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HIGH-LEVEL ADVOCACY FORUM ON STATISTICS AND THE GLOBAL CRISIS. Enabling Development in the Caribbean Community 30 July 2009, Port-of –Spain, Trinidad and Tobago.
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HIGH-LEVEL ADVOCACY FORUM ON STATISTICS AND THE GLOBAL CRISIS Enabling Development in the Caribbean Community 30 July 2009, Port-of –Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
TOPIC OF PRESENTATIONImproving the Responsiveness of National Statistical Systems in Small-Island Developing States to Current and Emerging Statistical Data NeedsBy: Glenn Avilez, Director-GeneralStatistical Institute of Belize
OUTLINE OF PRESENTATION • Current and emerging statistical data needs • Challenges faced by national statistical systems in responding to data needs • Practical recommendations on how to address challenges
STATISTICAL DATA NEEDS Current Emerging Climate Change Information and Communications Technology Financial statistics Literacy statistics • Millennium Development Goals • Other International Agreed Development Goals • National and sectoral development goals • General Data Dissemination System
Shortage of Human Resources • Small staff sizes • Officers are responsible for several areas • Very limited statistical training opportunities • Unattractive salaries and benefits
Disparate IT Systems • Most statistical personnel are assigned personal computers • Apart from the NSO’s, the information systems of statistical units are generally weak and incompatible
Limited Finance • Budgets are largely based on the previous year’s expenditure • They do not normally allow for new activities, especially those emerging during the financial year
Few Regular Surveys • The most common ones being the labour force, consumer price index and establishment surveys • Surveys focus on a single subject. Modules on special topics are sometimes allowed
Long & Irregular Intervals Between Key Surveys • Main examples are the poverty, demographic and health and household expenditure surveys • In several cases, the intervals between these surveys are longer than the international recommendation • Very costly and require a lot of preparation time
No National Statistical Work Programme • Lack of coordination between NSO and other producers of official statistics • Minimal communication between data producers and users
Limited Executive Support • There seems to be general disinterest in statistics among senior public officials • Enthusiasm of technical staff dampened • Head of NSO does not participate in key high level committees
Practical Recommendations • Human Resources • Rationalise statistical functions of small offices • Develop tailor-made training materials. • Adjust compensation packages of statistical personnel
Practical Recommendations cont’d • Finance • Hire a “fundraiser” to generate income from non-traditional sources • Lobby government for greater budgetary support
Practical Recommendations cont’d • Few Surveys • Replace single-topic surveys with multi-topic (all-in-one) surveys • Irregular surveys • Develop and implement a multi-year survey programme
Practical Recommendations cont’d • Coordination and advocacy • Establish a national statistical systems • Grant autonomy to NSO