1. LECTURE: PRODUCER-USER DIALOGUE IN GENDER STATISTICS PRODUCTION
NATIONAL TRAINING WORKSHOPS WITH PRODUCERS AND USERS OF GENDER STATISTICS October 2017, Kampala, Uganda
LECTURE: PRODUCER-USER DIALOGUE IN GENDER STATISTICS PRODUCTION
Opoku Manu Asare
8/29/2019

2. What is the rational for engaging producers and users of statistics on engendering statistics
Who are these producers and users?
How can that be done?
What should be the ideal outcome of such exchange of ideas
What do you perceive as challenges?

3. Dialogue is a non-confrontational communication, where both partners are willing to learn from the other and therefore leads much farther into finding
new grounds together.
Scilla Elworthy

4. Rational for dialogue
The rational for this dialogue starts with WHY this meeting?
Overall, engendering gender statistics through dialogue creates Ownership and data Integrity
Effective dialogue is critical because it helps build trust, drive action, and create a collective sense of ownership over generating and disseminating gender statistics and indicators
Generating acceptable gender data, statistics and indicators plan, measure, monitor and evaluate progress of gender equality and opportunities for ALL citizens of a country require shared responsibilities and interests

5. THE NECESSITY OF PRODUCER-USER DIALOGUE IN GENDER STATISTICS PRODUCTION
The Beijing Platform for Action-1995
Urged various Governments to ensure that:
PRODUCERS AND USERS of statistics in each country regularly review the adequacy of official statistical system and its coverage of gender issues, and prepare a plan for needed improvements, where necessary. (Para. 210 (b))

6. Producer-user consultation not a new concept to statisticians
They have served different purposes:
Statutory – Statistics advisory group or Statistics Council, as part of the legislative structure/organization of national statistics system
Ad hoc Advisory Committee for special tasks
Statistical inquiries/surveys
Review of statistical reports
Database/indicator dissemination
Etc.
29 August 2019

7. Channels of communication
Informal discussions
Formal discussions
Formal mechanism for dialogue. Based on legal, institutional framework that governs the production of gender statistics
Law
Establish a coordinating bodies.
Individual consultations
Comments on/review of draft documents
Technical workshops
Data analysis workshops
Report drafting workshops
Meetings of consultative/advisory committee meetings
Dissemination workshops
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8. Making communication two-way – What to offer to users
Understanding the needs of users
Learning to communicate in the language of users
Bringing statistics to the different technical levels of users
Generating useful products
Making the constraints of producers known
Responding to and appreciating feedback
29 August 2019

9. IMPORTANCE OF PRODUCER-USER DIALOGUE IN GENDER STATISTICS PRODUCTION?
ALL parties are adequately rewarded because:
Purpose and objectives of the statistical project are clarify
Outputs and outcomes takes the needs of all into consideration
It enhances the integrity of data and statistics
Data quality, timeliness and the 10 principles of the official statistics are strengthen
Gender integration into statistics through gender mainstreaming is assured
Increases the availability, accessibility and utilization of the data produced (often generate at great cost)

10. IMPORTANCE OF PRODUCER-USER DIALOGUE IN GENDER (Cont.)
Enhanced statistical literacy – better and more effective use of statistics
Users knowledge about constraints of the national statistical system increased
More advocates and greater support for gender issues and concerns, as well as the national statistical system
Expanded sources of technical inputs
It strengthens government and private sector support
It strengthen resources mobilization and gender responsive budgets at all levels

11. Who are the Producers of gender statistics?
Public institutions such as CSOs eg. UBOS
Researchers
Academia
Private sector
Gender and women advocates
CSOs, NGOs
Media
International agencies

12. Who are the users of gender statistics?
Government Institutions
Private sector (Business women and men)
Community and opinion leaders
Households and ordinary citizens
Researchers and academicians
Gender and women’s advocates and activists
International Community (DPs and Donors)
International organizations, bilateral aid agencies, development partners
Civil society organizations, NGOs,
Ordinary citizens
Media

13. Expect more from statistics when gender dimension added
Users of gender statistics constitute a major group to target
The use of gender statistics brings new application to expensive data
The analysis of data is extended from different user perspectives
Use of the data for advocacy also publicizes the statistics
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14. Introducing gender to statistics would require new approaches
Need to go beyond the traditional-producer-user groups
Explore communication in both directions –
Producers Users
Engage users every step of the production process
Solicit feedback from users on continuous basis
Respond positively to feedback
Make use of feedback received
Provide responses
Inform users about outcome of feedback
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15. Consulting users Know your users
Understand their needs and requirements
Appreciate their special skills and potentials
Determine how best to capitalize on these skills
Find a way of combining the different personalities
Minimize conflicts
Maximize contributions to the outputs
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16. What skills/capacities?
29 August 2019

