Capacity development and Financing data for development 21st meeting of the MGSC 5 April 2019, Luxembourg Marina Gandolfo, Italy – Benjamin Rothen, Switzerland

Content Work of the High-level Group on Partnership, Coordination and Capacity-Building (HLG- PCCB) in general including Dubai Declaration; UNSC High Level Forum on Official Statistics - Financing for data and statistics; Bern High-level Dialogue on Funding for Data for SDGs; Bern Network on Financing Data for Development.

Cape Town Global Action Plan A. Work of the HLG-PCCB UN World Data Forum First Forum January 2017 in Cape Town, South Africa. Second Forum was held in October 2018 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates Third Forum will be held in October 2020 in Bern, Switzerland Cape Town Global Action Plan Dubai Declaration

A. Work of the HLG-PCCB Different work streams: Modernisation of the UN Statistical System. A more effective and efficient UN statistical system in the era of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and beyond a higher coordination of the UN statistical system is needed the official statistics needs a stronger voice the value of existing coordination mechanisms and on-going UN reforms Recommendation 1: Strengthening the existing mechanisms Recommendation 2: Take the issue to the next level Recommendation 3: Active involvement of the statistical community Decision 50/103: The Statistical Commission (e) Recognized the urgent need for better coordination and a more efficient United Nations statistical system, the urgent need to reduce the reporting burden, as well as the need for a stronger voice for official statistics within the United Nations system and, to that end, supported the recommendations to (i) immediately strengthening the existing mechanisms, and then (ii) take the issue to the next level and (iii) active involvement of the statistical community, as presented in the background document by the HLG-PCCB, as appropriate; (f) Noted, however, that before bringing a clear message to the higher political level, including ECOSOC, further inclusive, efficient and transparent consultations, among Member States and members of the UN and other international statistical systems, would be necessary;

A. Work of the HLG-PCCB Financing data for development implementation of the CTGAP in cooperation with the World Bank and other partners to strengthen political support for the implementation of the CTGAP to establish a transparent and inclusive financing mechanism that can address the data challenges and ensure that quality and timely data to make informed decisions and ensure accountability financing mechanism will be an umbrella structure to coordinate and consolidate existing Road map including involvement of political level and awareness

A. Work of the HLG-PCCB 50th Session UNSC: Decision 3c: Endorsed the Dubai Declaration and recognized the urgent need to mobilize sufficient resources to assist countries with the strengthening of data and statistical system, including for the implementation of the CTGAP; Decision 3d: Supported the establishment of an innovative funding mechanism, as called for by the Dubai Declaration, to respond in an efficient manner to the priorities of national data and statistical systems, with a goal to mobilize both domestic and international funds to support the strengthening the capacity of national data and statistical systems.

B. High Level Forum - Financing for data and statistics Aspect of financing and actions to be taken for the implementation of the Cape Town Global Action Plan Dialogue among Experts from the donor community and statisticians global policy and advocacy, domestic resource mobilization the evolving role of donors to support more and better financing for data and statistics strong misalignment between the growing demand for quality statistical data and the funding to strengthen the statistical systems of the partner countries Development assistance should be doubled and go from 0.3% to 0.7% of the percentage of ODA (Official Development Assistance). strengthening and modernization of national statistical systems is essential to produce quality statistical data and monitor progress towards achieving the SDGs. bilateral donors and multilateral agencies must work together and improve coordination between their initiatives, to ensure the necessary support to partner countries.

B. High Level Forum - Financing for data and statistics Need of a strong political commitment and an adequate increase in financial resources for the sector are needed. the key role of National Statistical Institutes in effectively addressing the request for data by governments. importance of clearly communicating the reasons for investing in official statistics, opening to external collaborations all actions aimed at improving the statistical systems of the partner countries must be country driven, that is based on their actual needs. During the seminar several references were made to the Bern Network which was recently established, and the importance of reaching the next UN World Data Forum 2020 with concrete results achieved.

C. Bern High-level Dialogue on Funding for Data for SDGs Swiss government organized the meeting to bring statisticians together with donors; Discussion based on two PARIS21 discussion papers (No. 14 and 15): Financing challenges for developing statistical systems – a review of financing options; Mobilising data for the SDGs: How could a data acceleration facility help, and how might it work? Topics at the dialogue: Why do we need more and better data? How can we improve the financing for developing statistical systems? How could actionable measures for more and better funding look like? Way forward: Which initiatives can be considered and how do we bridge donor expectations with country priorities?

D. Bern Network on Financing Data for Development The Bern Network on Financing Data for Development (Bern Network) is an outcome of the Bern High-level Dialogue on Funding for Data for the SDGs on 24 January 2019. It aims to work towards the launch of a new robust funding framework to be launched at the World Data Forum 2020 in Bern; The Bern Network looks into goals along the three tracks noted above: Towards an improved funding mechanism; Improving coordination; and Making communication and advocacy more impactful; Next steps: 9 or 10 April 2019: Working meeting of the Network; 12 April 2019: WB Spring Meetings – Side-event; April 2019: FFD Forum; July 2019: HLPF; September 2019: UNGA High-level Dialogue on FFD and UNGA; October 2019: Annual Meeting WB.

Towards UN World Data Forum 2020 Road to Bern: to prepare for UNWDF 2020; to support the implementation of the 2030 Agenda in Switzerland; Events from 1 January 2020 to 18 October 2020; Video showed in Dubai and New York: https://youtu.be/H6RA5nbvtQI

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