1. UK role in Statistical Capacity Building

2. DFID is the UK aid agency.
Role of DFID
DFID is the UK aid agency.
Long history of being global leader in statistical capacity building
Latest PRESS report, DFID is the 4th largest donor in bilateral commitments (after Canada, Sweden, Norway) and 9th overall.
DFID works bilaterally (through our country offices) and at the global level to invest in statistics.
PRESS: Annual report by Paris 21 on donor spending on statistics

3. Global projects – some examples
DFID has a £6.6 million project with UNSD to improve use and dissemination of the SDG indicators by developing an online data and visualisation platform for the SDG indicators, and supporting 20 developing countries to build their capacity in disseminating disaggregated data and engaging with key data users; 
DFID is, through the World Bank managed Trust Fund for Statistical Capacity Building, providing funding for household surveys in close to 20 developing countries.
DFID has a £12 million project providing support to improve Economic Statistics through the IMF in Africa and UNESCAP in Asia
DFID is a core funder of Paris21
DFID funds the International Comparison Programme (ICP) through the World Bank.

4. Country level projects
Countries where DFID currently has statistics projects
Kyrgyzstan: Still in planning stage
E.g. In 2016, new £4m 3 year programme with Central Bureau of Statistics of Nepal. It will support primary data collection & technical assistance (incl poverty analysis, economic statistics, environmental statistics.) Strong focus on data disaggregation. Underpinning building systems and people capacity to collect, manage and analyse data.
Map shows current and planned bilateral projects that we were able to identify.

5. WHAT HAS WORKED?
Aligning with countries own statistical strategies to ensure there is country ownership which also helps in terms of building sustainability e.g. Tanzania
Basket funding – has helped to promote coordination around the NSD, but its important that coordination includes all partners – donors, partner governments and data users e.g.. Nigeria, Rwanda and Afghanistan
Long term financing has helped e.g.. Uganda
Opportunistic – e.g.. change of government or change of NSI leadership can create an opportunity
In country donor statistician has been crucial for success e.g.. Afghanistan where DFID has had a statistician for over five years
Lessons learned from a 2016 review of DFIDs stats capacity building projects, drawing on project reviews from previous 5 years.

6. BUT THERE ARE STILL MANY CHALLENGES
Old problems persist – need more funding for statistics and need political buy-in
New indicators – SDGs with 230 indicators as well as the commitment to ensure  no one is left behind
New technologies – these can offer huge potential but we will need to ensure that we do not neglect the basic building blocks of a statistical system including support for census and household surveys
New skills – to ensure we make the most of new technologies we will need new skills
New funding – and finally we still need new funding we need to look at new sources of funding which will be sustainable in the longer term.
Challenges for the future that DFID identified for the World Data Forum sessions.

7. ONS: New International Development Team
Vision: ONS experts provide high quality technical assistance to build the capacity of statistical systems in developing countries, as a part of core business, in a strategic and well planned way. 
Introduce us all!

8. Our priorities
Identifying and delivering projects which draw on ONS expertise to deliver high quality technical assistance – ideally but not exclusively in DFID priority countries;
Identifying and supporting global work with partners using ONS expertise to contribute to methodological best practice;
Increasing the number of ONS experts who have the skills and experience required to deliver high quality technical assistance in partner countries;
Lesson learning, evidence building, and awareness raising (internal and external) – including lesson learning with other providers of TA (many thanks to those who have spoken to us so far!).
We want to work together – talk to us!!!

9. What do we do? Examples… These are images from twitter @emposkett
E.g. 1: blog by ONS National Accountant who is providing assistance to Zimbabwe on use of admin data in National Accounts, this is a medium term assignment over 3-4 years.
E.g. 2: recent study visit on Systems, Structures and Mechanisms for Evidence Based Policy Making, from key decision makers from Serbia and Albania – a high level delegation from government institutions and social science research community;
E.g. 3: ONS census experts are supporting the design, implementation and analysis of the 2017 Ethiopia census over the next 4 years

10. We are open for business!
Going Forwards
We are open for business!
Very interested to share lessons on what works;
And very happy to think about opportunities to work together;