1. Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics
Light Peer Review

2. Background
The light peer review (LPR) of the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) was undertaken in the framework of the Eurostat funded project ‘Global assessments of statistical systems of candidate and potential candidate countries as well as ENP countries
LPRs are based on the structure and procedures of the ESS (European Statistical System) peer reviews and designed for both of candidate countries and countries with a developed statistical system.

3. Code of Practices (COP)
It is a common tool for a self- assessment towards the principles and indicators of the European Statistics Code of Practices.

4. Code of Practices Questionnaire
Peer Review Mechanism
Code of Practices Questionnaire
The questionnaire subdivided into 15 principles and 3-7 indicators for each of the principles.
The questionnaire covers three main items including:
Structural Quality
Process Quality
Product Quality

5. The Basis of conducting (LPR) at PCBS
The National Strategy for Official Statistics of
Last DC meeting recommendation
PCBS send an official request to Eurostat to implement the LPR on September, 2011.
Eurostat approve to assist PCBS to conduct the LPR on October 2011 and the mission was received on February, 2012.

6. The mission composed of three experts from ICON, Eurostat and EFTA.
LPR Mission to PCBS
The mission composed of three experts from ICON, Eurostat and EFTA.
The mission was implemented during the period 6- 9, February, 2012.
Several meetings with stakeholders, partners, policy makers, junior and senior staff of PCBS were conducted.

7. Main LPR Mission Objectives
Evaluate the compliance of the PCBS with selected principles of COP.
Determine priorities in the field of statistics and examine possibilities of development
Identify gaps between what is applied at PCBS and those relevant to COP.

8. Main Findings
PCBS acts independently in practice and that there is no interference from politics or other actors.
The Advisory Council (ACS) is responsible for the general framework as well as for directing the priorities of the statistical program
47% of the indicators provided by the PCBS are based on data from administrative records and registers
the human, financial, and IT resources are adequate to satisfy the current needs for statistical data.
PCBS presents its statistics clearly and well accessible. All of its statistical releases are published on the website of the PCBS, usually both in Arabic and English.
Metadata of the statistical products are documented in the format of the Accelerated Data Program (ADP) and regularly updated for the statistical products

9. Main Improvement Actions
Principle 1: Professional Independence
A future revised GSL, the professional independence shall explicitly be expressed.
In a future revised GSL, the composition of the ACS and the appointment procedure of its members should be regulated.
The ACS or a Working Group of the ACS should prepare an evaluation report on the annual and multi-annual programmes; the report should be discussed in the decision process of the programme and the final report should be published on the PCBS website .

10. Main Improvement Actions (Cont.)
Principle 2: Mandate for Data Collection
A future revised GSL shall clarify that the Article 14 also covers the development of new types of administrative data and the setting up of statistical registers.

11. Main Improvement Actions (Cont.)
Principle 3: Adequacy of Resources
Development of a strategy to achieve the long-term financial stability of the PCBS.
More use of data from administrative sources.
Enhance using modern technology for data collection, such as hand-held devices for household and internet-based questionnaires for business surveys, respectively.

12. Main Improvement Actions (Cont.)
Principle 4: Quality Commitment
Extend endeavors in the direction of an EFQM-oriented quality system
Standardize the system of metadata reports including the quality dimension and give more weight on numerical quality indicators
The annual programme of the PCBS shall cover the conduct of audit activities and the publication of metadata reports

13. Main Improvement Actions (Cont.)
Principle 6: Impartiality and Objectivity
A policy for changes in the release calendar should be available and made public.
A policy for pre-releases should be developed including a procedure according to which embargoed pre-release access is controlled and documented. The policy should be made public.

14. Main Improvement Actions (Cont.)
Principle 7: Sound Methodology
The PCBS should prepare itself for a future with an increased usage of data from administrative sources and statistical registers. Setting up of new registers in the NSS should systematically include the PCBS for means of technical supervision.
The PCBS should develop and document a strategy for improving the statistical methodology used by other producers of official statistics within the NSS.

15. Main Improvement Actions (Cont.)
Principle 9: Non-excessive Burden on Respondents
The PCBS should investigate the reduction of the response burden that concepts, increase the data collection with hand-held devices, internet-based data collection, but also the increased use of administrative data and statistical registers.
The development of the response burden over time should be documented and could be shown on the website.

16. Main Improvement Actions (Cont.)
Principle 11: Relevance
The PCBS should develop a strategy to reconcile user needs within the NSS and its priorities.

17. Main Improvement Actions (Cont.)
Principle 12: Accuracy and Reliability
The presentation of quantitative indicators in the metadata reports, in particular for quality aspects, should be extended, standardized, and homogeneous for all statistical products.
The PCBS should develop a policy for revisions of statistical products and for the publication of revised statistics.

18. Main Improvement Actions (Cont.)
Principle 15: Accessibility and Clarity
The website needs a clear structure, more user-friendly presentations and improved functionalities.
An exact time of the day for all press releases should be stated.

19. Self assessment is a pre-requisite exercise.
Lesson Learned
This Exercise helps in defining the priorities, the gaps and the needed development actions towards the NSS.
Self assessment is a pre-requisite exercise.
All NSIs staff (senior and junior) have to be involved in this practice as well as the stakeholders and partners.
LPR support PCBS in increasing the awareness of the government, policy makers, stakeholders and PCBS staff on the importance of the COP
Openness, Transparency and cooperation is needed to assure the success of this process.
LPR shows the importance of developing the regional Code of Practices

20. Thanks for your Attention