20 th – 22nd April 2016, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Presented by: The Gambia 1 ACTION PLAN FOR IMPLEMENTING SNA 2008

Outline of Presentation 2  Background  Mandate  Role of Statistics in National Development  Situational Analysis of National Accounts in The Gambia  Constraints/challenges  Steps taken for improvement  Highlights of Recent developments  Strategic Goals  Monitoring & Evaluation  Cost of the five year Planned Activities

Background- Mandate 3  The Gambia Bureau of Statistics (GBoS) is a semi-autonomous agency under oversight function of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs (MoFEA);  Established by an Act of Parliament, the 2005 Statistics Act;  Used to operate as a government department (Central Statistics Department) under MoFEA as it was established by the Statistics Act, 1972;  The Bureau is the principal body responsible for:  Collecting, analysing and disseminating statistical data for central economic management and decision making;  Monitoring and coordinating the National Statistical System;  Carrying out central functions required for all other statistical services.

Background- Mandate cont’d  The 2005 Statistics Act requires  enhanced capacity to produce and use good quality statistics  to achieve The Gambia’s development goals for public policies and private investment decision making:  The first National Strategy for the Development of Statistics (NSDS I );  The second NSDS II which is a sector wise (SSDS) approach  sets out priorities, strategies and action plans  improve the quality of data production, management and utilization within the organization to meet changing user needs. 4

Background – Role of Statistics in National Development  Provide comprehensive, timely and accurate Statistical Information  crucial for effective national development, policymaking, as well as for monitoring & evaluation processes;  Provides a foundation upon which scarce resources are allocated to fundamental needs such as health, housing and education  an objective account of the socio–economic situation of a nation;  Emphasis on the use of statistical data in the formulation and monitoring & evaluation of policies;  Vision 2020; the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) and the Programme for Accelerated Growth and Employment (PAGE) were formulated in line with the MDG’s and now SDG’s 5

Background – Situational Analysis of National Accounts in The Gambia  The National Accounts unit forms the core unit within the economic statistics directorate of GBoS;  Collects, compiles and analyzes data to produce annual Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by the production and expenditure approaches;  In 2005/06 GBoS conducted a census of the Gambian economy  Compilation of a new benchmark level for the GDP;  Migration from 1968 SNA to 1993 SNA;  old GDP series of 1976/77 benchmark (SNA68) was replaced by an up to date base

Background – Situational Analysis of National Accounts in The Gambia –cont’d  In 2003/04 an Integrated Household Survey (IHS) was conducted  Rebasing the Consumer Price Index (CPI)  Household Final Consumption Expenditure (HFCE)  old CPI series of 1974 base was also revised to 2004 base 7

Background- Constraints/Challenges  The compilation of GDP for subsequent years has relied on indicators for most sectors  as such became insufficient in terms of frequency, detail and coverage over time  Lack of  quality source data on a regular and timely basis  adequately trained staff  proper co-ordination within the National Statistical System  resources to undertake annual establishment /household surveys;  a comprehensive and well maintained business register 8

Background- Constraints/Challenges  Further improvements in National Accounts compilation will depend on 1. Quality source data  Regular establishment surveys  Regular household surveys  More and better use of administrative data 2. Better trained staff  Documentation/metadata produced and up to date  Training provided in-house and external  Succession planning/recruitment action to deal with staff turnover 3. Good relations with data providers/users  Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs)  Working groups – macro-economic working group, industry coding working group 9

Steps taken for improvement 10 A medium-term plan was developed with the following vision and mission statement for the next five years : Vision To produce quality economic statistics and national accounts consistent with international standards and satisfying user need. Mission To produce quality, reliable, relevant and timely national accounts statistics that will influence policy formulation and decision making as well as satisfy academia. Core Values - Confidentiality, Professionalism, and Integrity; - Teamwork, Commitment, and Results-Oriented; - Sustainability, Accountability, and Transparency.

