International Conference on the Millennium Development Goals Statistics (ICMDGS) Manila, Phillipines Octopber 1-3, 2007 Statistical Problems for Monitoring of the Millennium Development Goals in Nepal Rabi Prasad Kayastha Deputy Director Central Bureau of Statistics, Nepal

Outlines Statistical System in Nepal Brief review of MDGs status Statistical Problems Efforts towards minimizing problems

Statistical system in Nepal Statistical Act, 1958 Central Bureau of Statistics, nodal agency Centralized statistical system Data collected by other agencies shall have to be coordinated, standardized and authenticated by CBS CBS provides technical support to other agencies.

Statistical system in Nepal Status of CBS Under National Planning Commission Secretariat Head office at Kathmandu 33 field based Branch Statistical Offices covering all 75 districts Conduct Censuses and Surveys Estimates National Accouts.

Statistical system in Nepal Censuses and Surveys conducted by CBS Periodic and regular Censuses and Surveys: Decennial Population Censuses Decennial Agriculture Censuses Manufacturing Establishment Censuses Crops and Livestock Survey Nepal Living Standards Survey

Statistical system in Nepal Censuses and Surveys conducted by CBS Ad hoc surveys Nepal Labor Force Survey Nepal Multiple Indicators Surveillance Multiple Indicator cluster Survey Hard Drug Users Survey many others

Statistical system in Nepal Estimates works performed by CBS National Accounts Price Index Small Area Estimates (Poverty Mapping) Population Projection Socio-economic database: NepalInfo CD

Statistical system in Nepal Decentralized practices Growing development activities demands various statistics CBS unable to meet growing demands Concern ministries and departments expand activities in statistics field. Decentralized starts in statistics

Brief review of MDGs status in Nepal Two country progress reports & 2005 Reports deals with status, trends, supportive environment, challenges, and recommendations. CBS was involved as data provider

Brief review of MDGs status in Nepal Out of 48 globally set indicators, 10 from goal 8 are not country specific to Nepal Indicators: 33, 34, 35, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42 & 43 Data on 4 indicators are currently not available Indicators: 18, 20, 22 & 32

Brief review of MDGs status in Nepal Related CBS publications Nepal Info - database CD contained 34 MDGs related indicators MDG Indicators of Nepal: 1990/91/2004/05 - a small booklet contains data on 34 indicators time series data for years 1990/91,1995/96, 2000/01, 2003/04 & 2005/06

Statistical Problems for Monitoring MDGs Data gaps Duplication in data collection Comparability Reliability of the estimates

Statistical Problems for Monitoring MDGs Data Gaps Lack of benchmark data Very weak database No regular flow of data No systematic compilation of administrative data

Statistical Problems for Monitoring MDGs Duplication in data collection Decentralized Practices Concern ministries, departments, organizations collect data Wastage resources and time

Statistical Problems for Monitoring MDGs Comparability problem Differences in definition of terminology used Differences in methodology used Differences in reference time

Statistical Problems for Monitoring MDGs Reliability of the estimates Methodological differences Problem with source data used for estimates

Statistical Problems for Monitoring MDGs Major causes of the problem Statistics is not a priority subject Low status of Central Bureau of Statistics Lack of coordination Lack of statistical plan Lack of official statistical training institute Lack of statistical manpower in different data producing organizations Lack of dissemination mechanism Lack of applicable Statistical Act in current situation

Efforts towards minimizing problems Consolidated National Statistical Plan (CNSP) Strengthening CBS as National Statistical Organization (NSO) Strong National Statistical Council (as proposed in CNSP); objectives are: Develop integrated statistical system Coordinate with different data producing agencies Develop standardized statistical system

Efforts towards minimizing problems Use of statistical techniques for estimating sub-national groups considering gender, rural-urban, etc. Small Area Estimate (Poverty Mapping) is used to estimate poverty indicators at district and sub-district level. Small Area Estimate: National Population Census 2001 and Nepal Living Standard Survey 2003/04 data

Efforts towards minimizing problems collect indicator from different surveys that applicable to monitors MDGs Nepal Labor Force Survey 2007/08 will collect some MDGs related indicators without hampering survey's main objectives.

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