Statistical Capacity Outlook and Monitor Two new tools to track progress towards the development of SDG data in low-income countries Johannes Jütting, (johannes.Jutting@oecd.org), Partnership in Statistics for Development in the 21st Century (PARIS21)
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hile many low-income countries efforts are needed to continue to strengthen their have made progress in producing statistical capacities. In particular, there continues to more and better data and statistics be scarcity of key basic data in many areas that are in recent years, momentum needs to critical for development policies. The majority of lowbe maintained in order income countries for example, do not have to meet the growing data demands from functioning systems for civil registration nor policy makers and citizens. Expectations statistics on industrial production. STATISTICAL CAPACITY are high but data challenges will not be met DEVELOPMENT And improved statistical capacity unless national statistical systems have OUTLOOK 2019 programmes are also needed the required capacity and financial support (OECD, 2017). Quality statistics depend on properly financed systems, an effective legal At its recent Annual Board Meeting (3 and institutional framework , and wellApril), PARIS21 launched its inaugural trained technical and professional staff. Statistical Capacity Development Outlook Yet, the emergence of new data actors, 2019 (https://paris21.org/flagship/2019); and the increasing complexity of the the first comprehensive review of statistical new data ecosystem are calling for other capacity in low and lower-middle income capabilities to be considered. Soft skills, countries, providing a snapshot of current such as management and leadership, are statistical capacities and an overview of issues and increasingly important across statistical organisations current trends in capacity development. In addition, it but these new aspects of statistical capacity are not describes innovative approaches to improving statistical always well captured, or prioritised, in development capacity and provides a tool to support co-ordination assistance projects, despite strong appreciation of their efforts among development partners and countries. importance, partly reflecting limited national ‘ownership’ of such programmes. Indeed, more than half of all African Its online companion, The Statistical Capacity Monitor NSOs thought that capacity programmes did not involve (www.statisticalcapacitymonitor.org), provides an sufficient consultation between national and international evolving set of indicators to support countries, donors and stakeholders (PARIS21, 2018a). Capacity assessment service providers to tailor statistical capacity development tools also tend to stress the organisational and system programmes. With more than 140 indicators, it also capabilities at the expense of individual ones: while facilitates country and regional comparisons across only 2% of assessed capabilities target the individual, multiple dimensions of statistical capacity. Ultimately, the 32% of countries expressed that individual capabilities platform aims to help align the supply and demand of needed to be improved (Figure 1). programmes, enhance donor co-ordination and build on But new approaches are emerging collective knowledge of what statistical capacity means. The Statistical Capacity Development Outlook 2019, a new flagship series produced by PARIS21, provides a snapshot of trends and current issues in statistical capacity development. The report consists of four chapters. Chapter 1 provides an overview of the report. Chapter 2 summarises trends and assesses global performance in different areas of statistical capacity. Chapter 3 reviews how the concept of statistical capacity is evolving to adjust to the new data ecosystem and explores recent approaches to measuring it. Finally, Chapter 4 highlights recent developments in understanding and measuring data use. The report aims to guide future efforts to develop capacity within and across national statistical systems and co-ordinate efforts among development partners. Visit: https://paris21.org/flagship/2019
The report is accompanied by the Statistical Capacity Monitor, a comprehensive and accessible online platform providing the most relevant and publicly available indicators on statistical capacity. Visit: https://www.statisticalcapacitymonitor.org/ Table of contents
www.PARIS21.org @contactPARIS21
© Jorge Lasca
Chapter 1. Overview Chapter 2. Recent trends in statistical capacity development Chapter 3. A revised approach to assessing statistical capacity in the new data ecosystem Chapter 4. Developing capacity for the more effective use of statistics
PARTNERSHIP IN STATISTICS FOR DEVELOPMENT IN THE 21ST CENTURY
Increased momentum is needed in many areas of statistical capacity A well-functioning national statistical system provides quality data on a country’s economic and social progress, ensures accountability and sets directions for defining its future development strategy. While low-income countries have made progress in producing more and better data and statistics in recent years, considerable
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As the data environment changes, a growing consensus is emerging to reassess how national statistical systems can adapt and new initiatives are emerging. A holistic assessment framework: Capacity Development 4.0 The frameworks, tools and measures used to assess and measure statistical capacity are being revised (Cameron et al., 2019; PARIS21, 2018b). One new