Developing a Strategy: Managing the process

1
Developing a StrategyManaging the process

• Neil Fantom
• Development Data Group

2
Summary

• What is a statistical strategic plan?
• How plans are developed?
• Processes
• What to look for
• Examples Malawi and Zambia

3
Part 1 What is a strategic plan for statistics
4
Why (user view)?

• Mechanism for change
• Understand work programme and outputs
• Improve institutional performance
• Better quality national statistics
• Define accountability

5
Why (producer view)?

• Solicit funding
• Control statistical work programme
• Better coordinate national statistics
• Promote independence and integrity
• Produce better and more relevant statistics?

6
Structure of statistical systems
Government (and donors, other users)
National Statistical Agency
Ministries, other producers
Work Plans, budgets
Work Plans, budgets
7
Differentiated approach?

• Statistics agency/office
• Long term business plan
• Short term work plans
• Statistical system
• Frameworks (regulatory, codes of practice)
• Methods
• Coordination mechanisms
• Products

8
Part 2 Developing a plan
9
Strategic planning cycle
Assessment
Evaluation
Vision
Mission
Implementation, monitoring
Strategic objectives
Activities, outputs, indicators
10
Objectives

• S pecific
• M easurable
• A chievable
• R elevant
• T ime bound

11
Processes managing change

• Participation is critical need to ensure
  ownership and relevance
• Baseline review existing strategies, reports
• Assess and prioritize user needs (demand led)
• Utilize PRSP process, link to external processes
• Stakeholder consultations

12
Institutions

• Various ID tools
• SWOT
• Performance management (objective based
  management)
• Statistical Capacity Building Indicators
• Skills audit
• etc.

13
Typical plan content

• Current assessment
• Vision and mission
• Core values
• Strategic and operational objectives
• Capacity building programme, including
  infrastructure, IT
• Statistical programme
• Implementation mechanisms e.g. annual work plans

14
Some include

• Costed work programme
• May be delegated to annual or medium term plans
• National Statistical System
• Legal framework
• Linkages to other stakeholders, including
  incentives

15
Look for

• Assessment of needs based on demand
• Quick wins meeting immediate needs e.g.
• Analysis of existing data
• Dissemination of existing data (web, databanks)
• Catalogue of existing outputs
• Difficult areas
• Prioritization and steering of activities and
  inputs
• Realistic assessment of likely resources
• Resource pooling
• Management of incentives
• Consultation with all stakeholders

16
Implementation

• Accountability arrangements
• Performance management
• Statistical councils, boards
• Agency status, semi-autonomy
• Work plans and annual reports
• Incentives
• Budgets and money
• Pooled resources

17
Managing the process

• Usual prerequisite
• Commitment to change
• Change agent
• Use of external support
• Consultants
• But part of a team composition is important

18
Part 3 Examples
19
Example 1 Malawi

• First Strategic Plan 1996-2000
• Restricted to NSO
• Based on needs assessment
• Good ownership, but lacked commitment
• Not linked with government processes (e.g. budget
  and MTEF, civil service reform)
• But supported by donors some progress made

20
Progress made

• Better dissemination (web based, news flashes,
  database)
• Household Survey Programme developed (HIS, CWIQ,
  DHS)
• Better Human Resource management
• Training programmes initiated at all levels
• Improved recruitment

21
Consumer Price Index February, 2003 The year on
year national inflation rate has registered a
slight decrease from 10.7 in January 2003 to
10.5 in February 2003. This rate can be
decomposed into 11.5 for urban areas and 10.1
for rural areas. The month-on-month (January
February) Food Costs Index has experienced an
overall decrease of 3.4 compared to the same
period, which was 3.7 . The decrease has
occurred as a result of the continued decline of
the prices of Cereals and Cereal products mainly
maize grain and maize flour. The Housing Index
has also gone down by 1.4 compared to 3.5
recorded at the same period last year. The
price increases recorded for the other commodity
groups have varied widely with a high of 5.5
for the Transport Category and a low of 0.6 for
the Household Operation Category. The high
increase recorded for the Transport Category has
arisen mainly due to recent increases in the
price of fuel, notably petrol and diesel.
However, the increase has not been large enough
to offset the decreases experienced in the Food
Costs Category. See also Price indices
22
Malawi

• Second strategic plan 2002-2006
• Similar features to first plan
• Different arrangements for implementation
• Semi-autonomy
• Annual work plans and reports
• Linked with MPRSP and civil service reform
  process
• Identified development of National Statistics
  Master Plan as key activity

23
Example 2. Zambia

• Covers 2003-3007
• Led by consultant
• Based on assessment of user needs
• Linked with PRSP process
• Used workshops with stakeholders and staff
• Improvements of NSS designed around CSO as main
  body
• Costed capacity building and work programmes
  included

24
Strategic themes

• Zambia
• Improve public awareness of statistics
• Develop and promote effective National
  Statistical System
• Enhance quality of statistical products and
  services
• Harness IT
• Develop human capacity and organizational
  effectiveness

• Malawi
• Produce better quality statistics
• Enhance the service provided to users
• Develop a system of National Statistics
• Realize staff potential
• Improve organization and management
• Improve financial planning and control

25
Governance management

• Malawi
• Semi-autonomous
• New Act
• Management Board

• Zambia
• Autonomous
• New Act
• Statistical Policy Board

26
Approach to National Statistics

• Malawi
• Activities of other Ministries not included
• But want to
• Define mandate of NSO
• Improve National Statistics Committee
• Inventory
• Open NSO training programme to other Ministries
• Publish Framework
• Develop standards

• Zambia
• Activities of other Ministries not included
• But want to
• Strengthen mandate of CSO
• Build capacity of Ministries and users
• Develop framework for collaboration
• Promote standardization and best practice

27
Monitoring

• Malawi
• Internal quarterly and annual reviews
• Annual meetings of National Statistics
  stakeholders
• Reports twice a year to the Cabinet Secretary
• Terminal external review by Office of President
  Cabinet

• Zambia
• Quarterly and annual reports to the Minister
• Annual and Terminal External Review by
  MoF/Planning

28

• PARIS21 task team
• Strategic Statistical Development Plans
• www.paris21.org