Why statistics?

1

• Why statistics?
• Why strategic planning?
• Presentation by
• PARIS21 Secretariat
• High-level forum on strategic planning for
  statistics Bishkek, 17-19 May 2006

2
Objectives of PARIS21 partners

• To promote evidence-based policy and
  decision-making, by encouraging
• increased demand for and use of statistics by
  policy makers
• building the capacity to provide the required
  data and analysis
• more dialogue between the producers of statistics
  and the users
• To ensure that resources, both national and
  international, are used most effectively
• through well-planned national statistical
  systems focussed on user needs and integrated
  into national policy frameworks

3
Target

• Marrakech Action Plan for Statistics set a
  target
• to mainstream strategic planning of statistical
  systems and prepare National Strategies for the
  Development of Statistics for all low-income
  countries by 2006.
• ..and to have started to implement them by the
  following year with a view towards having better
  data to monitor progress towards national and
  international development goals by 2010

4
Specific aims of High-Level Forum

• Assess the current status of strategic plans
• Identify successes and constraints
• Share lessons learnt and solutions
• Identify next steps in strategic planning
• At the country level
• And how the international community can help
• Regionally/sub-regionally
• Internationally
• Introduction to proposed NSDS approach

5
Why statistics?

• If statistics improve and are used to inform
  decisions, policies are more likely to succeed
• Good statistics are essential for the design and
  management of national policy frameworks such as
  PRS and for MDG monitoring
• Better statistics also help donors by informing
  aid allocation and by monitoring implementation
  and outcomes
• Investment in statistics will pay for itself many
  times over by improving the efficiency of
  resource allocation

6
Why now?

• Greater emphasis on evidence and managing for
  results
• PRS and MDG monitoring
• PRS processes provide opportunity to review data
  needs and priorities for statistical development
• More sophisticated policy analysis
• Advances in ICT
• Donor alignment and harmonisation increase costs
  of making faulty policy decisions

7
Statistics through the policy cycle

• Need for careful and rigorous analysis, based on
  good quality and transparent statistics,
  throughout the policy cycle
• Statistics needed to
• Identify issues
• Design policies
• Forecast the future
• Monitor policy implementation
• Evaluate policy impact

8
From donorship to ownership
Development Results
9
Why Strategic Planning?

• How can strategic planning help?
• Addressing data limitations
• Prioritising use of resources
• Looking across National Statistical System
• Integrating statistics within policy processes
• Providing a robust framework and action plan for
  statistical capacity building
• Acting as a catalyst for change to build
  confidence and break the vicious cycle

10
Value added of NSDS approach
11
NSDS as a country-levelcoherence framework
12
NSDS as a country-levelcoherence framework
National Strategy for the Development of
Statistics
13
What defines an NSDS?

• High level political support and leadership
• Well planned process (road map) to NSDS design
• Identifying user needs and data gaps and
  weaknesses
• Reviewing existing statistical production and
  analysis capacity, legal and institutional
  framework and coordination arrangements
• Agreeing on desired results, building on what
  already exists and is in progress, eg GDDS/SDDS
  improvement programmes
• Setting priorities and strategies
• Change management processes
• Engaging and motivating staff

14
Making better statistics a reality

• Advocacy for
• better use of better statistics
• NSDSs
• More coherent donor support
• Technical as well as financial assistance
• Guidance, documentation
• Regional programmes