17. BENEFITS OF PRODUCER-USER DIALOGUE IN GENDER STATISTICS PRODUCTION?
ALL parties are adequately rewarded because:
Purpose and objectives of the statistical project are clarify
Outputs and outcomes takes the needs of all into consideration
It enhances the integrity of data and statistics
Data quality, timeliness and the 10 principles of the official statistics are strengthen
Gender integration into statistics through gender mainstreaming is assured
Increases the availability, accessibility and utilization of the data produced (often generate at great cost)
It enable the various institutions and the country to prepare a Gender Budget in a balancing manner according to priorities of the institutions/country

18. BENEFITS OF PRODUCER-USER DIALOGUE IN GENDER (Cont
BENEFITS OF PRODUCER-USER DIALOGUE IN GENDER (Cont.) STATISTICS PRODUCTION?
Enhanced statistical literacy – better and more effective use of statistics
Users knowledge about constraints of the national statistical system increased
More advocates and greater support for gender issues and concerns, as well as the national statistical system
Expanded sources of technical inputs
It strengthens government and private sector support
It strengthen resources mobilization and gender responsive budgets at all levels

19. The challenge Managing the wide range of users
Reconciling different interests and purposes
Responding to the varying levels of understanding in technical issues and gender awareness
Meeting the diversity of needs
29 August 2019

20. Reformulate development issues
BRINGING GENDER ISSUES INTO THE PRODUCER-USER DIALOGUE IN GENDER STATISTICS PRODUCTION
Reformulate development issues
USERS
Problems and questions
on gender issues in society
of statistics
Cooperate
Needs for improvement of the situations of women and men
PRODUCERS
of statistics
Goals for equal opportunity
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21. Targeting different audiences
Enhancing visibility of women and men in statistical products
Targeting different audiences
PRODUCERS
of statistics
Analysis of data
Feedback
Cooperate
Presentation
USERS
Dissemination
of statistics
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22. Role of producer-user dialogue
Final steps in data collection
Beginning stages
of data collection
Consultations/feedback
in-between
Advice on questionnaires
design
Define issues
Support analysis
Users of statistics
Producers
of statistics
Identify statistical needs
Identify gaps
Feedback on relevance of data/products
Identify
gaps
Advice on concepts & methods
29 August 2019

23. Some reflection on current practices
The Beijing Platform for Action assigns responsibility on Government (in this case the NSO or the Women’s Machinery) to ensure that producer-user dialogue is maintained:
To what extent is this being done?
How formal is such an arrangement? If a group is in place how regularly does it meet?
What are some of the benefits gained, to those that practice this?
Are there some elements of such an arrangement that guarantee successful outcomes?
29 August 2019

24. Producer-user dialogue in practice …. Is it really worth the effort?
From the producers’ perspective
From the users’ perspective
Benefits
Challenges
Downside
How can it be improved?
What works and what does not?
29 August 2019

25. Additional efforts
Recognise and appreciate the contribution that users can bring to discussions of priorities and areas for improvement, from decisions about what data to collect to what formats they are disseminated in.
Allow relationships to be forged between users and producers, recognising their interdependency.
Include feedback loops that provide information about the outcomes of user engagement activity

26. SHORTCOMINGS IN PRODUCER-USER DIALOGUE IN GENDER STATISTICS PRODUCTION
Wide range of knowledge, skills and competencies in gender issues among stakeholders at the meeting
Differentials in skills and competencies in statistical literacy among stakeholders at the meeting (eg. Teaching metrics or regression at a lecture room for first-year English and Mathematics students)
Competing interest and demands
Where the DPs/Donors goals conflict with local needs

27. SHORTCOMINGS IN PRODUCER-USER DIALOGUE IN GENDER STATISTICS PRODUCTION
Sources of funding. Are stakeholders prepared to pay for the cost of production and dissemination of the data collection?
Can lengthen the time table
Can generate conflicting opinions
Can yield competing demands
Can raise unrealistic expectations
Can lead to disappointments when expectations are not met

28. Reflections
The existence of technical working groups is reasonable but it needs to be extended to lower levels within the ministries. This will help rapidly engender statistics.
The role by the Gender Ministry of determining and setting priorities is well placed but needs the incorporation of other relevant Government agencies, e.g. Ministry of Justice, Human Rights Commission & the Labor ministry. This will in time give the fight for engendering statistics a legal backing and hence compelling.

29. Exercise
List all the existing Producer-User dialogue channels in Uganda for gender issues
List all the institutions involved
Which institution is the main leader of gender statistics in Uganda
In practical terms, what are the benefits of Producer-User dialogue of gender statistics in Uganda
What are the challenges of Producer-User dialogue in gender statistics in Uganda
Propose solutions to these challenges (5)

30. Some reflection on current practices
The Beijing Platform for Action assigns responsibility on Government (in this case the NSO or the Women’s Machinery) to ensure that producer-user dialogue is maintained:
To what extent is this being done?
How formal is such an arrangement? If a group is in place how regularly does it meet?
What are some of the benefits gained, to those that practice this?
Are there some elements of such an arrangement that guarantee successful outcomes?
29 August 2019

31. Thank you