Master Plans for Statistics Development: Design and Implementation Issues Margarita F Guerrero Senior Statistician, ESCAP
What are Statistical Master Plans? Plan Statistics development plan/programme Strategic plan Multi-annual plans Medium-term national statistical programme Programme on improvement of official statistics Action plan Forward work plan Consolidated/integrated multi-year statistical plan Corporate plan Strategy for statistical capacity building 2
NSDS National Strategy for the Development of Statistics 3
What is an NSDS? Process and product Provides a general overview of the national statistical system and Facilitates a process (roadmap) that will Develop an overall organization that will guide the process through the design Define all activities to design the NSDS Ensure participation of all actors in national statistics 4
General Principles of the NSDS Covers the entire national statistical system Embraces participatory approach: actors and stakeholders Takes into account what already exists and is adapted to the real situation in the country Conducted in phases Endorsed by national authorities in each phase Conducted by the country and nationally owned 5
Strategic Management for Statistics Development 6
Value added of NSDS approach Organisational development and management Statistical Capacity Building best practice Participatory development Integrating NSDS into Development Policy Processes NSDS Design and Implementation
NSDS as a country level coherence framework ICP LFS MICS
NSDS as a country level coherence framework ICP LFS MICS ICP LFS MICS National Strategy for the Development of Statistics
NSDS Status (May 2009) in IDA a & LMI b Countries Currently Implementing Currently Designing Currently Planning No NSDS No Plans Total No. % No. % No. % No. % AFRICA 26 49 21 40 5 9 1 2 53 Asia & Pacific 20 47 7 16 11 26 5 12 43 Latin America & Caribbean 8 50 3 19 2 13 3 19 16 EUROPE 2 40 1 20 0 0 2 40 5 TOTAL 56 48 32 27 18 15 11 9 117 a International Development Association borrower b Lower Middle Income 10
Currently Implementing Currently Designing Currently Planning No NSDS No Plans Total 11 Asia & Pacific 20 47% 7 16% 11 26% 5 12% 43 Afghanistan Azerbaijan Cambodia India Indonesia Iran, IR Jordan Kyrgyzstan Lao PDR Marshall Isl Mongolia Niue Palestine Philippines Samoa Syria Tajikistan Vanuatu Vietnam Yemen Armenia Bhutan China Iraq Pakistan Sri Lanka Thailand Bangladesh East Timor Fiji Georgia Kiribati Maldives Myanmar Nepal PNG Tuvalu Uzbekistan DPRK Micronesia, FS Solomon Isl Tonga Turkmenistan
Currently Implementing Time Span Next NSDS Asia & Pacific 20 47% 12 Afghanistan Azerbaijan Cambodia India Indonesia Iran, IR Jordan Kyrgyzstan Lao PDR Marshall Isl Mongolia Niue Palestine Philippines Samoa Syria Tajikistan Vanuatu Vietnam Yemen 2004 2009 2008 2012 2006 2015 2007 2012 2005 2009 2008 2013 2006 2009 2006 2010 2009 2013 2006 2010 2008 -? 2005 2010 2006 2010 2005 2009 2008 2013 2003 2010 2006 2010 Planned Being designed Being designed Being designed Being designed Being designed Planned Planned Planned
Lessons Learned: Planning and Designing Ensure the involvement of policy-makers and high level and breadth of consultation Engage partners (e.g., donors) early in the process Ensure integration of the NSDS into higher lever national policy documents (e.g., socio-economic development plans) Ensure wide coverage of the national statistical system Prepare a sequenced and prioritized programme to identify constraints and problems Identify and report on indicators to monitor inputs, outputs and outcomes of the NSDS 13
Change management Important and difficult issue Organisations, individuals and systems Needs to be well planned and well managed Change takes time - look for quick wins! Few people problems can be solved quickly Importance of: Leadership and management Engaging and motivating staff
Costing Investment and recurrent costs Expected burden on national budget and external financing requirements How resources will be used: equipment, HR, censuses, surveys, etc Cost effectiveness: alternative approaches and comparison with costs in other countries
Funding Need commitment from government and external partners Set implementation within time frame of policy frameworks (e.g. SEDPs, PRS) and budgetary cycles Be realistic. Don t frighten government! Identify and attract potential development partners
Lessons Learned: Implementation Strategic management is a continuous process Systems must remain flexible and respond to new demands: need to manage change Good strategy is one that is implemented and achieves its goals on time and within budget Needs to be achievable, pragmatic and flexible Financing requirements need to respond to user needs but be realistic 17