Mainstreaming NSDS into Development Plans: Uganda Case

1. Mainstreaming NSDS into Development Plans: Uganda Case BEN PAUL MUNGYEREZA DEPUTY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, STATISTICAL PRODUCTION & DEVPT UGANDA BUREAU OF STATISTICS Workshop on Organization and Management of Statistical Systems Dakar, Senegal – September 28 – October 01, 2010

2. Presentation Outline • Background • Development Planning in Uganda • The National Development Plan - 2010/11-2014/15 • Why NSDS in Development Planning • Why the Statistics Question • Statistics Priorities • Statistics Strategies for Implementation • Conclusion

3. A View of Kampala City

4. Background • Uganda’s National Statistical System is largely decentralized – many data producing units without a central control authority • Whereas statistics at the NSO is reasonably well developed, some sectoral statistics are still under-developed. • Uganda started developing her NSDS in 2005 under the context of the MAPS (2004) – and was launched in October 2006 by H.E The President of the Republic of Uganda • Implementation involves 16 Agencies, NSO inclusive.

5. THE UGANDA VERSION NSDSPNSD PLAN for NATIONAL STATISTICAL DEVELOPMENT Strategic Plan for Strengthening Statistical Capacity Across the NSS

6. Development Planning in Uganda • A mixture of various approaches – mixed economy approach from 1962-1971 • During the 1970s – adhoc economic war plan • Structural Adjustment Programmes for the early 1980s • Economic Recovery Programme in 1987 • Poverty Eradication Action Plan (PEAP) – 1997-2008 • National Development Plan (NDP) - 2010/11-2014/15 • (The NDP is housed in the National Planning Authority)

7. The National Development Plan (NDP)2010/11-2014/15 “…Designed to be the primary Government National Strategic Plan, the anchor for Government Fiscal Strategy and lower level or sectoral plans.”National Development Plan, Pg. 4 • This was developed in a consultative manner with a number of stakeholders • The National Statistics Office was a core member of the National Drafting Committee for the NDP

8. Process: Marketing Statistics for the NDP • Initially Statistics was to be under the M&E section • Sensitization of the Board of Directors of the National Planning Authority – Home of the NDP. This led to recognition of Statistics as an enabling factor. • All sectors required statistics for their situation analysis – hence statistics became critical in the process of developing the Plan itself

9. NDP Vision & Theme Vision: A Transformed Ugandan Society from a Peasant to Modern and Prosperous Country Within 30 Years Theme: Growth, Employment and Socio-Economic Transformation for Prosperity

10. NDP content Sectoral Intervention • Primary growth sectors – Agriculture; Forestry; Mining; Oil and Gas; etc • Complementary Sectors – Science and Technology; Transport; Urban Development; Trade; etc • Social Sectors – Education; Health; Water; Population; etc • Enabling Sectors – STATISTICS; Justice, Law and Order; Environment; Public Sector Management; Defence and Security; Disaster management; Integration; etc

11. Why NSDS in Development Planning for Uganda • Emphasis of Planning with Facts • Output-based budgeting that requires statistical indicators • Match statistical production to planning cycle of the economy • Strengthen Institutional Collaboration between the NSO and the Planning Authority • Consensus on Parameters for NDP Monitoring and Evaluation

12. Why Statistics in the NDP • Statistics is used by government for policy development, planning, administration, monitoring and building an accurate picture of what is happening at all administrative levels. • Statistics is used by the private actors for decision making incl. • Assessment of business opportunities and risks • Strategy analysis • Planning, implementation and M&E • Governance and accountability • Media analysis, Etc

13. Why Statistics in the NDP cont’d.. • Upstream role of Statistics • issue recognition and definition • forecasting the future trends • Downstream role of Statistics • monitoring progress during plan implementation • evaluating policy/programme impact and outcomes

14. Why address the Statistics Question • Low Levels of statistical literacy • limited use of statistics for policy and decision making • Insufficient data user-producer dialogue • Inadequate policy-relevant statistical production • Insufficient producer-producer dialogue • Inconsistent data across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) • Duplication of effort • Inadequate statistical capacity in MDAs and Local Governments

15. Why address the Statistics Question • Inadequate donor coordination • Adhoc and uncoordinated donor support for statistical production • Weak Organizational and Instit. Devpt • Non-existent or weak statistical units • Insufficient investment in Statistics • Inadequate statistical production in MDAs

16. Statistics Priorities for the NDP • strengthening the production of quality statistics based on international best practices and guidelines; • improving coordination and promoting synergy among and between data producers and users; • strengthening national capacity to produce, analyse and use reliable statistics through an integrated National Statistical System • ensuring the long term sustainability of the National Statistical System by securing funding for priority data production, analysis and dissemination.

17. Strategies for Implementation under Statistics • Extensive and consistent sensitization of policy makers • Organizational and Institutional Development • Revision of the Statistics Act to cover the entire National Statistical System • Re-establishment of a common cadre • Human Resource Development & Management • Consistent build up of capacity in data analysis at the centre and in local governments

18. Strategies for Implementation under Statistics • Infrastructure Development • Technical and statistical – sampling frames, methodologies, etc • IT – databases, networks, websites, etc • Management – management systems, financial systems, etc • Data Development • Statistical audits • Standards and classifications • Certification • Wide Data Dissemination • Empowerment of potential users to access and effectively utilize statistics • Establishment of a National Statistical databank.

19. Conclusion • Statistics is now recognized in Uganda as an enabling factor for development planning, implementation and M&E • Anchoring the NSDS in Development planning makes the case for Statistics. NSDSs should not be developed in isolation • Sequencing matters – developing NSDS prior to the NDP development in Uganda created a good foundation

20. THANK YOU