1. Conference on Data Quality for International Organizations Newport, Wales UK, 27-28 April 2006 PRINCIPLES GOVERNING INTERNATIONAL STATISTICAL ACTIVITIES – SOME NEXT STEPS By A. Sylvester Young, Bureau of Statistics, ILO Session 3: Collection, management and dissemination of current best methods, minimum standards and best practices

2. Conference on Data Quality for International Organizations Newport, Wales UK, 27-28 April 2006 2 Background  No global governance & no legal framework for an International Statistical System (ISS)  Impedes development of quality framework for international statistical activities  Heads of statistical agencies recognize importance & so taking some actions

3. Conference on Data Quality for International Organizations Newport, Wales UK, 27-28 April 2006 3 Which Actions  Created Committee for Coordination of Statistical Activities in 2002  Recognized a set of 10 principles, with illustrations of good practices in 2005  Principles relate to issues of governance, processes and products  Set up Task Teams in 2004 on 4 critical issues

4. Conference on Data Quality for International Organizations Newport, Wales UK, 27-28 April 2006 4 Task Teams  On common framework for data & metadata exchange  – adopted SDMX as standard in 2006 (in principle)  On development of a quality framework  – Conference conclusions an input  On coordination of technical cooperation  On strengthening technical capacity of their agencies thru’ training of staff

5. Conference on Data Quality for International Organizations Newport, Wales UK, 27-28 April 2006 5 Institutional prerequisites - internal agency level  P9.G1: single coordinating & representational unit to  (a) ensure internal backing for P&p to be implemented collectively;  (b) promote and coordinate P&p to be implemented internally  Develop guidelines on good practices for organizing international statistical agencies  Peer review system

6. Conference on Data Quality for International Organizations Newport, Wales UK, 27-28 April 2006 6 Institutional prerequisites - global level  ISS exists thru’ “creative ambiguity”, but need strong yet not prescriptive mechanism for implementing collective P&p, etc.  CCSA: not “accountable” to any higher group; roles & responsibilities of membership not clear; and management system informal

7. Conference on Data Quality for International Organizations Newport, Wales UK, 27-28 April 2006 7 Accountability of CCSA  UNSC not suitable due limited say on specialized agencies and none on agencies outside the UN family, but voice of NSIs  UNCEB not suitable since Heads of agencies outside UN family not members, but more promising

8. Conference on Data Quality for International Organizations Newport, Wales UK, 27-28 April 2006 8 Other Governing StructuresECOSOC Heads of non CEB agenciesCEBUNSC CCSA Technical Expert Groups Annex II: Structural links for CCSA – A Proposal

9. Conference on Data Quality for International Organizations Newport, Wales UK, 27-28 April 2006 9 Structure of CCSA  Membership: statistical producers only as defined by Bruengger (2003)  Management: clear definition of roles of Chairman, the permanent secretariat and membership – Set up Bureau  Technical advisory sub-system

10. Conference on Data Quality for International Organizations Newport, Wales UK, 27-28 April 2006 10 Immediate reporting  CCSA decision: agencies to review current practices vis-à-vis P&p and disseminate report  UNSC: report re progress in implementation in 2008  Need outline reporting structure or template for use by agencies  Could base on 1st level dimensions of DQAF

11. Conference on Data Quality for International Organizations Newport, Wales UK, 27-28 April 2006 11 Conclusions  Guidelines on good practices for organizing an international statistical agency  Mechanism for peer reviews  Review structure, mandate and accountability of CCSA  Establish framework for immediate reporting of current practices relative to P&p based on 1st level dimensions of DQAF

12. Conference on Data Quality for International Organizations Newport, Wales UK, 27-28 April 2006 12 THANK YOU