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HIGH-LEVEL ADVOCACY FORUM ON STATISTICS AND THE GLOBAL CRISIS

This presentation discusses the challenges facing national statistical systems in Small Island Developing States, offering practical recommendations to improve responsiveness to current and emerging data needs. Topics include climate change, ICT, financial statistics, and MDGs.

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HIGH-LEVEL ADVOCACY FORUM ON STATISTICS AND THE GLOBAL CRISIS

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  1. HIGH-LEVEL ADVOCACY FORUM ON STATISTICS AND THE GLOBAL CRISIS Enabling Development in the Caribbean Community 30 July 2009, Port-of –Spain, Trinidad and Tobago

  2. TOPIC OF PRESENTATIONImproving the Responsiveness of National Statistical Systems in Small-Island Developing States to Current and Emerging Statistical Data NeedsBy: Glenn Avilez, Director-GeneralStatistical Institute of Belize

  3. OUTLINE OF PRESENTATION • Current and emerging statistical data needs • Challenges faced by national statistical systems in responding to data needs • Practical recommendations on how to address challenges

  4. STATISTICAL DATA NEEDS Current Emerging Climate Change Information and Communications Technology Financial statistics Literacy statistics • Millennium Development Goals • Other International Agreed Development Goals • National and sectoral development goals • General Data Dissemination System

  5. Shortage of Human Resources • Small staff sizes • Officers are responsible for several areas • Very limited statistical training opportunities • Unattractive salaries and benefits

  6. Disparate IT Systems • Most statistical personnel are assigned personal computers • Apart from the NSO’s, the information systems of statistical units are generally weak and incompatible

  7. Limited Finance • Budgets are largely based on the previous year’s expenditure • They do not normally allow for new activities, especially those emerging during the financial year

  8. Few Regular Surveys • The most common ones being the labour force, consumer price index and establishment surveys • Surveys focus on a single subject. Modules on special topics are sometimes allowed

  9. Long & Irregular Intervals Between Key Surveys • Main examples are the poverty, demographic and health and household expenditure surveys • In several cases, the intervals between these surveys are longer than the international recommendation • Very costly and require a lot of preparation time

  10. No National Statistical Work Programme • Lack of coordination between NSO and other producers of official statistics • Minimal communication between data producers and users

  11. Limited Executive Support • There seems to be general disinterest in statistics among senior public officials • Enthusiasm of technical staff dampened • Head of NSO does not participate in key high level committees

  12. Practical Recommendations • Human Resources • Rationalise statistical functions of small offices • Develop tailor-made training materials. • Adjust compensation packages of statistical personnel

  13. Practical Recommendations cont’d • Finance • Hire a “fundraiser” to generate income from non-traditional sources • Lobby government for greater budgetary support

  14. Practical Recommendations cont’d • Few Surveys • Replace single-topic surveys with multi-topic (all-in-one) surveys • Irregular surveys • Develop and implement a multi-year survey programme

  15. Practical Recommendations cont’d • Coordination and advocacy • Establish a national statistical systems • Grant autonomy to NSO

  16. Thank You!

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