Bosna i Hercegovina Agencija za statistiku Bosne i Hercegovine Bosnia and Herzegovina Agency for Statistics of Bosnia and Herzegovina PARIS 21 Meeting on Strategic Planning in Statistical Development for Fragile and Post-Conflict States Experience of European Country Bosnia and Herzegovina New York, 20 February 2010

Background Bosnia and Herzegovina: Geographic position: South East of Europe, Balkan peninsula Territory: sq km Estimated population: 3.8 million Capital: Sarajevo Recognised by UN in 1992

Statistics of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BH) Statistical system in BH reflects complex institutional structure of the state:

Legislation The BH Law on Statistics was imposed by OHR (Office of High Representative) in 2004 The responsibility of the Agency for Statistics of BH (Agency): To define statistical standards, to produce and disseminate statistical data at the State international representation and co-operation The Director of Agency - the Chief Statistician of Bosnia and Herzegovina The Entities legislation not fully harmonised with the state level legislation

Strategic planning At the state level through consultations with Entity statistical institutes Multi-annual Statistical Programme and annual plans have to be are approved by the Council of Ministers of BH The Statistical Council- advisory body (11 members, six out of them coming from statistical institutions) The Entities strategic documents have to be aligned with the State level documents

Strategic planning, continuation The latest adopted is Multi-annual Statistical Programme Priorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the process of Euro Atlantic integrations Professional and reliable producer of high quality statistics comparable Data in line with EU and international standards and regulations.

Strategic planning, continuation Our vision: Compliance with international and, especially, EU standards and regulations; User-friendly orientation; More modern approach in collecting, processing and dissemination of data ; Improving quality of statistical data; Implementation of new ICT technologies and innovations; Application of the same statistical legislation, Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics and European Statistics Code of Practice, by all producers of statistics; Capable and motivated staff; Improving working conditions.

Strategic planning, continuation Lengthy and quite slow process (three institutes involved) State level priorities not recognised as the first and most important by the Entities institutions One Entity requests the production of certain state level statistics Agreement on the implementation of harmonized methodologies and standards in preparing the statistical data

Problems of Statistics in Bosnia and Herzegovina Lack of cooperation between entities statistical institues Cooperation with other relevant institutions insufficient Administrative data sources not properly established still Insufficient number of employees Limited absorption capacity and sustainability of achieved results Lack of professional knowledge is evident in many areas

Problems of Statistics in Bosnia and Herzegovina, continuation Financing big statistical activities still depends on donors The development of methodologies takes time Unavailability of required micro data at the state level Data dissemination is not well established

Major obstacle - political context (Complex political situation reflects in statistics) The example of negative political influence: Population and Housing Census in BH, round 2010 Problems of Statistics in Bosnia and Herzegovina, continuation

Risks: continuation of current policy in general and its reflection in the statistics existence of three parallel statistical laws not harmonized strategic dokument and plans lack of cooperation between all “players” in the statistical system insufficient finance resources for further development insufficient human resources

Conclusions Bosnia and Herzegovina has complex administrative structure and harmonization of legislation goes slowly Problems in statistics similar to those in other small countries but also specific ones Change of political climate is a precondition for better functioning of the statistical system Better cooperation between statistical institutes and work on common priorities and objectives are necessary

Thank you for your attention! Zdenko Milinovic Director Agency for Statistics of Bosnia and Herzegovina Zelenih Beretki 26, Sarajevo Bosnia and Herzegovina Tel: Statistics of Bosnia and Herzegovina at: