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Challenges in Managing Statistical Information Systems in Asian Developing Countries

This article discusses the common challenges faced by statistical offices in developing countries in effectively utilizing information and communication technology (ICT) in managing statistical information systems. It also highlights the positive influences of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) on statistical systems, the need for leadership and vision, technical capacity building, data and metadata sharing systems, and the role of international cooperation. The article also examines examples of successful data exchange systems in Thailand and the important role of metadata.

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Challenges in Managing Statistical Information Systems in Asian Developing Countries

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  1. Common challenges in managing statistical information systems in Asian developing countries MSIS2010 – Ilpo Survo

  2. All made huge absolute progress, but the measurement of success is relative • Use of ICT in other government services • Statistical offices in other countries • Offices in the private sector • Users’ perceptions on how NSOs should deliver

  3. The challenge • Statistical offices in developing countries are not utilizing ICT to the extent they should and could • Information technology offers more to statistics than ever before • Data collection, dissemination, presentation, location-specific technologies, etc.

  4. The positive • MDGs have had a very positive influence on statistical systems, resources and cooperation among all players of the national statistical system. • The link between data collection and its primary purpose, better policy making, is increasingly well understood in developing countries • More data are exchanged and used across departments than ever before • Wide adoption of certain technologies, such as data capture for censuses

  5. Examples of what is lacking • Leadership and vision in creating user demand and making progress in systematic data sharing • Business-oriented SIS planning • Technical capacity to make the integration of information systems and sharing of data a reality • Data and metadata sharing systems • Broader client orientation • Effective presentation of data

  6. Thailand data exchange as a positive example • DevInfo-based system to exchange data between the 76 provincial statistical offices and the NSO in Bangkok • SDMX-based statXchange application for sharing data among 20 departments (line ministries) of the national statistical system • Vision, long-term plan, conceptual understanding and learning of SDMX, and technical skills that have been gradually been built up at the NSO • Did not wait for the international SDMX registries and tools become available in all domains

  7. Role of metadata • Metadata still plays a secondary role in most Asian developing countries. • Many statistical offices in Asia and the Pacific have made progress in understanding the central role of metadata in developing their services. • Several of them have started documenting their survey and census data sets in accordance with DDI using the Metadata Management Toolkit of the International Household Survey Network.

  8. Systematic data exchange is not only for advanced statistical offices • It is one of the most effective ways of addressing national coordination problems and promoting common methodology in the national statistical system. • Benefits of applying it to survey and census data and administrative data

  9. Recruiting and keeping IT staff and managers • The biggest problem hampering their IT development • Staff transfer to the better-paying areas • Salaries far from attractive • Ways of retaining IT (and other) experts: technical cooperation projects attached to the national statistical system, flexible working arrangements, opportunities for studying and learning

  10. Current technological challenges • Protection of valuable data sets • User-friendly dissemination • Presentation of data • Maps and location-specific data

  11. Role of international cooperation • Donor support and influence • Leadership by visionary individuals can make a major difference in the national statistical system • Statistical information systems are too mission-critical to be primarily funded and directed by donor assistance => make a case for sustainable regular funding • IT related capacity building by ESCAP: census technologies, microdata documentation, regional advisory services Questions • How to facilitate for the benefit of developing countries • Sharing of development experiences? • Sharing of software? (topic (ii) on Wednesday)

  12. Role of international cooperation • “Managing” donors • SDMX for developing countries • Regular CIO meetings • Methods of sharing experiences • Other issues • (Software sharing deferred until topic ii)

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