From Project Outputs to Outcomes Abdulla Gozalov, UNSD Country Directors’ Meeting New York, 15-17 October 2014

UNSD-DfID Project Objectives Improve the coherence and clarity of dev’t indicators Improve coordination in the NSS Collate development data in 1 place/database Explain differences between intl. & nat. data Improve accessibility and visibility Make access to national data easier Draw attention to wider set of indicators Reduce data request burden Enhance knowledge Strengthen IT support Use of latest IT software & practices Training & skills development

Project Outputs Centralized National Repository for dev’t indicators Established or improved in all project countries Morocco’s database is still offline but will be in production soon In many cases data is still out of date, published with significant delays In some countries, the database is still often offline International Data Platform CountryData web site has been in operation since late 2011 Has evolved through several versions Now integrates project countries’ data with those obtained from MDGLabs, for over 100 countries total

Project Outputs (cont.) Automated Data and Metadata Exchange Data exchange has been established between CountryData and all 11 project countries, as well as 4 additional countries Automated metadata exchange established with 4 project countries; non-automated exchange with most others Metadata and Discrepancy Information Some metadata has been obtained from 8 countries (except Ghana, Liberia, Morocco) Quantity and quality is often still an issue Discrepancies have been analyzed for all countries

Assessing Project Outcomes While project outputs are certainly used to measure success of the project, it is achieving favorable outcomes that is the ultimate goal. There is evidence of positive outcomes in many of the project countries. Other outcomes are more long-term but we can analyze if the project has made an influence.

More Coherent Dev’t Indicators Has the project helped improve the uniformity of development indicators at national level? In Rwanda, project consultant helped identify and address issues with development indicators produced by different agencies of the National Statistical System. Launch events for dissemination databases Rwanda, Uganda, Cambodia Consultations with users Rwanda, Burundi

Increased Collaboration Within NSS Has the level of cooperation between NSO and Ministries, Departments, Agencies (MDAs) improved as a result of the project? NSO meetings with MDAs; focal points established Lao, Viet Nam, Uganda Most project countries have developed data and metadata templates for use with MDAs. In some cases, efforts to increase cooperation within the NSS were met with significant resistance or inertia.

Improved Understanding of Discrepancies Has the project helped improve understanding and therefore reduce the number of discrepancies between national and international indicators? The number of discrepancies on CountryData has gone down Cambodia, Uganda, Thailand Some of these are due to database cleanup efforts, others due to harmonization at national level

Improved Understanding of Data Has the project helped users to better understand and choose indicators and data sources?

Improved Evidence-Based Policy-Making If the project improved the accessibility and quality of development indicators, has this improved the policy-making? In Cambodia, senior staff from the Ministry of Planning expressed their appreciation of the improved CamInfo database and their willingness to use it in their activities.

Reduced Data Request Burden Has the project reduced the data request burden? Do project countries have plans for data exchange automation outside the project? The project minimized its own data request burden through data exchange automation using SDMX. Thailand participates in a UNESCAP/ADB project to pilot National Accounts data exchange through SDMX.

Thank You!