ADB’s Statistical Capacity Building Strategy and Program

1. ADB’s Statistical Capacity Building Strategy and Program Kaushal Joshi Statistician, ADB 2007 International Conference on the Millennium Development Goals Statistics (ICMDGS) 1-3 October Manila, Philippines

2. Background • Marrakech Action Plan in Statistics calls for national strategies for development statistics • Requires countries to accord higher priority for development of statistics • Adoption of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and Managing for Development Results approach requires reliable data on indicators for tracking progress and development outcomes

3. Background • Countries own needs for timely and reliable statistics for planning and development • National Statistical Systems are facing severe challenges to meet emerging data needs of internal and external clients

4. Why SCB? • Assisting countries with weak statistical systems to build statistical infrastructure • To overcome common obstacles to statistical development • Breaking vicious cycle that inhibits development of statistics • Creating effective and efficient national statistical system for good governance

5. ADB’s Role in Statistical Capacity Building (SCB) in the Region • ADB recognizes role of modern statistical systems in providing timely, relevant and credible statistics in the development of countries • Long history of technical assistance in statistics • Economics and Research Department (ERD) has been assisting the developing members countries (DMCs) through SCB TAs and RETAs for more than 35 years • 21 DMCs have benefited from advisory TA, 44 DMCs from regional TA

6. ADB’s Role in Statistical Capacity Building (SCB) in the Region • Areas of technical assistance in statistics • national accounts, poverty monitoring, household and establishment surveys, services sector statistics, environment, agriculture statistics, developing statistical plans, etc.

7. Requests for TA Processes & implements TA Channels request RD/RM ERD DMC DMC Note: RD = Regional Department RM = Resident Mission Traditional approach to SCB • Some TA projects are processed and implemented by RDs/RMs with or without assistance from ERD

8. Limitations of Traditional Approach • No assessment of DMC’s comprehensive statistical development strategy/ priorities • No assessment of ADB’s priority goals for regional statistical development • Ad hoc and piecemeal

9. New Approach to SCB • ADB adopted new approach to SCB in January 2006 • New Approach to SCB • Focused • Long-term SCB programs for statistically weak DMCs • Systematic • Diagnostic studies • Results-oriented • Built-in monitoring mechanism

10. Implementation of New SCB Approach • Regional Technical Assistance Project 6333 • 13 DMCs approached, 12 agreed to participate • Desk study (involving 12 participating DMCs, plus Cambodia and Lao PDR) completed and 11 statistically weak DMCs identified • Presently 4 statistically weak DMCs selected for SCB assistance to begin with • Additional countries may be considered in future

11. Implementation….. • Inception workshop • Diagnostic studies in progress • Country workshops • Advocacy for SCB • Stakeholder consultations – on draft diagnostics

12. Implementation….. • Prepare draft long-term SCB programs based on the diagnostic study • Long-term SCB programs to be included in the Country Partnership Strategy (CPS) to ensure their long-term implementation

13. Implementation….. • Ensure effective TA implementation and post-TA sustainability • Ownership and effective commitment of government • Independent statistical offices • Enhance transparency in statistical operations • Commitment to deploy more resources

14. Role of International Community in SCB • Need for effective coordination among donor agencies for • Advocacy • Resource mobilization • Avoid duplication and supplementing efforts • ADB looks forward to working together with international agencies

15. Thank you.