Asad Elahi Secretary Statistics Division Government of Pakistan Challenges of Data Collection - with special regard to developing countries Asad Elahi Secretary Statistics Division Government of Pakistan Asad Elahi, Secretary Statistics Division, Gov. of Pakistan, slide 1

Asad Elahi, Secretary Statistics Division, Gov. of Pakistan, slide 2 Data collection All activities involving collection of data directly from respondents or from secondary sources for the production of official statistics. Asad Elahi, Secretary Statistics Division, Gov. of Pakistan, slide 2

Two types of difficulties Endogenous (within official statistics) Weaknesses of institutional set-up Weaknesses of organizational set-up Lack of resources, infrastructure Performance not up to the mark Exogenous Inability of civil society, of establishments and enterprises and even of administration to part reliable and timely data Asad Elahi, Secretary Statistics Division, Gov. of Pakistan, slide 3

Exogenous weaknesses (1) Illiteracy Deficiencies in law and order Cultural constraints Infrastructural deficits Large informal economy Low standards of bookkeeping, low administrative coverage, low standards of social performance Asad Elahi, Secretary Statistics Division, Gov. of Pakistan, slide 4

Exogenous weaknesses (2) Low support from governments Low propensity of respondents to give data Institutional set-up of the society is rapidly changing Heterogeneity of society and of living conditions High variance and volatility of some variables (prices, wages, consumption) Option for secondary sources limited Asad Elahi, Secretary Statistics Division, Gov. of Pakistan, slide 5

Endogenous weaknesses Little pay and no pride in job Infrastructure for internal communication is poor Lack of comprehensive and up-to-date directories Lack of autonomy Outdated or insufficient legal frameworks Asad Elahi, Secretary Statistics Division, Gov. of Pakistan, slide 6

How to overcome endogenous weaknesses? (1) Make autonomous legal entity under modern statistical law Induct high top professional management Strengthen capacity building and training Modernize workflow and performance Install / strengthen field organization Modernize statistical program and enhance outcome Asad Elahi, Secretary Statistics Division, Gov. of Pakistan, slide 7

How to overcome endogenous weaknesses? (2) Join international statistical projects like ICP, ICT or health accounting Join modern forms of data delivery: public and scientific use files Install a statistical business register Promote private-public partnerships Involve the stakeholders and the media Get help from donor organizations Asad Elahi, Secretary Statistics Division, Gov. of Pakistan, slide 8

Internationally organized efforts (1) Paris21 Consortium (2001) Goal: promote evidence-based policy making, improve governance and government effectiveness in reducing poverty and achieving the MDGs Purpose: greater demand, availability and better use of statistics and statistical analysis Asad Elahi, Secretary Statistics Division, Gov. of Pakistan, slide 9

Internationally organized efforts (2) Marrakesh Action Plan for Statistics (2004) Mainstream strategic planning of statistical systems and prepare national strategies Prepare for 2010 census round Increase financing for capacity building Set up an International Household Survey Network Improve monitoring MDGs Increase accountability of the international statistical system Asad Elahi, Secretary Statistics Division, Gov. of Pakistan, slide 10

Summary / recommendations Capacity building of statisticians be accorded highest priority - Special fund (UNSD)? Strategic plans for modernizing NSO need a long way to go. International support is required. Developing country should actively participate in technical groups on international standards. International bodies should rely on data of NSO rather than indulging in self-imputation. Data collection needs to be followed by strong analysis of the governments. Asad Elahi, Secretary Statistics Division, Gov. of Pakistan, slide 11

Asad Elahi, Secretary Statistics Division, Gov. of Pakistan, slide 12 MDGs and statistics No management without measurement Statistics matter, in all countries of the world Asad Elahi, Secretary Statistics Division, Gov. of Pakistan, slide 12