Caribbean Conference Transformative Agenda for Official Statistics

1. CARICOM Caribbean Conference Transformative Agenda for Official Statistics Coordination at and between the Global, Regional and National Statistical Systems (Thematic1) and Communication and Advocacy (Thematic 2) 7-9 September 2016

2. CARICOM OVERVIEW

3. CARICOM Development Priorities Some Challenges Economic • The contagion effects of the global economic crisis ; • Significant challenges with high debt; • Low competiveness; • High unemployment; • High cost (particularly food and energy); and • Deteriorating trade balance. Technology/Transportation • Low levels of technology penetration; • Weakness in air/maritime transport to facilitate intra-regional trade and hassle free movement of people across the Region; Social • Increasing incidence of crime; • Persistent challenges with youth marginalization, poverty; and • access to health care. • Governance • Weakness in governance ‘infrastructure’ with a resultant ‘implementation deficit’; • Weakness in monitoring and evaluation; and Limited engagement with stakeholders groups. • Environment • Increasing incidence of natural disasters, effects of climate variability.

4. CARICOM Developmental Priorities Main Pillars of Community Strategic Plan

5. Developmental Priorities CARICOM Strategic Framework Value Chain

6. CARICOM DEVELOPMENT PRIORITIES CARICOM SINGLE MARKET AND ECONOMY LANDMARKS 1968: CARIFTA 1973: Treaty Establishing the Caribbean Community and Common Market (signed at Chaguaramas, Trinidad and Tobago, 4 July 1973 1989: Grande Anse Declaration 1990-2002: Signing of Protocols leading to the Revised Treaty establishing the Caribbean Community (including the CARICOM Single Market and Economy) 2003: Rose Hall Declaration 2006: Year of the CARICOM Single Market

7. Development Priorities Key Elements of the CSME

8. CARICOM Development Priorities Statistics Establishment of the Standing Committee of Caribbean Statisticians (SCCS) as a decision-making forum in 1974 by the Common Market Council of Ministers endorsed by the Heads of Government. “ .. To foster increased recognition of the importance of statistical services to the countries of the Region; to widen the scope and coverage of statistical data; and to improve the quality, comparability and timeliness of statistics produced…” Sub-Groups of SCCS: CARICOM Advisory Group on Statistics (AGS) Regional Census Coordinating Committee Technical Working Groups

9. CARICOM Modernisation/Transformation Agenda –Contextual Background and Strategic Drivers Concerns of modernisation and transformation of the NSO/NSS • Effecting Change that is required in response to new policy agenda, filling gaps in existing data e.g. Global Agenda/Regional Development Priorities, NDPs, gender, disability • Conforming to latest international statistical standards and classification systems • Being at the cutting edge of technological changes that impact data collection, processing, dissemination and analysis – faster, less paper, Big Data • Leadership and Management /Governance – innovative, creative, risk-taking, responsive, research-oriented-participatory and inclusive and transparent • Finance –staffing, services and equipment for work programme implementation

10. CARICOM Modernisation/Transformation Agenda – Contextual Background and Strategic Drivers-Concrete Examples • Increasing demand for reliable data in a number of areas such as Economic, Social/Gender, Environment and ICT Statistics on issues such as: • Poverty, Gender, Economic Activity, • Basic Indicators on the Environment, • Services, Tourism Satellite Account; Creative/Cultural Industries • The monitoring of the MDGs/CSMDGs and other internationally agreed development goals (IADGs) and protocols • National Development Plans that were being established required statistics • Adherence to international statistical standards and systems such as 1993 SNA now 2008 SNA; GDDS, SDDS

11. Modernisation/Transformation Agenda – CARICOM Contextual Background and Strategic Drivers(continued) • More detailed data required by the Community to monitor the establishment of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) and to assess the benefits to countries as follows: • Intra-regional Migration data under the Free Movement provision; • Foreign Direct Investment (by type, country of origin/intra-regional and destination sector) • Trade in Services Statistics-details by core industries and by trading partners & intra- regional • Generally, increased timeliness of the data, higher frequency and more reliable data are being demanded by international, regional and national users • Fundamentally Statistics in CARICOM has been grounded in development- through movement to regional integration which underscores the need for statistics

