LECTURE: PRODUCER-USER DIALOGUE IN GENDER STATISTICS PRODUCTION NATIONAL TRAINING WORKSHOPS WITH PRODUCERS AND USERS OF GENDER STATISTICS 2-4 October 2017, Kampala, Uganda LECTURE: PRODUCER-USER DIALOGUE IN GENDER STATISTICS PRODUCTION Opoku Manu Asare 8/29/2019

What is the rational for engaging producers and users of statistics on engendering statistics Who are these producers and users? How can that be done? What should be the ideal outcome of such exchange of ideas What do you perceive as challenges?

Dialogue is a non-confrontational communication, where both partners are willing to learn from the other and therefore leads much farther into finding new grounds together. Scilla Elworthy

Rational for dialogue The rational for this dialogue starts with WHY this meeting? Overall, engendering gender statistics through dialogue creates Ownership and data Integrity Effective dialogue is critical because it helps build trust, drive action, and create a collective sense of ownership over generating and disseminating gender statistics and indicators Generating acceptable gender data, statistics and indicators plan, measure, monitor and evaluate progress of gender equality and opportunities for ALL citizens of a country require shared responsibilities and interests

THE NECESSITY OF PRODUCER-USER DIALOGUE IN GENDER STATISTICS PRODUCTION The Beijing Platform for Action-1995 Urged various Governments to ensure that: PRODUCERS AND USERS of statistics in each country regularly review the adequacy of official statistical system and its coverage of gender issues, and prepare a plan for needed improvements, where necessary. (Para. 210 (b))

Producer-user consultation not a new concept to statisticians They have served different purposes: Statutory – Statistics advisory group or Statistics Council, as part of the legislative structure/organization of national statistics system Ad hoc Advisory Committee for special tasks Statistical inquiries/surveys Review of statistical reports Database/indicator dissemination Etc. 29 August 2019

Channels of communication Informal discussions Formal discussions Formal mechanism for dialogue. Based on legal, institutional framework that governs the production of gender statistics Law Establish a coordinating bodies. Individual consultations Comments on/review of draft documents Technical workshops Data analysis workshops Report drafting workshops Meetings of consultative/advisory committee meetings Dissemination workshops 29 August 2019

Making communication two-way – What to offer to users Understanding the needs of users Learning to communicate in the language of users Bringing statistics to the different technical levels of users Generating useful products Making the constraints of producers known Responding to and appreciating feedback 29 August 2019

IMPORTANCE OF PRODUCER-USER DIALOGUE IN GENDER STATISTICS PRODUCTION? ALL parties are adequately rewarded because: Purpose and objectives of the statistical project are clarify Outputs and outcomes takes the needs of all into consideration It enhances the integrity of data and statistics Data quality, timeliness and the 10 principles of the official statistics are strengthen Gender integration into statistics through gender mainstreaming is assured Increases the availability, accessibility and utilization of the data produced (often generate at great cost)

IMPORTANCE OF PRODUCER-USER DIALOGUE IN GENDER (Cont.) Enhanced statistical literacy – better and more effective use of statistics Users knowledge about constraints of the national statistical system increased More advocates and greater support for gender issues and concerns, as well as the national statistical system Expanded sources of technical inputs It strengthens government and private sector support It strengthen resources mobilization and gender responsive budgets at all levels

Who are the Producers of gender statistics? Public institutions such as CSOs eg. UBOS Researchers Academia Private sector Gender and women advocates CSOs, NGOs Media International agencies

Who are the users of gender statistics? Government Institutions Private sector (Business women and men) Community and opinion leaders Households and ordinary citizens Researchers and academicians Gender and women’s advocates and activists International Community (DPs and Donors) International organizations, bilateral aid agencies, development partners Civil society organizations, NGOs, Ordinary citizens Media

Expect more from statistics when gender dimension added Users of gender statistics constitute a major group to target The use of gender statistics brings new application to expensive data The analysis of data is extended from different user perspectives Use of the data for advocacy also publicizes the statistics 29 August 2019

Introducing gender to statistics would require new approaches Need to go beyond the traditional-producer-user groups Explore communication in both directions – Producers Users Engage users every step of the production process Solicit feedback from users on continuous basis Respond positively to feedback Make use of feedback received Provide responses Inform users about outcome of feedback 29 August 2019

Consulting users Know your users Understand their needs and requirements Appreciate their special skills and potentials Determine how best to capitalize on these skills Find a way of combining the different personalities Minimize conflicts Maximize contributions to the outputs 29 August 2019

