1. Measuring and Monitoring Public Engagement in Qatar
"Measuring the Un-measurable: Challenging the Limits of Official Statistics" 27 Feb. 2012
Measuring and Monitoring Public Engagement in Qatar
Hamad bin Jabor bin Jassim Al Thani
President, Qatar Statistics Authority
11/8/2018
Qatar Statistics Authority

2. Outline The Rationale Public Engagement: Concepts and Definitions
Important areas of Public Engagement
Impact of Public Engagement
Data Sources
Measurement tools
Challenges to measuring Public Engagement
Way Forward
Qatar Statistics Authority
11/8/2018

3. Rationale
Qatar Vision 2030 focuses on the four areas of development, namely Economic development, Human development, Social development, and Environmental Development
Official statistics are capable of portraying a country through a set of indicators, maps, graphs, etc.
The traditional socio-economic and environmental indicators (GDP, HDI, MDGs indicators, etc.) do not adequately measure the achievement of the goals targeted in Qatar Vision 2030.
New Statistics and indicators are needed.
QNV 2030 Vision are four-pronged:
Human Development: To enable all Qatar’s people to sustain a prosperous society.
Social Development: To maintain a just and caring society based on high moral standards ,
Economic Development: To achieve a competitive and diversified economy Environment Development: To ensure harmony among economic growth, social development and environmental protection.
The existing measures (current macro economic and social indicators do not measure all these phenomena in a holistic way.
Hence the quest for New Indicators: In addition to material well -being, there is need to develop a set of new indicators to measure life satisfaction, general well-being , social justice through Public Engagement.
Qatar Statistics Authority
11/8/2018

4. Why is measuring Public Engagement important for Qatar and for the Region?
The current situation in some countries in the Arab region, has prompted QSA and a group of researchers to discuss a way to better understand the concept of Public Engagement, and to suggest appropriate measurement tools.
Qatar Statistics Authority
11/8/2018

5. Public Engagement: Concepts and Definitions
Public engagement is a process that brings people of all walks of life together to address issues of common importance.
Public engagement builds a feeling of belonging.
Builds trust in policy makers.
Creates opportunities for citizens to become involved in problem solving and decision making.
No additional notes required.
Qatar Statistics Authority
11/8/2018

6. Some important areas of Public Engagement
Education and access to information
Health and wellbeing
Sports and leisure
Culture and Heritage
Energy and Environment
Policy Consultations
Media including Social Media
Social Protection
In particular, since in Qatar, we are now preparing for the hosting of FIFA 2022, it is an opportune time to devise some methods to measure and monitor public engagement
FIFA 2022 is not just a sport event. We believe that it will bring along a wide range of economic, social , cultural and environmental activities , that would have some impact on the development process (infrastructure, net working, social media) and the life style and values of the people.
In order to build preparedness for this important event , there is need to start measuring and monitoring awareness, involvement and collaboration of the Public towards making FIFA 2022 a success. .
Qatar Statistics Authority
11/8/2018

7. Impact of Public Engagement
Public Access to Knowledge
A knowledge based society
Improved quality of life
Expanded Social Capital
Public Access to Facilities
Improved health
Improved wellbeing
Institutional Commitment
More effective Interaction
Result oriented partnership
This project on measurement of public engagement will help QSA
to develop new indicators to measure the impact on quality of life including health, knowledge, wellbeing etc.
Measurement of public engagement through social networks is a new avenue for data collection
Assist decision makers to enhance public involvement on specific areas of concern.
Qatar Statistics Authority
11/8/2018

8. Data Sources Specialized surveys
Administrative data from various Ministries and other Government Units
Research activities by specialized groups
Social Media
New surveys on Readership, Audience, opinion mining, etc.,
Participation in events (membership in sports clubs/visits to Museums/conferences/Doha Debate)
Research activities by specialized groups like Qatar Foundation, Qatar University , etc.,
Social Media (Sentimental analysis through twitter/Facebook etc.,)
Qatar Statistics Authority
11/8/2018

9. Examples of Qatari Social Media Statistics
Category
No. of users
Penetration of Population
Penetration of online population
Facebook
481,280
28.32%
85.36%
Twitter
133,000
7.83%
23.62%
Penetration of Population: It the percentage of Facebook/Twitter users to the total population.
{(Facebook users/ Population of the country)*100}
{(Twitter users/ Population of the country)*100}
Penetration of online Population: Percentage of Facebook/Twitter users to the internet users.
{(Facebook users/ Internet Users)*100}
{(Twitter users/ Internet Users)*100}
Note:(The number of Internet users are Based on information from International Telecommunication Union)
Source: Computing Research Institute, Qatar Foundation April,2011
Qatar Statistics Authority
11/8/2018

