Developing the Case for Better Population Data The view from the World Bank

The World Bank’s Mission Poverty reduction, achieving the MDGs The Mission Improving the investment climate Implementation Delivering basic services for the poor The Strategy The Bank’s mission is to to reduce poverty, we set specific goals through the eight Millennium Development Goals The strategy to achieve these goals focuses on implementation in two strategic areas: improving the investment climate and deliveruing basic services for the poor The strategy in turn relies on a process of monitoring, assessment and analysis that is built on both global and national data Global data National data Assessment and analysis Monitoring progress

Monitoring Progress Monitoring the MDGs Global data National data Frameworks, norms and standards Networking, coordination Transnational data Consistent international data sets Data processes Statistical infrastructure Monitoring the Millennium Development Goals requires both global and national data. At the global level, we need both transnational data on aspects of development that are wider than national boundaries. Examples include purchasing power parity data, some environmental data as well as other areas such as governance and the investment climate We also need consistent international data sets, that are complied from national data. The World bank, along with many other international agencies is active in this field International data sets and indeed the overall monitoring process are dependent on national data, that is collected, processed and disseminated by governments, through national statistical systems. There are two main components supporting the production of good quality national data. The data collection processes themselves and the supporting statistical infrastructure. The latter includes elements such as institutional arrangements, statistical legislation, human resources and skills, availability of equipment and other elements including management and regsiters and sampling frames. Both national and global data, however are supported by a third area of activity that might be identified as overall governance and coordination. Here the focus is on the development and use of frameworks, norms and standards and processes to promote networking and coordination.

Millennium Development Goals Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger Achieve universal primary education Promote gender equality and empower women Reduce child mortality Improve maternal health Combat AIDS, Malaria and other diseases Ensure environmental sustainability Develop a global partnership for development

Population Data Required for monitoring almost all the goals Needed at national and international levels Need for agreed data standards and frameworks Need for international coordination International data based on national sources

Building the case for Censuses Need to build demand for better data Within countries Internationally Link to processes such as PRSP, CDF Build censuses into statistical development strategies and plans Enlist support from donors and other partners

Financing Data Activities Global and national data are public goods Financed by governments Donor support important in some countries Need to improve both level of funding and efficiency Capacity building Technical development Need for step increase in resources Both global and national data used to monitor the MDGs are public goods and as such will be financed from central budgets. The role of national governments are crucial and the case for increased funding needs to be made. Donor support is important is some countries, especially the poorest, but it is important to ensure that donor activities are coordinated and in line with national priorities. Transnational data need to be financed by the main users, that is the international community. Both funding and efficiency need to be improved and the instruments we have to do this include capacity building, technical development in areas such as data collection (eg LSMs, CWIQ) and analysis (poverty mapping) We believe there is a strong case for a step increase in resources if we are going to be serious about monitoring progress towards the MDGs. Although the number is more of a political statement than derived from a deep analysis of needs, an increase of the order of 0.1% of ODA or about $60 million per year for between 3 to 5 years would make a substantial difference.

What can the World Bank do? Identify priorities for improving data quality E.g., DQAF, GDDS Work with other partners to advocate for better data Advocate for more resources for statistics Promote donor coordination PARIS21, UN ACC Provide resources TFSCB and other grants Lending program?