What skills/capacities? 29 August 2019

BENEFITS OF PRODUCER-USER DIALOGUE IN GENDER STATISTICS PRODUCTION? ALL parties are adequately rewarded because: Purpose and objectives of the statistical project are clarify Outputs and outcomes takes the needs of all into consideration It enhances the integrity of data and statistics Data quality, timeliness and the 10 principles of the official statistics are strengthen Gender integration into statistics through gender mainstreaming is assured Increases the availability, accessibility and utilization of the data produced (often generate at great cost) It enable the various institutions and the country to prepare a Gender Budget in a balancing manner according to priorities of the institutions/country

BENEFITS OF PRODUCER-USER DIALOGUE IN GENDER (Cont BENEFITS OF PRODUCER-USER DIALOGUE IN GENDER (Cont.) STATISTICS PRODUCTION? Enhanced statistical literacy – better and more effective use of statistics Users knowledge about constraints of the national statistical system increased More advocates and greater support for gender issues and concerns, as well as the national statistical system Expanded sources of technical inputs It strengthens government and private sector support It strengthen resources mobilization and gender responsive budgets at all levels

The challenge Managing the wide range of users Reconciling different interests and purposes Responding to the varying levels of understanding in technical issues and gender awareness Meeting the diversity of needs 29 August 2019

Reformulate development issues BRINGING GENDER ISSUES INTO THE PRODUCER-USER DIALOGUE IN GENDER STATISTICS PRODUCTION Reformulate development issues USERS Problems and questions on gender issues in society of statistics Cooperate Needs for improvement of the situations of women and men PRODUCERS of statistics Goals for equal opportunity 29 August 2019

Targeting different audiences Enhancing visibility of women and men in statistical products Targeting different audiences PRODUCERS of statistics Analysis of data Feedback Cooperate Presentation USERS Dissemination of statistics 29 August 2019

Role of producer-user dialogue Final steps in data collection Beginning stages of data collection Consultations/feedback in-between Advice on questionnaires design Define issues Support analysis Users of statistics Producers of statistics Identify statistical needs Identify gaps Feedback on relevance of data/products Identify gaps Advice on concepts & methods 29 August 2019

Some reflection on current practices The Beijing Platform for Action assigns responsibility on Government (in this case the NSO or the Women’s Machinery) to ensure that producer-user dialogue is maintained: To what extent is this being done? How formal is such an arrangement? If a group is in place how regularly does it meet? What are some of the benefits gained, to those that practice this? Are there some elements of such an arrangement that guarantee successful outcomes? 29 August 2019

Producer-user dialogue in practice …. Is it really worth the effort? From the producers’ perspective From the users’ perspective Benefits Challenges Downside How can it be improved? What works and what does not? 29 August 2019

Additional efforts Recognise and appreciate the contribution that users can bring to discussions of priorities and areas for improvement, from decisions about what data to collect to what formats they are disseminated in. Allow relationships to be forged between users and producers, recognising their interdependency. Include feedback loops that provide information about the outcomes of user engagement activity

SHORTCOMINGS IN PRODUCER-USER DIALOGUE IN GENDER STATISTICS PRODUCTION Wide range of knowledge, skills and competencies in gender issues among stakeholders at the meeting Differentials in skills and competencies in statistical literacy among stakeholders at the meeting (eg. Teaching metrics or regression at a lecture room for first-year English and Mathematics students) Competing interest and demands Where the DPs/Donors goals conflict with local needs

SHORTCOMINGS IN PRODUCER-USER DIALOGUE IN GENDER STATISTICS PRODUCTION Sources of funding. Are stakeholders prepared to pay for the cost of production and dissemination of the data collection? Can lengthen the time table Can generate conflicting opinions Can yield competing demands Can raise unrealistic expectations Can lead to disappointments when expectations are not met

Reflections The existence of technical working groups is reasonable but it needs to be extended to lower levels within the ministries. This will help rapidly engender statistics. The role by the Gender Ministry of determining and setting priorities is well placed but needs the incorporation of other relevant Government agencies, e.g. Ministry of Justice, Human Rights Commission & the Labor ministry. This will in time give the fight for engendering statistics a legal backing and hence compelling.

Exercise List all the existing Producer-User dialogue channels in Uganda for gender issues List all the institutions involved Which institution is the main leader of gender statistics in Uganda In practical terms, what are the benefits of Producer-User dialogue of gender statistics in Uganda What are the challenges of Producer-User dialogue in gender statistics in Uganda Propose solutions to these challenges (5)

Some reflection on current practices The Beijing Platform for Action assigns responsibility on Government (in this case the NSO or the Women’s Machinery) to ensure that producer-user dialogue is maintained: To what extent is this being done? How formal is such an arrangement? If a group is in place how regularly does it meet? What are some of the benefits gained, to those that practice this? Are there some elements of such an arrangement that guarantee successful outcomes? 29 August 2019

Thank you