Strategy of Statistics in Georgia Global Assessment and Strategy of Statistics in Georgia UNECE Workshop on Strengthening National Capacity for the Sustainable Development of Statistics 4-6 October 2017, Tbilisi, Georgia Maia Guntsadze Deputy Executive Director National Statistics Office of Georgia – Geostat

Outline of presentation   About Geostat Global Assessment and its Objectives Recommendations for improvements from GA GA Impact : Institutional environment/conditions Main outputs and Impact from GA Future plans and Challenges Strategy of Statistics Georgia 2017–2020

About Geostat About Geostat General Information Legal Entity of Public Law Coordinator of National Statistical System Reporting/accountable to the Parliament and to the Prime Minister Management Board - 8 Member Board (5 non public servants and 3 Government bodies), the Board is chaired by the Executive Director Advisory Board -consist of at least 8 members (non public servants) Legal Basis Law on Official Statistics Annual Statistical Programme Geostat Charter Geostat Board/ Advisory Board Charter Coordination of Statistical Activities The statistical Law gives Geostat the role of coordinating and overseeing official statistics in Georgia 1

Global Assessment and its Objectives 2 AGA Missions was conducted in 2012 The assessment was based on an extensive review performed during two assessment missions. With the Main objective : To describe and analyze institutional and organizational aspects of Geostat including the compliance of Georgian official statistics with international and European standards, norms and recommendations, incorporating: the European statistics Code of Practice, the UN Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics GA topics covered Broad strategic reviews of Georgian statistical system: - Institutional environment /statistical infrastructure - Practice in individual statistical domains -sector statistics - Whether resources are efficiently used, and well directed - Engagement with users and respondents

Recommendations for improvements from GA Based on GA Mission Report : Total number of given recommendations was 125 80 percent of GA recommendations (100 out of 125) have been implemented fully or are ongoing Some of them (5 out of 125) were regarded as non-relevant (out of Geostat’s competence) for implementation, in this case percentage increases to 83. A set of changes have been made according to the recommendations of the AGA in recent years. In particular: In 2015-2016 several significant changes and amendments to the law on official statistics were made (Professional Independence, Mandate for data collection, new definitions, census periodicity etc.). UN fundamental principles and ESS Code of Practice translated into Georgian and distributed among entire statistical system. Coordination of Statistical Activities - To ensure better coordination and information exchange Geostat has cooperation memoranda and agreements in place with major producers of official statistics and data providers (Government agencies-20, Business associations-8, NGO-5, Universities-7 in Total 40 MOE.).

GA Impact : Institutional environment/conditions Adequacy of ressources - Methodology and Quality Management unit has been created according to the AGA recommendations Commitment to quality - Interagency working group on quality issues has been created; Consists of Producers/Providers, 14 government institutions in total. Statistical confidentiality - New policy documents and guidelines have been prepared: Confidentiality policy, Public use micro-data dissemination policy, Confidentiality reminder, Guidelines on the protection of tabulated personal data, Guidelines on the protection of tabulated business data, Statistical data revision policy. Non-excessive burden on respondents –simplification of questionnaires, increased usage of administrative data; modernized data collection methods. New Methodologies & New Classifications developed- New surveys (Truism, ICT, Energy statistics, LFS, Agricultural surveys, BS, etc.) & the national version of the NACE rev.2 Open Access to Statistical Information - Continue ensuring availability of statistics and data to researchers, journalists and the broader public Data Dissemination and user friendly tools- Geostat web-page and calendar Newsletter subscribe service, PC-Axis, Social media, online Business Register etc. Impartiality -Data are disseminated following  the pre-announced release calendar and all users have equal access to statistical release at the same time (11 O’clock).   

Main outputs and Impact from GA Very useful dialogue with the GA team in every important area of statistical production & dissemination Strategic orientation and re-design of statistical system Good Basis for work programmes and new projects Planning of assistance by donors Good Justification and core stone for development and budgeting Clear statement that the statistical system is a much more complex organism than only an NSO Measuring Progress - Other International assessments: Business statistics Sectoral review; World Bank Capacity Indicator; IMF ROSC; FAO/SPAERS; SIDA/Statistics Sweden- covers different domains. Improvement of methodology and field operations (online, CATI, CAPI is under development); Dialogue with data users - Meetings in different regions Award from Open Society Foundation(NGO) for assurance openness and public information access

Future plans and Challenges Goal is The re-engineering of statistical system to produce more statistics in a more effective way. Plans: On 27 June 2014 the Association Agreement between the EU and Georgia was signed. The Association agenda envisages actions to prepare for approximation to the EU acquis in the field of statistics. To achieve the goal of full compliance with EU Standards, additional efforts and financial and human resources will be needed Ask for New AGA in the nearest future Snapshot tool is a lighter alternative for self assessment International help –received by the twinning or cooperation project might play an important role GeoStat still faces difficulties to fulfill its coordination role with other producers of official statistics in Georgia Limited resources & Capabilities

Strategy of Statistics Georgia 2017–2020 New Strategy of Statistics Georgia 2017–2020 is under development In Line with international recommendations (TAIEX TA -Statistics Lithuania) Development of NSDS tailored to the SDG context & linkage with SDG Goals- It will set out how the Georgian Statistical System can be aligned more closely with the SDG Covers a short-term 2017-2020 action plan Long-term perspectives and vision for the future Detailed work programme, based on the main priorities Assessment of the current situation, main constraints and challenges

Thank you for your attention! Meeting the requirements of the users within quality Thank you for your attention! Maia Guntsadze Deputy Executive Director National Statistics Office of Georgia mguntsadze@geostat.ge