1. The role of statistics in evidence-based policy making
Marco Segone, Regional Chief, Monitoring and Evaluation,
UNICEF CEE/CIS

2. Based on UNICEF publication in partnership with World Bank, IDEAS, DevInfo and MICS
Authors: 20 senior officers from national Governments, local municipalities, UNICEF, WB, IDEAS, DevInfo

3. What is Evidence-based Policy making?
An approach that helps people make well informed decisions about policies, programmes and projects by putting the best available evidence at the heart of policy development and implementation.

4. Putting the best available evidence at the heart of policy making?
Technical Capacity
Policy Environment
Evidence-influenced
Opinion-based
Evidence-based
Single
Survey
Expert
Practice of
Political Life
Judgement
Experience
Resources
Lobby system
► Think-tank
► Opinion leaders
► Media
► Civil Society

5. Evidence into practice: Increasing the uptake of evidence in policy making
Data Providers
(Statisticians)
Data Users
(Policy Makers,
Civil society)
Need to improve dialogue
How?
What ?
Why?
When?
Incentives to use evidence
?????
Reliable
Data
Improving “usability”
(Relevance, time and simplicity)
Effective access

6. but no policy relevance but no technical rigour
The “quality” challenge: How to match technical rigour and policy relevance?
Technical rigour
but no policy relevance
Policy relevance
but no technical rigour
Evidence that is technically rigorous and policy relevant.

7. A Common Database Royalty-Free Database Technology
State-of-the-art database technology with royalty-free distribution
UN Endorsement
Endorsed by the United Nations
to assist Member States in
Monitoring human development
MDGs
Designed to assist in monitoring the Millennium
Development Goals and
other national plans of action
DevInfo employs state-of-the-art technology and is available both as a stand alone and on the internet. Its distribution is royalty-free, making it accessible to a broad range of users.
DevInfo is endorsed by United Nations to be used by Member States to monitoring human development.
It is designed to help monitor the Millennium Development Goals and other national plans of action.
A Common Database Royalty-Free Database Technology

8. Designed for data-users needs:
92+ national adaptations
More than 90 national statistics organizations and other agencies have adapted DevInfo database technology to meet their specific requirements. 8

9. Where should Immunization efforts be targeted?
PLANNING
Where should Immunization efforts be targeted?
DevInfo
Facts. You decide. 9

10. Targeting at sub-national level …
Proportion of 1 year old children immunized against Measles,
Targeting at sub-national level …

11. Is my programme on track towards expected results?
MONITORING
Is my programme on track towards expected results?
DevInfo
Facts. You decide.

12. DevInfo: monitoring the progress towards development results at national and subnational level

13. 1999

14. 2000

15. 2001

16. 2002

17. 2003

18. 2004

19. .... Showing in what programme challenges exist ...

20. How can we plan response in emergency situations?
DevInfo
Facts. You decide.

22. ZAMBIA 2,519,000 people Buffer zone radius = 200 km
Example in Zambia of a 200 km radius buffer

23. EmergencyInfo is a powerful decision support system, based on DevInfo database technology that helps people to respond better in emergency situations. It combines
the advanced data access and presentation features of DevInfo with new data capture technologies. EmergencyInfo helps to bridge information gaps within the first few hours of an emergency and provide support for rapid data collection, situation assessment, standard monitoring reports and disaster preparedness. EmergencyInfo database utilities help analyse the data from multiple dimensions and identify key information to formulate more effective response strategies. With a few clicks, the information can be presented as a tables, graphs and maps for dissemination in standardized situation reports.
Lets see how EmergencyInfo helps bridge the information gap in the event of an emergency.
Data can be collected from multiple affected areas using rapid assessment forms to assess the situation. The forms can capture data on various sectors such as health, nutrition, education and environment.
These forms are available as EmergencyInfo templates in XML format which can be used to capture data using hand-held computers or PDAs.
The raw data can then be imported into EmergencyInfo to analyze the situation and create reports using the EmergencyInfo wizards to generate tables, graphs and maps. The format of a standard situation report (or SITREP) can be saved and easily re-used by a wide group of emergency personnel to provide consistent and regular updates on changes in the emergency situation.

24. devinfo.org
In summary, DevInfo provides a cross sectoral repository for strategic information on human development. The system can be easily adapted to country specifications. The database contains both global and user-defined indicators. These indicators can be linked to global and user-defined goals. DevInfo promotes the dissemination of data for effective advocacy and timely decision support. You are invited to visit for more information about DevInfo. 24

25. but no policy relevance but no technical rigour
The “quality” challenge: How to match technical rigour and policy relevance? Data-user needs should be central!
Technical rigour
but no policy relevance
Policy relevance
but no technical rigour
Evidence that is technically rigorous and policy relevant. 25