International Statistics The Market & The Kitchen Dr. Safaa Amer

The Market - Demand Data Revolution changing the way that economies and societies are functioning Data for development: Sustainable Development Goals (SDG Agenda 2030) Public, private, civil society, and institutions = producers & users! More data and better data needed Boost inclusive growth Fight inequalities Understand climate change Measure and monitor progress

The Market - Demand Quality Data Timely Disaggregated

The Market - Supply Data quality issues: Incomplete, outdated, and approximate data Data inconsistencies across sources Lack of adequate metadata and para-data Weak capacity in developing countries Data access and bureaucracy issues

The Market - Supply Based on 2017 OECD Data for Development Report 77 developing countries have “inadequate” poverty data Only 56% of countries worldwide have birth registration data that are 90% complete Only 37 countries have national statistical legislation that complies with UN fundamental principles of official statistics 13% of countries worldwide have a dedicated budget for gender statistics No data exist for 2/3 of SDG Indicators Serious methodological and strategic challenges

The Kitchen - Traditional Data Sources With a Recipe! Methodology Output Basic descriptive statistics Weighted Analysis Statistical Analysis Visualization Mixed Methods Quantitative Data Census Administrative records Surveys Qualitative Data Measurement Error Sampling Error Frame & Coverage Error Non-response Error Data Management

The Kitchen - “Digital Breadcrumbs” Data brokers and analysts are designing algorithms with growing power Big Data: Satellite Imagery, Social Media, Health Trackers, Mobile phone companies, Banks, Web scraping, etc. Used by recruitment agencies, dating sites, election campaigns Data mining, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, etc. Increasing importance in faster and higher impact : Responding to outbreaks of infectious disease Assessing and responding to natural disasters, In development to ensure no one is left behind by providing insights on the needs and location of the most vulnerable people Used recently by governments, donors, and development statisticians  Changing the Map

The Kitchen - Where are we? High demands on national statistical systems Low statistical capacity Insufficient budget  overwhelmed Increasing need for striking balance between: Producing data for global monitoring of development and national policy making Short term versus long term needs and results Need for protocols and standards for quality and ethics of big data use Under-utilization of the power of technologies

Shopping List! -What is Needed? Strengthening statistical systems in developing countries Greater Investment in capacity building for data collection Bridge the divide and coordinate data collection efforts Complement the data from statistical offices rather than replaces them for efficiency Invest in data visualization and communicating results in layman-terms

Shopping List! - What is Needed? Boost data production: high-quality standards while protecting privacy and confidentiality Combine multiple sources of data under a clear ethical and quality protocols Linking traditional data ecosystems to big data and bridging the digital and analytical divide

The Kitchen - Remodeling Make Statistical laws, regulations and standards fit for evolving data needs Data ecosystems fit for purpose Ethical and Quality Standards Improve the quantity and quality of financing for data Data infrastructure Boost statistical and data literacy through new approaches Sustainable capacity building Improved environment

The Kitchen - Remodeling Increase efficiency and impact through “data compacts” or other coordinated, country-led approaches Incentives for harmonization, accountability, and coordination Invest in and use country–led results data to monitor progress towards the sustainable Development goals Vision integration across local and international needs Data accessibility Produce and use better data to help understand the overall state of SDG financing Reduce duplication, targeting investments, accounting for everyone’s needs, aligning country priorities for data

Creative Cook/Statisticians  … But more responsible one! Better Data Better Policies Better Lives No one left Behind! Creative Cook/Statisticians  … But more responsible one! Fake News & alternative facts

Last But Not Least - The Consumer! Data use challenges Under-utilization Miss-utilization Data limitations Data documentation Tools for analysis Capacity to use data especially complex survey data Ethical considerations Need to label our data for the consumer and raise statistical awareness

Thank You!