STRATEGIC PLAN FOR STATISTICAL DEVELOPMENT

1. STRATEGIC PLAN FOR STATISTICAL DEVELOPMENT PRESENTANTION BY MUBIRU J.W. (DED/SP&D) UGANDA BUREAU OF STATISTICS

2. Introduction • Determining the appropriate approaches to strengthening statistical infrastructure and interagency cooperation is best tackled through the NSS; aware that: Austr. & Sierra-Leone • Policy, decision makers and the public need Statistics MORE today than ever before; • The Age of evidence-based decision making is here with us; • The results-based agenda and the creation of greater demand for data is certainly on the increase; and • Packaging information is a critical function of data production process.

3. UBOS constitutes a coordinating, monitoring and supervisory body for the National Statistical System

4. The National Statistical System “Includes all agencies in Uganda, whether Government or not; under any enactment or otherwise; responsible for gathering statistical data through either surveys or administrative action”(UBOS Act, 1998) The best way out is to get together in a coordinated NSS

5. UBOS Mandate Enshrined in the UBOS Act No 12 of June 1998 to: • develop and maintain a National Statistical System (NSS) so as to ensure collection, analysis and publication of integrated, relevant, reliable and timely statistical information; • Today this mandate overrides other legal provisions on statistical matters **Sector mandates???

6. What is this NSS? • Len Cook told us that Country decisions influence Global accumulation of knowledge: that is used to establish standards and best practices eg UNFPOS; • The general approach to statistical compilation (whether Economic, Social, Population or general statistics) should be based on the guidelines of PARIS21 called the National Strategy for the Development of Statistics (NSDS) referred to as PNSD in Uganda

7. The Definition of NSS • A management arrangement that brings together groups of producers/suppliers users, researchers and individuals in a country to participate in statistical production with the aim of contributing to and sharing statistical products. However, they must all agree to observe set standards and best practices • The participants in the NSS must be coordinated. See below

8. Development Frameworks in NSS: NSO may not manage alone • The development frameworks need an organized NSS to meet statistical demands; • Observed frameworks in Uganda: • PEAP (PRSP) – 80 indicators; • MDG’s – 48 indicators; • GDDS/SDDS - 22 indicators; • EAC – 400 indicators; • METAGORA (Democracy, Governance and human Rights) - 28 indicators; and • Local demands ( both individual and institutional)

9. What is involved in coordination? • We already know that there are many players producers/suppliers, users (policy makers and individuals with own interests), researchers etc.; • The coordinator must be fairly central or at least very close to the users; • In general the NSO’s must play a leading role by: understanding the PARIS21 guidelines NSDS and translating them to suit local conditions; • NSDS must be explained throughout the NSS.

10. Status of the NSS Pre- PNSD in Uganda • Increased duplication of effort • Limited capacity to support statistical production and management • Difficulty of monitoring and evaluating development programs on the same subject • Limited information sharing • Inconsistent/incomparable datasets • Inadequate and/or lack of physical and IT infrastructure

11. What steps did we take to address the problem? Developed a strategy for improving and strengthening Statistics at different levels by; • Uganda Developed the PNSD based on the NSDS of PARIS21 but structured to suit Uganda; • Embarked on a sensitization program of MDA’s; • Developed Sector Strategic Plans for Statistics starting with a few; • Promoted coordination and collaboration amongst MDA’s • Identified champions statistical advocacy in the NSS

12. What steps did we take to address the problem? • Set standards for production of good statistics that inform policy • Assisted Budgeting for statistical development; • Made a Functional review of UBOS; • Now reviewing the Statistics Act to ensure that the NSS addresses the interests of all participants

13. Coverage: What are MDA’s? • Line Ministries • Government agencies • Local Governments • Private sector • NGOs • Research Institutions • PNSD started with a few to expand with time

14. Why a statistics strategy for the NSS • The statistical system was largely decentralised • Various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) collect and produce statistics as part of their work (administrative/surveys) • Many MDAs have Management Information Systems (HMIS, EMIS, LOGICS, etc) independent from each other’s considerations • Linkages exist among MDAs but these were flawed – uncoordinated and weak

15. Rationale for SSPSs/PNSD • To support national development programs, policies and initiatives - Poverty Eradication Action Plan and decentralization e.g. Crime, insecurity, and governance statistics, etc • To support Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) of PEAP implementation, and sector performance • To support the MDG’s • To support planning, Research and Analysis.

16. The PNSD • The PNSD is a 5 year (2006/7 – 2010/11) comprehensive strategic plan for Strengthening Statistical Capacity Across the NSS; • Targets all key data producing agencies and Users; • It emphasises production of quality data to inform national development priorities; • From each according to its ability to each according to its needs (Chinese philosophy); • It is anchored in the PEAP, which is Uganda’s national development framework.

17. Objectives of the PNSD • Strengthen the production of quality statistics based on international best practice and guidelines • Improve coordination and promoting synergy between data producers and users, • Strengthen national capacity to produce and use reliable statistics through an integrated NSS, and • Ensure long term sustainability of the NSS by securing funding for priority data production and dissemination.

18. Components of the PNSD • Organizational development, • Human resource development, • Data development [Quality, tools, techniques…] • Capacity Building – Infrastructure and Training

19. Challenges • Securing stakeholders buying into the PNSD process within and amongst stakeholders • Sequencing activities of the policy making cycle with the data production cycle • Limited commitment of Technical Managers within the MDA’s • Institutional constraint along the data production chain of line ministries/routine data producing agencies • Prioritization of statistical functions by line ministries and other government agencies is still lacking • Bureaucracy in government ministries and agencies that may hinder the flow of Adminis. information/data

20. IMPORTANT OBSERVATIONS • Basic Economic Statistics is part of the development frameworks; • Attract participants in the NSS without cohesive means and to recognize the central coordinator who must keep ahead of the others and should be the NSO; • Identify Champions of statistical development and advocacy; • Sensitize Heads of Dep’ts, P/S’s to the Head of State for the cause of Statistics; • Encourage the use of several languages to allow for a cross pollination of ideas and the sharing of statistical products. I emphasize French and English; • This is the best approach to strengthening statistical infrastructure and interagency cooperation

21. Conclusion • The PNSD and SSPS have been developed to meet the challenges of statistical production in an integrated manner in Uganda; • MDA’s have slowly but steadily accepted the need and strength achieved through the NSS; • Implementation is on course and monthly review meetings have been scheduled for the Inter Agency Committee to review progress.

22. PLOT 9 COLVILLE STREET P.O BOX 7186 KAMPALA TEL. 041-706000 FAX 041-237553 E-MAIL ubos@ubos.org Website www.ubos.org WELCOME TO THE STATISTICS HOUSE

23. Thank You