HIGH-LEVEL ADVOCACY FORUM ON STATISTICS AND THE GLOBAL CRISIS Enabling Development in the Caribbean Community 30 July 2009, Port-of –Spain, Trinidad and Tobago

TOPIC OF PRESENTATION Improving the Responsiveness of National Statistical Systems in Small-Island Developing States to Current and Emerging Statistical Data Needs By: Glenn Avilez, Director-General Statistical Institute of Belize

OUTLINE OF PRESENTATION Current and emerging statistical data needs Challenges faced by national statistical systems in responding to data needs Practical recommendations on how to address challenges

STATISTICAL DATA NEEDS Current Emerging Millennium Development Goals Other International Agreed Development Goals National and sectoral development goals General Data Dissemination System Climate Change Information and Communications Technology Financial statistics Literacy statistics (poverty, universal primary ed., gender equality, child mortality, maternal health, HIV/AIDS, environmental sustainability, global partnership for development

Shortage of Human Resources Small staff sizes Officers are responsible for several areas Very limited statistical training opportunities Unattractive salaries and benefits Well-known aphorism: Jack of all trades, master of none

Based on population size, Haiti’s national statistical office is by far the smallest (0.1 person per 10,000) in the region. The next smallest are the NSOs in Belize, Guyana and Jamaica, with 1 staff member per 10,000 persons in their population. Bahamas, Barbados, Antigua and Grenada are the largest, each with more than 2.5 staff members per 10,000 population

Disparate IT Systems Most statistical personnel are assigned personal computers Apart from the NSO’s, the information systems of statistical units are generally weak and incompatible

Limited Finance Budgets are largely based on the previous year’s expenditure They do not normally allow for new activities, especially those emerging during the financial year

Few Regular Surveys The most common ones being the labour force, consumer price index and establishment surveys Surveys focus on a single subject. Modules on special topics are sometimes allowed

Long & Irregular Intervals Between Key Surveys Main examples are the poverty, demographic and health and household expenditure surveys In several cases, the intervals between these surveys are longer than the international recommendation Very costly and require a lot of preparation time

No National Statistical Work Programme Lack of coordination between NSO and other producers of official statistics Minimal communication between data producers and users  

Limited Executive Support There seems to be general disinterest in statistics among senior public officials Enthusiasm of technical staff dampened Head of NSO does not participate in key high level committees

Practical Recommendations Human Resources Rationalise statistical functions of small offices Develop tailor-made training materials. Adjust compensation packages of statistical personnel

Practical Recommendations cont’d Finance Hire a “fundraiser” to generate income from non-traditional sources Lobby government for greater budgetary support

Practical Recommendations cont’d Few Surveys Replace single-topic surveys with multi-topic (all-in-one) surveys Irregular surveys Develop and implement a multi-year survey programme

Practical Recommendations cont’d Coordination and advocacy Establish a national statistical systems Grant autonomy to NSO

Thank You!