Developing a Strategy: Managing the process

1. Developing a Strategy:Managing the process Neil Fantom Development Data Group

2. Summary • What is a statistical strategic plan? • How plans are developed? • Processes • What to look for • Examples: Malawi and Zambia Assessing Statistical Capacity and Improving Data Quality for Development

3. Part 1: What is a strategic plan for statistics

4. Why (user view)? • Mechanism for change • Understand work programme and outputs • Improve institutional performance • Better quality national statistics • Define accountability Assessing Statistical Capacity and Improving Data Quality for Development

5. Why (producer view)? • Solicit funding • Control statistical work programme • Better coordinate national statistics • Promote independence and integrity • Produce better and more relevant statistics? Assessing Statistical Capacity and Improving Data Quality for Development

6. Structure of statistical systems Government (and donors, other users) National Statistical Agency Ministries, other producers Work Plans, budgets Work Plans, budgets Assessing Statistical Capacity and Improving Data Quality for Development

7. Differentiated approach? • Statistics agency/office • Long term “business” plan • Short term work plans • Statistical system • Frameworks (regulatory, codes of practice) • Methods • Coordination mechanisms • Products Assessing Statistical Capacity and Improving Data Quality for Development

8. Part 2: Developing a plan

9. Strategic planning cycle Assessment Evaluation Vision Mission Implementation, monitoring Strategic objectives Activities, outputs, indicators Assessing Statistical Capacity and Improving Data Quality for Development

10. Objectives S pecific M easurable A chievable R elevant T ime bound Assessing Statistical Capacity and Improving Data Quality for Development

11. Processes: managing change • Participation is critical: need to ensure ownership and relevance • Baseline: review existing strategies, reports • Assess and prioritize user needs (demand led) • Utilize PRSP process, link to external processes • Stakeholder consultations Assessing Statistical Capacity and Improving Data Quality for Development

12. Institutions • Various ID tools: • SWOT • Performance management (objective based management) • Statistical Capacity Building Indicators • Skills audit • etc. Assessing Statistical Capacity and Improving Data Quality for Development

13. Typical plan content • Current assessment • Vision and mission • Core values • Strategic and operational objectives • Capacity building programme, including infrastructure, IT • Statistical programme • Implementation mechanisms e.g. annual work plans Assessing Statistical Capacity and Improving Data Quality for Development

14. Some include: • Costed work programme • May be delegated to annual or medium term plans • National Statistical System • Legal framework • Linkages to other stakeholders, including incentives Assessing Statistical Capacity and Improving Data Quality for Development

15. Look for… • Assessment of needs – based on demand • “Quick wins”– meeting immediate needs e.g. • Analysis of existing data • Dissemination of existing data (web, databanks) • Catalogue of existing outputs • Difficult areas: • Prioritization and steering of activities and inputs • Realistic assessment of likely resources • Resource pooling • Management of incentives • Consultation with all stakeholders Assessing Statistical Capacity and Improving Data Quality for Development

16. Implementation • Accountability arrangements • Performance management • Statistical councils, boards • Agency status, semi-autonomy • Work plans and annual reports • Incentives • Budgets and money • Pooled resources Assessing Statistical Capacity and Improving Data Quality for Development

17. Managing the process • Usual prerequisite • Commitment to change • Change “agent” • Use of external support • Consultants • But part of a team: composition is important Assessing Statistical Capacity and Improving Data Quality for Development

18. Part 3: Examples

19. Example 1: Malawi • First Strategic Plan 1996-2000 • Restricted to NSO • Based on needs assessment • Good ownership, but lacked commitment • Not linked with government processes (e.g. budget and MTEF, civil service reform) • But supported by donors: some progress made Assessing Statistical Capacity and Improving Data Quality for Development

20. Progress made • Better dissemination (web based, news “flashes”, database) • Household Survey Programme developed (HIS, CWIQ, DHS) • Better Human Resource management: • Training programmes initiated at all levels • Improved recruitment Assessing Statistical Capacity and Improving Data Quality for Development

21. Consumer Price Index: February, 2003 The year on year national inflation rate has registered a slight decrease from 10.7 % in January 2003 to 10.5 % in February 2003. This rate can be decomposed into 11.5 % for urban areas and 10.1 % for rural areas. The month-on-month (January – February) Food Costs Index has experienced an overall decrease of 3.4 % compared to the same period, which was 3.7 %. The decrease has occurred as a result of the continued decline of the prices of Cereals and Cereal products mainly maize grain and maize flour. The Housing Index has also gone down by 1.4 % compared to 3.5 % recorded at the same period last year. The price increases recorded for the other commodity groups have varied widely with a high of 5.5 % for the Transport Category and a low of 0.6 % for the Household Operation Category. The high increase recorded for the Transport Category has arisen mainly due to recent increases in the price of fuel, notably petrol and diesel. However, the increase has not been large enough to offset the decreases experienced in the Food Costs Category. See also: Price indices

22. Malawi… • Second strategic plan 2002-2006 • Similar features to first plan • Different arrangements for implementation: • Semi-autonomy • Annual work plans and reports • Linked with MPRSP and civil service reform process • Identified development of National Statistics “Master Plan” as key activity Assessing Statistical Capacity and Improving Data Quality for Development

23. Example 2. Zambia • Covers 2003-3007 • Led by consultant • Based on assessment of user needs • Linked with PRSP process • Used workshops with stakeholders and staff • Improvements of NSS designed around CSO as main body • Costed capacity building and work programmes included Assessing Statistical Capacity and Improving Data Quality for Development

24. Malawi Produce better quality statistics Enhance the service provided to users Develop a system of National Statistics Realize staff potential Improve organization and management Improve financial planning and control Zambia Improve public awareness of statistics Develop and promote effective National Statistical System Enhance quality of statistical products and services Harness IT Develop human capacity and organizational effectiveness Strategic themes Assessing Statistical Capacity and Improving Data Quality for Development

25. Malawi Semi-autonomous New Act Management Board Zambia Autonomous New Act Statistical Policy Board Governance & management Assessing Statistical Capacity and Improving Data Quality for Development

26. Malawi Activities of other Ministries not included But want to: Define mandate of NSO Improve National Statistics Committee Inventory Open NSO training programme to other Ministries Publish Framework Develop standards Zambia Activities of other Ministries not included But want to: Strengthen mandate of CSO Build capacity of Ministries and users Develop framework for collaboration Promote standardization and best practice Approach to National Statistics Assessing Statistical Capacity and Improving Data Quality for Development

27. Malawi Internal quarterly and annual reviews Annual meetings of National Statistics stakeholders Reports twice a year to the Cabinet Secretary Terminal external review by Office of President & Cabinet Zambia Quarterly and annual reports to the Minister Annual and Terminal External Review by MoF/Planning Monitoring Assessing Statistical Capacity and Improving Data Quality for Development

28. PARIS21 task team: “Strategic Statistical Development Plans” www.paris21.org