Modernizing Official Statistics 1

PURPOSE OF OFFICIAL STATISTICS The purpose of official statistics is to produce and disseminate authoritative results Designed to reliably reflect economically and socially relevant phenomena of a complex and dynamic reality in a given country. These results have to be available to all users, i.e. they have to be public. The function of these results is in a variety of uses for monitoring developments in a country and its parts, so as to provide basic information for decision making, Serving as important elements for accountability of public bodies based on achievements. 2

JUSTIFICATION OF OFFICIAL STATS Production of official statistics in a given area is justified by needs for: Accountability of governments to the public (basic information in each area; citizen’s right to information) Informed decision-making/negotiations of governments etc Binding international obligations/commitments (e.g. IMF SDDS or GDDS) Public (via media and other information tools) Governments/state bodies Economic operators (national and international) Research community Educational institutions NGOs International organizations 3

GUIDING 10 PRINCIPLES OF OFFICIAL STATS Adopted by UN statistical commission in 1994 at a global level Relevance, impartial and equal access to data Accountability and transparency Professional standards and ethics Prevention of misuse Sources of official statistics Confidentiality Legislation National coordination Use of international standards International cooperation These principles address good ethical and professional standard that have to be observed by all producers of official statistics 4

Modernisation of Official Statistics Key Focus Areas Creation of an effective National Statistical System Revision of statistics act that enables StatsSA and other producers of statistics to compile and publish official stats Improvement to the user and producer interface and communication Improvement in the quality of data used to produce official statistics 5

Modernisation of Official Statistics key focus areas Increase statistical information base by conducting population census every five years. Conducting household surveys timely, effectively and efficiently (quarterly and annually). Enhancement to raise the credibility of statistical products Improvement to the mechanism both formal and informal by which producers of data in a country share information and data 6

Modernisation of official Statistics Improvement in the ICT infrastructure to support the production and dissemination of statistics Improvement to the accessibility of statistical data and publication which users use Reinvention of the statistical products and processes Adaption to an ever charging world and demands Smarter ways of dealing with new demands 7

Modernisation of official Statistics Identifying new and innovative ways of communication with statistical users Identifying new and innovative ways of better presentation of statistics to enhance interaction and improve dialogue with the populace Promotion of statistical literate among the populace in the country Introducing new and better ways of data collection and processing 8

Modernisation of official Statistics Standardization of statistical output in all areas across the NSS Clear definitions and vocabulary for standardization of concepts Transparency in all the methods Strengthening and having a sustained statistical capacity program Reinforcing core competencies in support of the NSS 9

Modernisation of official Statistics Development and strengthening of : Intellectual capability across the NSS Technological capability across NSS Logistical and administrative capability Management capability Politically astute 10

Modernisation of official Statistics Promotion and sharing of cost across the entire NSS Promotion of integrated methods of production to improve on the quality and cutting cost Life cycle management `continuity and timeless structures approach Improving, promoting and harmonisation way of sharing information across the continent and world at large 11

modernization of official statistics On governance level, improving the effectiveness of the organisation Promotion of Accountability in terms of working time and financial management Producers of official statistics have to be perceived by all users as acting impartially High level of Statistical confidentiality aimed at protecting the privacy of individual units – both physical persons and legal units 12

Modernisation of official Statistics Standardization of data collection environment Standardization of processing Standardizing of data analysis environment Standardation of macro economic data analysis and production Elimination of duplication across NSS 13

Thank you 14