12. Modernisation/Transformation Agenda – CARICOM Contextual Background and Strategic Drivers • Some initial issues/small steps taken in CARICOM or on the SCCS Agenda include: • Harmonisation of Statistics was recognised as a core issue to be addressed (Key SCCS mandate); • Identification/development of core data sets; • Management of Small Statistical Organisations; • Regional Census Coordinating Committee for the 2000 Census Round; • Implementing Projects which included: • Strengthening Capacity on Services Statistics (Canada), • Strengthening Capacity in Social/Gender and Environment Statistics (UNSD/CARICOM Development Account); • Caribbean Labour Market Information System project (ILO/US DOL;

13. CARICOM Modernisation/Transformation Agenda Contextual Background and Strategic Drivers • Initial Issues/Steps (continued) • Micro-data dissemination was also on the agenda as far back as 2003; • Establishment of a routinized Survey of Living Condition Programmes • Coordinating of Statistics at the National Level – establishment of Social Indicators and Millennium Development Goals Committee; • Establishment of a CARICOM Programme in Social/Gender Statistics

14. CARICOM Modernisation/Transformation Agenda Contextual Background and Strategic Drivers • Improving Statistics through Coordination – the establishment of a Statistics Commission in Jamaica -“The Modernization of STATIN - A Strategic Plan 2002 – 2005”. • Highlights: • The Statistical Capacity Building Indicators Questionnaire was used to assess the position of the Institute and in so doing determined the weaknesses and strengths of the organisation to deliver on its mandate. • Relative to STATIN’s assessment the following points were made in respect of the area Pre-requisite for quality – (i) The legislation provides that STATIN promotes and develops integrated statistics and coordinates such integration; (ii) More specific powers were required for STATIN to develop and maintain a coordinated national statistics programme.

15. CARICOM Modernisation/Transformation Major Initiatives • A Programmatic Approach to the development of Statistics through the presentation to and approval by the Community Council of Minsters of the -Common Region Statistical Work Programme (RSWP) – the core of which was harmonization of statistics/ CARICOM Model Bill; • Resolution on Regional Statistical Development- recognizing the demands being made on the weak under-resourced statistical calling on governments, inter alia to give priority to … • Introduction of PARIS21 to the Region and with it the notion of the National Strategy for the Development of Statistics (NSDS) and Advocacy • Data Quality and Management on the Information Chain- - Data Warehousing, Metadata Management etc.- 2005; • Effort made to improve trade data through an IDB-funded project, review systems, established a Data Submission Protocol and an Online regional trade information system -2006 • Ninth EDF funding in a number of areas commenced in 2007 to 2011 and included the following key elements

16. CARICOM Modernisation/Transformation Major Initiatives Highlights of Ninth EDF funding (2007-2012) include: • Support to Statistical Coordination – functioning of SCCS, RCCC, AGS; • Organisation and Use of Statistical Databases- a National Statistical Submission system, Draft data policy, training of trainers, and end user and administrative manuals; • Web-based communication infrastructure- assessment of IT infrastructure and provision of equipment; • Updating of the CARICOM RSWP;

17. CARICOM Modernisation/Transformation Major Initiatives Highlights of Ninth EDF funding (2007-2012) include: • Development of a CARICOM Code of Good Statistical Practices; • Regional training on the NSDS (2009) in collaboration with PARIS21 and in-country support to NSDS; • Conduct of High Level Advocacy Forum 2009 (2014 –Tenth EDF) • Technical Assistance and training in a number of areas –Trade in Goods, Services, National Accounts, 2010 Census, training in Leadership and Management, classifications, sampling etc..

18. Modernisation/Transformation CARICOM • Other Major Initiatives • World Bank –TFSCB :– mainly in Social/Gender, Environment Statistics, training and statistical manuals, support to the AGS, SCCS etc..; • IDB Regional Public Goods: Draft Model Statistics Bill, Conduct of a Diagnostic Assessment to support the updating of the RSWP; Common Census Framework, Data Warehousing, Archiving Storage and dissemination framework; Common Literacy Survey framework; • DFID- Support to the Common Census Framework including in Mapping/GIS, Data Processing, Training in a number of areas to the Census; • Canada: Trade in Services and Census Data Analysis; • UN System- UNSD, UNFPA, UNDP, UNICEF, ECLAC UNWOMEN- a number of areas; • CDB- Demographic Analysis and more recently DevInfo

19. CARICOM Coordination of Statistical Systems Rationale • Getting the data required/filling data gaps from producers across the NSS –facilitating information sharing for production • Enabling the production of harmonised, high-quality official statistics for dissemination to users for decision-making • Achieving efficiency gains/cost effectiveness in the production of statistics through engaging in joint statistical activities • Avoidance of duplication of efforts among organisations/institutions such that they work in harmony • Alleviating the burden on countries as well as on the producers of statistics within countries and of respondents

