

our statistics, and know how their priorities influence our plans• PeopleOur staff are engaged and motivated to work in ONS, adding value,

innovating and contributing to our vision.• StatisticsRecognized for the trust they bring, their fitness for purpose and their

relevance for decision making.• Please note the strategic objectives and priorities that support the

vision are currently in development and will be shared with you as soon as they are available

2. Agreeing on results

• Based on the assessment , mission and vision decided the main results are defined.

• They are concrete and in line with the objectives

Priorities and Strategies

WHERE WE ARE

WHERE WE WANT TO BE

WAYS TO REACH THE OBJECTIVES

STRATEGIC GOALS Overall accomplishments to be achieved

STRATEGY-overall methods for achieving goals and the vision

3.Priorities and strategies

There are two main approaches to develop them:

1. Input approach

- Institutional effectiveness

- Adequacy of physical or capital resources

- Adequacy of human resources

- Knowledge resources

- Management effectiveness

Priorities and strategies (cont)

2. Output approach looks at statistical products and services such as:

- Coverage, periodicity and timeliness of statistics

- Access by the public

- Integrity

- Quality

Phase IV: Preparing the implementation plan

• The strategies have to be properly and effectively implemented through a costed and time-bound action plan, including a financial plan incorporating proposals for external assistance.

Phase IV: Preparing the implementation plan

(cont)

Implementation plan:

- What is to be done ?

- By whom?

- When?

- Cost and Resources ( financial and human)

Phase V: Implementation, monitoring and evaluation

Statistical systems must remain flexible and respond to new demands for data and a changing environment.

Mechanisms to monitor and evaluate progress, to review the strategy and to make modifications when required must be developed.

Phase V: Implementation, monitoring and evaluation (cont)

• Strategic management as a continuous process ; flexibility to response to changes, reviewing the strategy and adapting

• Managing implementation: Management capacity needs to be developed to implement the strategy; financial management and procurement.

• Reporting, Monitoring and Evaluation

NSDS- conclusions1.To be integrated into national development

policy processes and context2. Developed in an inclusive way,

incorporating results-based management principles and meet quality standards

3. To be comprehensive and coherent and provide the basis for the sustainable development of statistics with quality

4. Presents where the statistical system is now, how it needs to be developed and how to accomplish this.