1. The importance of quality research practice

2. UNICEF as a Data Driven Organization Data is a basis for: -Global and regional reports on the state of children -Program planning, monitoring and reporting -Inputs for policy-making -Inputs for equity-focused strategies -Analysis and studies to inform policy implementation -Objective monitoring and validation of results UNICEF

3. Applying Principles in Practice -To promote use of quality data -To facilitate access to reliable, regular and disaggregated data for planning, monitoring and reporting How does UNICEF do it 1) Through primary data collection 2) Through analysis of primary and secondary data 3) Through strengthening administrative data systems and data management UNICEF

4. 1) Primary Data Collection Regular surveys -Global Multiple-Indicator Cluster Survey – MICS (every 5 years) Ad- hoc surveys- to close the gap in knowledge -School optimization -Salt iodization -Costing of Inclusive Education -Child Care Reform

5. MICS Global household survey in over 100 countries - 4 rounds to date Approximately 130 indicators In Serbia: MICS 4 conducted by SORS in 2010 (+Roma sample) Questionnaires customized to local needs Key source of disaggregated data ( regions, urban/rural, gender, education, age, wealth, ethnicity ) Rigorous quality assurance – global methodology All MICS materials, including data sets are publicly available UNICEF

6. 2) Analysis of primary and secondary data sources -The Many Faces of Poverty (LSMS) -The State of Children in Serbia- Poor and Excluded Children (LSMS and MICS) -Access to Services in Rural Area (LSMS, MICS, Social Inclusion in Rural Areas) -Impact of the potential tax reform on the poorest (LSMS) -Costing of Pre-school Education (Budget Data) -Targeting of Child Allowances (LSMS) UNICEF

7. 3) Strengthening Administrative Data Key Issues: -Collected data not adequate for monitoring policies and measures (type & disaggregation) -Lack of regular revisiting and revision of administrative data collection by data users and producers -Inconsistencies in the same type of data coming from different sources -Insufficient transfer of data from providers to users in user- friendly formats UNICEF

8. 3) Strengthening Administrative Data Examples of UNICEF support: a)Social Protection - Defining of core and secondary social protection indicators -Revision of data collection instruments in the area of social protection -Capacity building for data analysis -Transfer systems between ISP and SORS b) Roma health -Strengthening data base on Roma health indicators -Advancing data entry and processing techniques UNICEF

9. 3) Strengthening Administrative Data Support to data availability: a) DevInfo (DI) database - Administered by RSO from 2006 -National DI - under revision to support reporting as per national MDGs and Social Inclusion and Poverty Reduction indicators -Municipal DI – available administrative and survey data customized in user-friendly Municipal Profiles b) TransMonee database -Regional administrative data on social protection, employment, education indicators, current harmonization with ESPROSS requirements UNICEF

10. PBILD Zajednički program UN, UN Kancelarija u Bujanovcu Karađorđa Petrovića bb, 17520 Bujanovac, Srbijа Example of DevInfo Municipal Profile

11. Cooperation with SORS SORS as a long term and reliable partner Cooperation on DevInfo, TransMonee, MICS Mutual learning and capacity development Facilitation in establishing institutionalized data exchange procedures Possible areas of future attention: Resolving discrepancies in administrative data collected from different sources Creating a more dynamic cooperation between line ministries and SORS Strengthening capacity for data usage and availability of data at municipal level UNICEF

12. Cooperation with decision- makers & research community Partnership with decision-makers -Aim is to promote and support evidence-based policy making -Wide dissemination of and policy advocacy based on quality research (MICS 4, studies…) -Independent institutions (Parliament, Ombudsman) Partnership with the research community -NGOs -Think-tanks -Universities UNICEF

13. Thoughts for further discussion… -Availability of high quality data sets -Pre-conditions for continuous monitoring of policy implementation -Availability of analytical capacity -Effective cooperation between SORS, ministries, NGOs and think-tanks in the area of research UNICEF