1. 27 April 2006 Hilkka Vihavainen, Statistics Finland
Peer reviews – a driving force towards the excellence in official statistics?
Presentation in the CCSA Conference on Quality for International Organizations, Newport, UK
27 April 2006 Hilkka Vihavainen, Statistics Finland

2. Basic questions Why peer reviews?
How do they impact on the excellence in official statistics?
How can international organisations contribute to peer review process?

3. Why peer reviews?
Need to assess practices against agreed standards or principles
Lack of credibility
Essential part of quality management
Need to benchmark and compare national statistical systems with each other

4. In peer review process National statistical system analysed
Institutional set-up – the whole system in terms of independence, impartiality and objectivity
Capacity in terms of knowledge and competences
Organisation, processes, products in terms of effectiveness and quality
Stakeholder relations/needs in terms of flexibility
Competitive performance in comparison with others

5. Driving force towards the excellence in official statistics?
Identifies gaps and weaknesses, notes strengths and may give support to the chosen direction
Provides peer advise
Assists in prioritisation
Transfers know-how on best practices
Supports in building capacities

6. How can international organisations contribute to peer review process?
Harmonised methodologies
Development of indicators on the performance of the statistical systems
Collection of information on the best practices
Feedback to the countries on the inconsistencies in the figures and metadata