Ola Awad Acting President, Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics Ramallah, Palestine Statistics development for fragile and post conflict states: The sky is the limit Case of Palestine

Statistics development for fragile and post conflict states: Case of Palestine Area=6,385 Km² (6020 WB; 365 GS) Country Profile: Total Population = 3.9 M Public institution; established in 1993 Provider of Palestine’s official statistics Permanent employees 320; Temporarily 200 per month Large projects: Voter register 1995, Census 1997, Census 2007; agriculture census 2010 PCBS Profile:

Statistics development for fragile and post conflict states: Case of Palestine Source of fragility Armed Conflicts Wars 2008 Internal political conflict: Separation of Gaza PCBS 1993

Statistics development for fragile and post conflict states: Case of Palestine Source of fragility Lack of demographic and economic statistics 2.Statistics stereotyping: Statistics = Taxation 3.Absence of “official statistics culture” ?

Statistics development for fragile and post conflict states: Case of Palestine Source of fragility 1993 Building of national statistical system ? Feasibility on paper = ZEROWHY

Statistics development for fragile and post conflict states: Case of Palestine Source of fragility WHY Textbook analysis:Normal versus Palestinian situation Defined area Fragmented Stability Instability Sovereignty Partial control MovementDesignated areas ABC PerceptionNegative Everyday’s vocabulary: Wall, trenches, check-points, curfew, permits, settlements, Jerusalem law, closures, Demographic war,detainees, injured, killed…etc

Palestinian cities, towns and villages on the West Bank © Mustafa Barghouti Israeli settlements on Palestinian land Israeli military checkpoints And the Separation Wall

Statistics development for fragile and post conflict states: Case of Palestine Source of fragility HOW The sky is the limit In the field of official statistics, there is no half way to do things Stay RELEVENT

Statistics development for fragile and post conflict states: Case of Palestine Source of fragility MEASURES Benchmark best practices Decentralization of operations Emphasis on organization unique culture and values Flexibility in operations New measures to cope with emerging situations Focus on organizational and statistical development Public mobilization and support Stay independent Focus on quality and international best practices Be a learning organization

Statistics development for fragile and post conflict states: Case of Palestine Source of fragility RESULTS Reputable National Statistics provider (Identity) Strong presence nationally (Proactive) Emphasis on organization unique culture and values (Commitment) Flexibility in operations (Environment conscious) New measures to cope with emerging situations (Innovative) Focus on organizational and statistical development (Capacity build) Public mobilization and support (Advocative) Stay independent (Relevant Statistics) Focus on quality and international best practices (Professional) Strategic planning (Learning organization)

Statistics development for fragile and post conflict states: Case of Palestine Source of fragility Maintain Relevancy Maintain running of routine programs Initiate programs to suit emerging situations: Perception of business owners during Intifada, Impact of Israeli measures on Palestinian Household and Businesses, Impact of Israeli war on Gaza, Impact of Annexation Wall on localities and households, Social Survey on Jerusalem Self assessing: MTR 2005, MTR 2008, Introduction of Internal Peer Review (Quality, Dissemination, Metadata, …etc) Planning: Consolidation of PCBS programs and Master plans into the NSDS

Statistics development for fragile and post conflict states: Case of Palestine Source of fragility Best Practices One solution: NO Best Practices: Yes Produce a manual of best practices in developing national statistical systems for coping with fragile and post conflict

Ola Awad, Acting President, Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics Ramallah, Palestine Statistics development for fragile and post conflict states: The sky is the limit Case of Palestine