10. Examples of Qatari Social Media Statistics (Cont’d)
Source: Computing Research Institute, Qatar Foundation April,2011
Qatar Statistics Authority
11/8/2018

11. Examples of Qatari Social Media Statistics (Cont’d)
Source: Computing Research Institute, Qatar Foundation April,2011
Qatar Statistics Authority
11/8/2018

12. Examples of Qatari Social Media Statistics (Cont’d)
Source: Computing Research Institute, Qatar Foundation April,2011
Qatar Statistics Authority
11/8/2018

13. AWARENESS What to measure? Reading newspapers
Watching news/Radio/online news
Talking about current events/public affaires
(Majlis, Doha debates)
In order to measure awareness of the population on national and international topics there will be need to collect new statistics on newspaper readership, on viewers/audience of TV/Radio/specific channels.
Qatar Statistics Authority
11/8/2018

14. CIVIC VOICE What to measure? Contacting Media
Participating in Policy conferences
Contacting Public Officials
Using Social Media
In order to measure the extent of Civic Voice, regular records will be kept on number of people reporting certain grievances/sharing of experiences/either through the regular channels or through the social media.
Qatar Statistics Authority
11/8/2018

15. INVOLVEMENT What to measure? Membership in Groups/Associations
Participation in Volunteer Activities
Fundraising for Charity
Participation in committees
New statistics will help to better understand the extent of public engagement in specific areas, and to provide opportunities for public involvement and participation in fund raising/charities, in the decision making process at all levels (Government/Community/Family)
Qatar Statistics Authority
11/8/2018

16. Measurement Issues to Consider
Standards do not currently exist at the international level
There is a need to identify target population/“Different publics”
Involves talking to people and not about people
Build trust and ensure confidentiality
Design appropriate data capturing means
How will the information be used
How will the information change the life of the provider
At the international and regional level, there is need to better understand the concept of public engagement, to agree upon a set of indicators that would be comparable across countries, and over time.
Because of the specificities of the population structure of Qatar, as well as that of the other GCC Countries, there will be need to consider the local specificities.
Qatar Statistics Authority
11/8/2018

17. Improving Response Build Trust Educate Engage Provide Feedback
In order to improve the response rate to our surveys, first of all, there is need to build trust in the institutions producing official statistics. Using the lessons learnt during the publicity campaign for the 2010 Population Census, QSA will continue in its effort to educate and engage all the stakeholders in all the area of Public Engagement . Regular feedback on the outcome will be provided to the concerned Public .
Example: 2010 Population Census Publicity Campaign
Qatar Statistics Authority
11/8/2018

18. Measurement process will help answer the following questions:
How active is civil society in Qatar?
Should Qatar develop a policy environment that fosters public engagement?
What is the impact of public engagement on life satisfaction in Qatar?
Is Qatar achieving it’s vision and goals?
Qatar National Vision 2030
National Development Strategy
Qatar National Master Plan 2032
FIFA World Cup 2022
Qatar Statistics Authority
11/8/2018

19. Challenges to Measuring Public Engagement
Better understanding of the concept
Need for an appropriate framework for Qatar
Need to increase public awareness on the issue of Public Engagement
Need to develop appropriate measurement tools/indicators
Need to identify required resources, including capacity building of staff
Qatar Statistics Authority
11/8/2018

20. Way Forward
QSA to initiate the process and together with partners develop the appropriate methodology for measuring Public Engagement
To identify the stakeholders/Public institutions
To create awareness on issues/outcomes of Public Engagement
To collect data and assess the current status of Public Engagement
To prepare recommendations and inform decision makers on the current status of Public Engagement
QSA is the official source and repository of key statistics and indicators , on the social and economic development . It also plays an important role in the coordination of the whole National Statistical System .
In order to meet the challenging task of measuring and monitoring Public Engagement, QSA in collaboration with the local stakeholders and with the international agencies ,would like to stimulate interest in the development of new methodologies to produce the appropriate statistics and indicators.
Qatar Statistics Authority
11/8/2018

21. Way Forward (Cont’d)
To encourage the development of a strategy to enhance Public Engagement to achieve the goals of Qatar National Vision 2030
To collaborate and seek advice with international/regional/research institutions
To develop a repository to monitor Public Engagement in Qatar.
To ensure sustainability of the project at national level.
Qatar Statistics Authority
11/8/2018

22. Thanks
Qatar Statistics Authority
11/8/2018