Vientiane, Lao PDR: 24 June 2009 Stakeholders Consultation Workshop on the Statistical Strategy of Lao PDR Why Support the Lao Strategy & Taking this Forward

Vientiane, Lao PDR: 24 June 2009

Stakeholders Consultation Workshop on the Statistical

Strategy of Lao PDR

Why Support the Lao Strategy & Taking this Forward

Presentation by

Partnership in Statistics for Development in the 21st Century (PARIS21)


Structure of the Presentation

• About PARIS21

• How Can Strategic Planning Help

• Why Support the Lao Strategy

• Forms of Financial & Technical Assistance

• Taking this Forward


About PARIS21 Partnership in Statistics for development in the 21st Century

Objectives:

• Develop a culture of transparent, evidence-based policy making and implementation which serves to improve government accountability, effectiveness and good governance

• Better statistics and statistical analysis available to and used by national and international decision-makers and civil society

• ‘Better use of better statistics’ as part of the ‘enabling environment’ for development

• Main focus: assisting countries to design, implement, and monitor a National Strategy for the Development of Statistics.


Marrakech Action Plan for Statistics target for NSDSs

to prepare national strategies for the development of statistics (NSDS) in all low-income countries …….

……and to implement them with a view to producing better statistics for national and international use.


How can strategic planning help?

• Addressing data limitations • Prioritising use of resources • Looking across whole NSS• Robust framework and action plan for statistical

capacity building• Catalyst for change to build confidence• Respects results-based management


NSDS as a country-levelcoherence framework

ICP DHS MICS


NSDS as a country-levelcoherence framework

ICP DHS MICS

ICP DHS MICS

National Strategy for the Development of Statistics


From donorship to ownership

Development Results

Resu

lts &

Mu

tual

accou

nta

bility

4

Ownership(Partner countries)

Partners set the agenda

1

Aligning with

partners’ agenda

Using partners’ systems

Alignment(Donors - Partner)

2

Harmonisation(Donors - Donors)

Establishing common

arrangements

Simplifying procedures

Sharing information

3


Accra Agenda for Actionbuilds on the commitments agreed in the Paris Declaration on Aid

Effectiveness

An Agenda to Accelerate Progress Predictability – donors will provide 3-5 year forward information on their planned aid to partner countries.

Country systems – partner country systems will be used to deliver aid as the first option, rather than donor systems.

Conditionality – donors will switch from reliance on prescriptive conditions about how and when aid money is spent to conditions based on the developing country’s own development objectives.

Untying – donors will relax restrictions that prevent developing countries from buying the goods and services they need from whomever and wherever they can get the best quality at the lowest price.


Forms of Financial/Technical Assistance

Financing Mechanisms– Not co-financed – Parallel financing (with government and/or other partners) – Joint or pooled financing – Financing through intermediary organization

Technical Assistance – Twinning (short- or long-term)

Training – Scholarships (abroad or in recipient country) – Workshops/seminars on specific issues – On-the-job training

Goods and equipment Operating costs


Taking this Forward

1. Establish Donor Coordination Mechanism

• Revive the “statistical indicators theme group”• Identify lead donor(s)• Co-led by Lao statistical authorities

Objective: to facilitate a constructive dialogue and consultation among donors and the Lao statistical system in the field of statistics as part of the implementation of the NSDS.


Taking this Forward

2. Establish National Statistical Council

1. NSC proposes the general orientations of national statistical activities, priorities and instruments for coordinating the activities of the national statistics system.

2. NSC makes sure the ethical rules of the profession and the basic principles of statistical activity are observed.

3. NSC gives its opinion on statistical information development policy and on measures likely to direct and promote statistical activities.

4. NSC makes sure statistical work is coordinated and suggests tools for statistical coordination.

5. NSC is responsible for examining the statistics programs of public statistics structures and bodies in order to suggest a National Statistics Program covering the period of the Development Plan

6. NSC ensures the necessary consultation between producers and users of statistical information.

7. NSC is consulted on draft legal texts and rules and regulations pertaining to statistics.


One final plea…

Please support the Lao PDR master plan:

• Respect the national priorities (ownership)• Channel support thru the strategy (alignment)• Coordinate among donors (harmonisation)

Thank you!

Documents

Vientiane, Lao PDR: 24 June 2009 Stakeholders Consultation Workshop on the Statistical Strategy of Lao PDR Why Support the Lao Strategy & Taking this Forward