1. Workshop on MDG Monitoring United Nations Statistics Division
Kampala, 5-8 May 2008
Mechanisms of data reporting from national statistical systems to international agencies: Results of the UNSD survey
United Nations Statistics Division

2. Contents
Context
Recommendations of the Inter-Agency and Expert Group on MDG Indicators
Rationale for the countries’ survey
Countries’ survey results
Agencies’ survey
Conclusions

3. Rationale
The UN Statistical Commission, at its thirty-seventh session (2006), “recognized that the mechanisms for reporting data from national to international statistical systems should be improved”.
ECOSOC resolution 2006/6, Strengthening statistical capacity, calls on all international agencies, through the Inter-Agency and Expert Group on Millennium Development Goals Indicators, under the coordination of the United Nations Statistics Division and in accordance with the guidance provided by Member States through the Statistical Commission, to improve the coverage, transparency, and reporting on all indicators in order to enhance the database on all Millennium Development Goals, including through defining priorities and developing a strategy to improve data for all indicators.

4. Rationale
The 10th Meeting of the Inter-Agency and Expert Group on MDG Indicators (IAEG):
Recognized the need to improve reporting mechanisms from national statistical systems to and international agencies.
Recommended:
To strengthen the coordinating role of the NSO
To establish a national repository providing a single set of data
To identify a focal point inside the national statistical system (i.e. a person or institution designated by the country to receive and respond to all requests of data used for the MDG indicators)
To improve data sharing at the international level
To involve regional commission in data queries and checking

5. International agencies National statistical system
IAEG recommendations
1. To identify a focal point inside the national statistical system
International agencies
Data requests
Data
Focal
point
Data requests
Data
National statistical system

6. International agencies National statistical system
IAEG recommendations
2. To improve data sharing at the international level
International agencies
Data requests
Data
Focal
point
Data requests
Data
National statistical system

7. International agencies National statistical system
IAEG recommendations
3. To involve regional commission in data queries and checking
Data queries & checking
International agencies
Data requests
Data
Focal
point
UN Regional
Commissions
Data requests
Data
National statistical system

8. Rationale for the survey
In order to assist designing and developing strategies to improve the collection of data for the MDG database, the United Nations Statistics Division prepared a questionnaire for countries asking information about reporting mechanisms from national statistical systems to international agencies.

9. Questionnaire for countries
The questionnaire asks about:
Mechanisms of reporting data from national statistical systems to international agencies
Measures taken by countries
Obstacles to improve reporting mechanisms
The questionnaire was first used among countries participating in the 12th IAEG Meeting on MDG Indicators (Nov 2007).
The questionnaire is continuously being improved under the guidance of the IAEG.

10. Survey results - Countries
Total number of replies: 14
Responding countries:
Botswana
Mozambique
Cameroon
Namibia
Ethiopia
Sierra Leone
Kenya
Tanzania
Madagascar
Uganda
Malawi
Zambia
Mauritius
Zimbabwe

11. Survey results - Countries
Focal points at the national level
Freq. %
Focal point for MDG data requests: 9 64
a. NSO only 5 36
b. Others (Ministries, UNDP) 3 21
c. NSO and Ministry 1 7
No focal point
Only 64% of the countries have a focal point.
There is a need to promote the establishment of focal points.

12. Survey results - Countries
Focal points at the national level
Who receives data requests?
NSO
Other
NSO & other
Focal point 1 4 2
Even in countries where there are designated focal points, they are not always well established.

13. Survey results - Countries
Focal points at the national level
There is a need to establish and promote the usage of the focal point.
To whom should I ask the data?
Data producer
Focal point for MDG data
International
agency

14. Survey results - Countries
Requests from international agencies
Freq. %
NSO was not able to reply to all requests 9 64
- Due to lack of reliable data 4 35
- Because data are not produced by the NSO 2 14
Received duplicated requests from international agencies 7 50
Half of the countries indicate they receive duplicated data requests. There is a need to improve data sharing at the international level to avoid duplication of requests.

15. Survey results - Countries
Measures taken to improve reporting to international agencies
Freq. %
Developed a national strategy for the development of statistics (NSDS) 4 29
Revised the statistical law 1 7
Established focal points in line ministries
Designated a focal point of contact with international agencies on statistical matters
Assigned responsibilities in replying to data requests
None 3 21

16. Survey for international agencies
Conducted in November 2007 among the international agencies of the IAEG on MDG Indicators.
Asked about:
Contacts in countries, format of transferred data, sharing of data among international agencies, involvement of regional commissions.

17. Survey results - Agencies
Total number of replies: 17
Responding agencies:
CDIAC
UNEP-Ozone Secretariat
FAO
UNEP-WCMC
ILO Employment
UNESCO/UIS
ILO Gender
UNICEF
IPU
WHO HIV
ITU
WHO TB
OECD DAC
World Bank
UN Population Division
WTO
UNAIDS

18. Survey results - Agencies
National contacts for data requests
Freq. %
a. Only NSO 2 12
b. NSO and other 8 47
c. Other 7 41

19. Survey results - Agencies
Use of data available in other international agencies
Freq. %
Yes 11 65 No 6 35
Coordination with UN regional commissions on data checking and queries
Freq. %
Yes 1 6 No 16 94

20. Conclusions of the surveys
National focal points for MDG data requests
More than 60% of the countries have focal points
International agencies do not always use the national focal points for their data requests
Role of regional commissions is minimal
65% of international agencies share data with each other, but half the countries indicate they receive duplicated requests.