Challenges in Promoting Data and Data Dissemination Policies Lao Statistics Bureau Country Report Challenges in Promoting Data and Data Dissemination Policies 20-22 June 2012 Prepared by: Ms. Sulaphanh PHIMPHAPHONGSAVATH

Contents I. Background Information II. Work program in Dissemination III. The Challenges in Promoting Data and Data Dissemination Strategies

I. Background Information

I. Background Information (Cont.) Some Indicators: Total land area: 236.800 Km2 Population: 6,3 M (2011) Population growth (annual): 2,1% Population density is 27 p. per km2. GDP (growth rate): 7,9% (2011)

II. Work program in Dissemination The government of Lao PDR aims to use the General Data Dissemination Standard (GDDS) which comprises four main properties (“dimensions”) which serve as objectives when compiling and disseminating data. Those dimensions are: data (coverage, periodicity, and timeliness), quality, integrity, and access by the public. Therefore, the Lao Statistics Bureau has played a core role in supporting and cooperating with other statistics producers within the national statistical system to employ GDDS in their data dissemination. The main activities undertaken are:

Activities: Define and improve official statistics as well as raw data dissemination policies taking into account users’ needs. Although currently we still cannot determine an appropriate statistical release schedule to allow universal access to the data by various users, we treat this as our long-term strategy. Produce manual on how to documents data. Improve and expand modes of dissemination to increase variety and timeliness specifically through the use of website to disseminate various surveys’ results.

The Lao Statistics Bureau will determine schedules for statistical releases, publications and the release through the website. Geographical Information System (GIS) mapping will be used as one of dissemination methods; and LaoInfo software will be used to disseminate economic and social indicators. In addition, the Lao Statistics Bureau will attempt to expand formats of statistics to make available data by province on the top of national data;

4. Develop and establish statistical service (dissemination) team to efficiently provide information to users. 5. Conduct users’ satisfaction and data quality surveys by developing suitable questionnaire that can measure expectation, satisfaction, and opinion on timeliness, accuracy and reliability of data.

Information about dissemination LSB has provide variety of formats to suit user needs: Print publications yearbooks, reports, brochures, factsheets, etc. Interactive databases CD, USB, etc. Electronic products website, electronic publications, PDF, etc. Services sales counter, hotline, library

Statistics Publication

http://www.lsb.gov.la

http://www.lsb.gov.la/decide and http://www.decide.la

http://www.lsb.gov.la/nada

http://www.laoinfo.gov.la (will be online in this year)

III. The Challenges in Promoting Data and Data Dissemination Srategies Developing a good, efficient and effective National Statistical System (NSS) is necessary and important for the country to improve the quality of official statistics as according to statistical scientific approaches and methodologies with the appropriate production and dissemination processes. Improve and strengthen the foundation for the development of statistical production both in term of quantity and quality, to ensure that the NSS is comparable to international standards, and to increase credibility of the NSS with best practices

2. The biggest challenges Staff competence does not effectively meet the needs of the national statistical system. Comparing with many countries and to statistical needs, numbers of statistical staff are still small. The application of new technology into statistical activities is still limited due to insufficient capacity and funds. Statistics production and dissemination are still not fully comprehensive as follows: The use of statistical concepts, standards, methodologies as well as classification systems is still not satisfactory.

Statistics production is not comprehensive Statistics production is not comprehensive. For example, many main indicators cannot be produced such as real national income; many price statistics cannot be calculated and the annual assessment is not continuous and lacks clear methodology. Most of the reports are produced on an annual basis; reports on quarterly basis and monthly basis are still limited; and the statistical newsletter is still unavailable. There is long distance between available statistical data and user’s need

Technical infrastructure for statistical activities are limited Lack of fresh information and provincial/ district levels database

3. Data Dissemination Strategies Statistics is only useful if they are used. LSB has strives to productively implementing the tasks of dissemintion by: Providing user-friendly statistical information/data to users. Employing ranges of dissemination tools/techniques Ensuring coherence and effectiveness Diversifying method of knowledge production Producing dissemination guideline/ style guide

Thank You