1. Workshop on MDG monitoring 14-16 January 2008 - Bangkok, Thailand Christian Stoff Statistics Division, ESCAP National-level coordination in MDG monitoring

2. Main reasons for data discrepancies To make data internationally comparable, international agencies Use international definitions (e.g. water and sanitation, poverty line) Adjust and/or model data (e.g. regressions) Use different population data source as denominator (UN PD) Increased information on these aspects helps countries to understand the resulting discrepancies (e.g. workshops by UNSD/ESCAP, UNICEF, WHO; MDG Handbook) In addition, there is the need for data reconciliation at national level, in particular between data from line ministries and NSOs: The need for designated official statistics which are agreed upon by all relevant stakeholders and can be used by international agencies Often no central MDG dataset but datasets with different values co- exist (MDG national report, DevInfo and ministries)

3. National-level coordination is a pre-requisite Official statistics are broad in scope and produced by various government agencies facilitate data integration from different sources avoid duplication of work minimize respondents ’ burden to international initiatives FOC: Lack of coordination between NSO & line ministries affects accuracy of MDG data – coordination needed to avoid discrepancies between data available in national and international databases

4. Coordination may be needed in…  National data reconciliation Data dissemination (centralized MDG db, reports, respond to national/international agencies, microdata)  International data reconciliation Which thematic area? Which agencies? Health, education, environment, etc. Data collection (design, definitions) Data processing (entry, editing, imputation) Data analysis (estimates, tabulations) Data Documentation

5. Bangladesh Bhutan Cambodia China India Iran (Republic of) Kiribati Kyrgyzstan Lao DPR Malaysia Maldives Mongolia Nepal Pakistan Papua New Guinea Palau Sri Lanka Tajikistan Timor Leste Tuvalu Vanuatu Viet Nam UNSD survey on national coordination: 22 responding countries

6. General coordination results No. of countries (a) NSO has authority to coordinate reporting of data produced by various agencies 1572% (b) NSO has authority to verify quality of data from other producers (discuss examples; what kind of verification?) 1572% (c) Coordination among data producers mandated by national statistical law 1050% (e) NSO involved in the production of MDG Country Reports1990%

7. Countries’ comments on problems No statistical act to mandate coordination: Bhutan, Bangladesh, Nepal (outdated), Sri Lanka, etc. Lack of funds and skilled staff (NSO/ministries) Different definitions are used within countries Lack of data sharing Data validation vs. methodological issues Changing focal points in various entities

8. Tools for coordination (1): Centralized MDG database exists? No. of countries (f) NSS have a repository of data1359% (h) Includes metadata1192% (i) Includes calendar of dissemination650% (j) Available on Internet655% …only few countries have centralized online MDG databases (updated regularly and complete)

9. Tools for coordination (2): Focal point for centralizing all data requests by international agencies? No. of countries Countries with focal point1781 % 1NSO only9 2NSO and Ministry2 3Others (Ministry and UNDP)6 Mostly NSO, MoP, MoF … but these focal points are sometimes not publicly known or used; instead international agencies contact line ministries directly without going through the focal points at the NSOs

10. Who receives data requests NSOOthersBothNone NSO Bhutan Mongolia Maldives India Cambodia Lao PDR Sri Lanka Timor Leste China Iran Vanuatu Others Nepal Pakistan Palau PNG Kyrgyzstan Tuvalu Kiribati Both Tajikistan None Bangladesh Malaysia Focal point

11. Countries’ comments: Coordination role of NSO in reporting data to international agencies Collect, process and provide data for MDG national report Maintain MDG db and perform official data dissemination Assist ministries in data development Collaborate with ministries and agencies Gather data from all data producers and disseminate

12. Was the NSO able to reply to all data requests by international agencies? No. of countries Not able to reply to all1255% Lack of data/reliable data6 Some data not produced by NSO but by ministry6 Lack of coordination (NSO not in the “loop”)2 Difference in definition of indicator1

13. Countries’ comments: Measures taken by countries to improve data reporting Revised statistical law Designated focal point of contact with international agencies Established a centralized database

14. Possible discussion points Who has the authority to set definitions, validate data, maintain the central MDG database, and report to users (national and international agencies)? What is this authority based on (statistical law versus actual practice)? Who enforces this coordination agreement? How are disputes over data settled? How are users informed about the coordination arrangements such as focal points etc?