ADB

1
ADBs Statistical Capacity Building Strategy
and Program

• Kaushal Joshi
• Statistician, ADB
• 2007 International Conference on the Millennium
  Development Goals Statistics (ICMDGS)
• 1-3 October Manila, Philippines

2
Background

• Marrakech Action Plan in Statistics calls for
  national strategies for development statistics
• Requires countries to accord higher priority for
  development of statistics
• Adoption of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)
  and Managing for Development Results approach
  requires reliable data on indicators for tracking
  progress and development outcomes

3
Background

• Countries own needs for timely and reliable
  statistics for planning and development
• National Statistical Systems are facing severe
  challenges to meet emerging data needs of
  internal and external clients

4
Why SCB?

• Assisting countries with weak statistical systems
  to build statistical infrastructure
• To overcome common obstacles to statistical
  development
• Breaking vicious cycle that inhibits development
  of statistics
• Creating effective and efficient national
  statistical system for good governance

5
ADBs Role in Statistical Capacity Building (SCB)
in the Region

• ADB recognizes role of modern statistical systems
  in providing timely, relevant and credible
  statistics in the development of countries
• Long history of technical assistance in
  statistics
• Economics and Research Department (ERD) has been
  assisting the developing members countries (DMCs)
  through SCB TAs and RETAs for more than 35 years
• 21 DMCs have benefited from advisory TA, 44 DMCs
  from regional TA

6
ADBs Role in Statistical Capacity Building (SCB)
in the Region

• Areas of technical assistance in statistics
• national accounts, poverty monitoring, household
  and establishment surveys, services sector
  statistics, environment, agriculture statistics,
  developing statistical plans, etc.

7
Traditional approach to SCB

• Some TA projects are processed and implemented by
  RDs/RMs with or without assistance from ERD

8
Limitations of Traditional Approach

• No assessment of DMCs comprehensive statistical
  development strategy/ priorities
• No assessment of ADBs priority goals for
  regional statistical development
• Ad hoc and piecemeal

9
New Approach to SCB

• ADB adopted new approach to SCB in January 2006
• New Approach to SCB
• Focused
• Long-term SCB programs for statistically weak
  DMCs
• Systematic
• Diagnostic studies
• Results-oriented
• Built-in monitoring mechanism

10
Implementation of New SCB Approach

• Regional Technical Assistance Project 6333
• 13 DMCs approached, 12 agreed to participate
• Desk study (involving 12 participating DMCs, plus
  Cambodia and Lao PDR) completed and 11
  statistically weak DMCs identified
• Presently 4 statistically weak DMCs selected for
  SCB assistance to begin with
• Additional countries may be considered in future

11
Implementation..

• Inception workshop
• Diagnostic studies in progress
• Country workshops
• Advocacy for SCB
• Stakeholder consultations on draft diagnostics

12
Implementation..

• Prepare draft long-term SCB programs based on the
  diagnostic study
• Long-term SCB programs to be included in the
  Country Partnership Strategy (CPS) to ensure
  their long-term implementation

13
Implementation..

• Ensure effective TA implementation and post-TA
  sustainability
• Ownership and effective commitment of government
• Independent statistical offices
• Enhance transparency in statistical operations
• Commitment to deploy more resources

14
Role of International Community in SCB

• Need for effective coordination among donor
  agencies for
• Advocacy
• Resource mobilization
• Avoid duplication and supplementing efforts
• ADB looks forward to working together with
  international agencies

15
Thank you.