Assessing The Development Needs of the Statistical System

1. Assessing The Development Needs of the Statistical System NSDS Workshop, Trinidad and Tobago, July 27-29, 2009 Presented by Barbados

2. Content • Background • Rationale for Assessment of Needs • Method of Assessing the Status of NSO and Statistical Agencies • Identifying Development Needs • Conclusion

3. Background • Reform of system arose from the recognition that, inter alia, there was: • A need to strengthen the statistical system to provide comprehensive statistics required for development policies • Data collected and compiled by the NSO and other agencies should be widely accessible to government to meet the results-based development agenda and • Data should also be available to all other users of statistics

4. Background cont’d • More efficient use should be made of resources • Need to improve the coordination of the system • Need for an improvement in the quality and timeliness of the production of statistics • Need to raise the public image/profile of statistics and to establish the leadership of the NSO in the area of Statistics within the Public Sector

5. Rationale for Assessment of Needs • Information obtained through assessments assists in developing the vision and identifying strategic options • Strategies for development of the NSS • should be consultative and inclusive • address institutional and organisational constraints and processes • build on what exists • respond to user needs • provide a a coherent framework for statistical development and statistics programmes across the NSS

6. Method of Assessment • Assessments include: • Collecting and analyzing existing documentation; • Identifying user satisfaction; current and future needs for statistics • Identifying existing data gaps;

7. Method of Assessment cont’d • Assessing each key statistical output against agreed quality criteria • Assessing methodologies and the quality of statistics • Taking stock of existing capacity

8. Method of Assessment cont’d • Reviewing the legal and institutional framework • Assessing organizational factors using tools such as SWOT Analysis • Use of statistical building indicators as indicated by PARIS21, the GDDS guide, the IMF DQAF are also recommended

9. Method of Assessment cont’d • Involvement of Development Partner • Consultancy provided for assessment • Carried out through: • Consultation • Visits to agencies • Interviews • Review of documentation

10. Identifying Development Needs • On the basis of the assessments, the following needs were identified : • Need for a new or revised Legal Framework • Need to develop a Statistics Network • Need for Institutional Reengineering

11. Identifying Development Needs cont’d • Need for the Enhancement of Statistical Products • Need to develop and enhance Human Capacity • Need to develop and enhance Technical Infrastructure & facilitate Public Outreach

12. Legal Framework • To strengthen the BSS to perform its duties more effectively • To strengthen the technical & administrative autonomy of the BSS • To broaden the institutional setting to include other statistics producing units of agencies and ministries, while asserting BSS’ role as leader of a wider statistical system

13. Legal Framework Cont’d • To enhance the internal and external accountability of the BSS & other statistics producing units in agencies and ministries. • To update penalties to better allow for compliance by both those agencies responsible for collecting information & those agents or agencies expected to provide information

14. Legal Framework Cont’d • To clarify the scope of data protection • To increase awareness that the BSS is responsible for making information more accessible to users

15. Statistics Network • To provide assistance to create a network of agencies involved in statistics production • To improve cooperation • To coordinate the national statistics programme • Set priorities for statistical products

16. Statistics Network Cont’d • To ensure that standardized/harmonised concepts, definitions, procedures & working methodologies are used by all agencies • To establish clear & formal communication channels between agencies and the BSS

17. Institutional Reengineering • Options for reform of the managerial & administrative performance of the BSS will be considered • The IDB Project will support implementation of the selected option

18. Enhancement of Statistical Products • To improve the technical capacity of the BSS and other agencies to collect, process and disseminate data. • To improve the production and dissemination of key Social and Economic Statistics

19. Human Capacity • The creation and implementation of an HR Management System & any necessary regulatory reforms will be carried out • To provide to the BSS and other agencies: • on-the-job technical training • 8 Masters degree scholarships

20. Technical Infrastructure & Public Outreach • To upgrade the information technology of the BSS and relevant agencies • Upgrade of hardware & software • Intranet & networking with agencies which provide data to the BSS • To facilitate dissemination of statistics to the public • Enhancement of the BSS Website

21. Conclusion • Assessing development needs of the statistical system requires: • the commitment of Government at the highest level • the participation and cooperation of the NSO and all relevant agencies • The results of the assessment assists in the development of the vision for the NSS • Enables the setting of priorities and strategies to be used for development and improvement of the NSS

22. Thank You