20. CARICOM Coordination of Statistical Systems Rationale • Gaining access to or making available the following in the NSO and across the NSS: • expertise, • standards and common tools (e.g. data management/dissemination, nomenclatures, legislation) to produce and disseminate high quality data • Enabling effective/strategic management of a coherent statistical system to produce the desired results

21. CARICOM Coordination of Statistical Systems Challenges • Absence of the ownership of the process by country/agency within country –participation in the formulation of the process if it excludes the country/agency may lead to a lack of relevance of the output and poor commitment; • A lack of understanding of the situation on the ground (e.g. capacity constraints) in countries/agencies including may lead to the failure to achieve the results; • Ineffective planning and setting of priorities • Regulations, procedures and operational policies that may not create the optimal conditions (accountability/transparency) for enable effective co-operation; • Countries/agencies applying to more than one source for identical support • Inadequate capacity to facilitate coordination.

22. CARICOM Coordination of Statistical Systems Best Practices –some concrete examples • Joint collaboration on collection of statistics from Member States by international organisations: • UNSD/CARICOM in the collection of National Accounts data from Member States; • Gender statistics developmental work UNSD/CARICOM and UN Women/CARICOM • Regional Coordination of Major Activities – Population Census: • [Tradition of] Regionally coordinated Census Strategy- one strategy to which MS/IDPs contribute support including UNFPA, UNECLAC, Canada, South-South; • 2010 Census Round-a Common Census Framework – IDB/UNFPA, DFID, EU • MOUs/agreements at the national level by countries for obtaining administrative data for statistics compilation such as in National Accounts –Jamaica is an outstanding case • Inter-Agency activities: Environment Statistics in Suriname.

23. CARICOM Coordination of Statistical SystemsRegional Statistical Work ProgrammeKey Coordinating Mechanism National Statistical Office/System Statistics for Decision-making; Good Governance and Sustainable Development; Improved standard of living for the peoples. Member countries CARICOM Secretariat/Other Agencies

24. CARICOM Coordination of Statistical SystemsRegional Statistical Work ProgrammeKey Coordinating Mechanism Improving the Range and Quality of Statistics in the NSS Core statistics become available and are disseminated; Enable achievement of Results; Conduct of comparative analysis- NSS on the same page across countries. Monitoring and Evaluation of policies and programmes Guiding objectives such as integration

25. Communication and Advocacy CARICOM Rationale • Distinction between Communication and Advocacy: • Communication is about exchanging information while Advocacy is pleading for, defending or recommending an idea before key people” in order to obtain change (Paris21). • Rationale for Communication and Advocacy: • convincing high level government officials/policy makers of the importance of statistics • enabling support including financial support for the development and implementation of a strategic approach to improving statistical through the NSDS • driving of the change process- engaging, positioning, persuading –messaging/content and channels of communication specifically use of digital tools/mechanisms for targeting various groups of users/stakeholders • Necessary in the entire process of modernization/transformation

26. CARICOM Communication and Advocacy Challenges • Seemingly lack of Interest at the highest levels of policymakers resulting in the inability to find a champion/traction for the change process • Inertia at the level of the leadership of the NSO – a key driver of the change process is the head of the NSO – however not the case in CARICOM – there is vibrancy • Lack of specialized skill sets/access to skill sets to drive process; • Financial Constraints • Capacity constraints- inadequate staff, equipment – large workload • Not listening…the best way to be heard is to listen....

27. CARICOM Points for Consideration/Opportunities • Whatever the process - ensuring ownership by Member States • Strengthening of partnerships of organisations • Success stories in Advocacy/Communication: • Caribbean Statistics Day 2009/ High Level Advocacy Forum 2009/2014 • Endorsement of the Action Plan for Statistics in CARICOM by the 37th Conference of Heads of Government of Community • Champion for Statistics at the highest level - the Rt. Hon. PM Grenada

28. CARICOM Points for Consideration/Opportunities • Undertaking some stocktaking/assessment/answering some quesitons: • What processes have occurred, regional public goods upon which modernisation/transformation of the NSS can build? • What have been the results achieved? • What have been some of the challenges experienced? • What are the lessons learnt and best practices? • What is the current status of the NSOs/NSS? • Is part of the change required cultural change? • And how do we do what we need to do more of to improve/modernise, transform in a sustainable manner?

29. CARICOM

30. CARICOM Thank you for your attention