Steps taken for improvement-cont ’d The medium-term plan for National accounts is in line with the NSDS and the GBoS SSDS: 1. Ensured that it is relevant to national development objectives and is practical and sustainable; 2. Identified the outputs to be produced and the timelines; 3. Identified the main actors/stakeholders; 4. Assessed the capacity and skills to undertake the task and requested for technical assistance; 5. Put in place mechanisms for government support, endorsement and funding. 11

Highlights of recent developments  Secured sustainable funding from the Government to conduct annual establishment survey;  Secured funding from Development Partners –World Bank for the conduct of an economic census in 2014/15 to rebase GDP from 2004 to 2013  Phase 1 of the Economic Census concluded April 2015 (listing of all establishments with fixed structures);  Phase 2, the Business Establishment Survey is underway  Data collection complete  Data processing is ongoing  Data compilation commenced  Complies with 2008 SNA and ISIC Rev. 4  The World Bank has provided a resident advisor;  IMF AFW2 missions has also contributed to all aspects of the Economic Census development and processing; 12

Strategic Goals  Strategic goal 1: Organizational Development and Management  Main activities: i. Coordination, Collaboration, and information sharing with relevant stakeholders for development and improvement of the system of administrative statistics; ii. Preparation of a Communication Strategy for Statistical Advocacy on National Accounts; iii. Restructuring of the national accounts unit; and iv. Recruitment of three additional staff for national accounts. 13

Strategic Goals Cont’d  Strategic goal 2: Human Resources Development  Main activities: i. Develop and implement a sustainable training policy and programme for capacity building and skills development of both existing staff and new recruits; ii. Provide attractive incentive packages for staff retention; 14

Strategic Goals Cont’d  Strategic goal 3: Data Development  Main activities i. Enhance data quality through review of methodologies and instruments for data collection to be in line with international best practices; ( Benchmarking and Rebasing of National Accounts in compliance with 2008 SNA) ii. Review and updating administrative sources data and methods for estimating GVA for the Agriculture, Mining, Finance & Insurance, Public Administration, and public Health and Education; iii. Industry coding of the GRA list of business establishment iv. Development and constant updating of a Statistical Business Register 15

Strategic Goals Cont’d  Strategic goal 3: Data Development  Main activities (cont) v. Evaluate the available and sustainable data sources and implement a regular program of annual establishment surveys so as to maintain quality and reliable national accounts estimates onwards; vi. Derive a mechanism for estimating GVA for the Informal sector;  Analyze and make use of the 2015 household income and expenditure survey for updating estimates of Household Final consumption Expenditure; vii. Development and production of Quarterly National Accounts; viii. Conduct of another economic census (2020)  Rebase GDP  SUT compilation 16

Strategic Goals Cont’d  Strategic goal 4: Data Management, Dissemination and Access  Main activities i. Proper data backup system (internal and external) to ensure data security; ii. Prepare a calendar of release for National Accounts products; iii. Organize Press Release with media for reporting and dissemination of rebased GDP figures; iv. Procurement of CD’s and USB’s for data dissemination; 17

Strategic Goals Cont’d  Strategic goal 5: Infrastructure and Equipment  Main activities i. Create enough office space and make available proper furniture's; ii. Put in place proper IT infrastructure with better management systems; iii. Identify appropriate software’s for processing National Accounts; iv. Upgrade library with up-to-date publications/reports/journals/newsletters on national accounts and economic indicators; v. Improve and modernize GBoS website and provide adequate LAN and WIFI internet connection. 18

Strategic Goals Cont’d  Strategic goal 6: Develop Financing Strategy  Main activities i. Mainstreaming the National Accounts Action Plan into the GBoS sector strategy, the NSDS and ensure that NSDS is funded under the national development plan (PAGE). ii. Hold Donor’s conference towards mobilization of funds. The success of the implementation of the National Accounts Strategic Plan will largely depend on the flow of funds for the development of statistics. It is expected that government of the Gambia and development partners will commit themselves to financing the activities elaborated in this plan through the NSDS and the PAGE. 19

Monitoring & Evaluation  A logical framework will be developed to facilitate regular monitoring and evaluation of the NSDS II, the GBoS SSDS as well as the implementation process of the National Accounts Action Plan;  The framework will focus on improvements made and will also assess the outcome of the project;  Monitoring will be undertaken on a quarterly basis while annual and mid-term reviews will be conducted to consolidate the status of development in the Action plan;  The review exercises will involve key stakeholders and a report on the status of implementation will be produced. 20

Cost of the five year Planned Activities 1. Enhance partnership with key stakeholders- $35, Improve on the quality of source data-$625, Data Management, Dissemination and Access: organize press release, Procurement of CD’s, USB’s $7, Human Resource Development and Capacity Building - $250, Advocacy programmes/materials-$50, Infrastructure and ICT: hardware's and software's, systems maintenance-$7, Conduct of another economic census-$650,000. Total cost=$1,

Thank you for your attention 22 End of Presentation