HIGH LEVEL ADVOCACY FORUM ON STATISTICS:

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HIGH LEVEL ADVOCACY FORUM ON STATISTICS The
Urgency of Statistics and the Global
Crisis Enabling Development in the Caribbean
Community PORT-OF SPAIN, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO 30
JULY 2009
Better Statistics for Better Management and
Better Development Outcomes
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DEVELOPMENT OF THE STATISTICAL INFRASTRUCTURE IN
MEMBER COUNTRIES Dave Clement Director of
Statistics Central Statistical Office Trinidad
and Tobago PORT-OF SPAIN, TRINIDAD AND
TOBAGO 30 JULY 2009
Better Statistics for Better Management and
Better Development Outcomes
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WORKING TOGETHER TO IMPROVE STATISTICS FOR THE
DEVELOPMENT IN THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY AND
BEYOND
Better Statistics for Better Management and
Better Development Outcomes
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Content of Presentation

• Key Mechanisms in Statistical Development
• Creation of an enabling Framework for Statistics
• Elements of the Framework
• Concluding Remarks.

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Key Mechanisms in Statistical Development

• Coordination of Regional Statistics through the
  CARICOM Secretariat
• Standing Committee of Caribbean Statisticians
  (SCCS)
• Established in 1974 by the then Common Market
  Council of Ministers
• Almost as old as the commencement of the
  integration process
• Terms of Reference and Rules of Procedures exist

Better Statistics for Better Management and
Better Development Outcomes
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Key Mechanisms in Statistical Development
(contd)

• Main Objectives of the SCCS
• Fostering increased recognition of the importance
  and availability of adequate statistical services
  to the countries of the Region
• Widening the scope and coverage of statistical
  data collection and
• Improving the quality timeliness of the
  statistics produced by member countries and the
  harmonisation of methods and statistics for
  regional comparability.

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Better Development Outcomes
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Creating an Enabling Framework for Statistics

• Critical Recent Initiatives
• Development of a Regional Statistical Work
  Programme
• Resolution on the strengthening of statistical
  systems
• Minimum Datasets, Encouraged Indicators and
  Priority Activities
• Monitoring and Evaluation Strategy re minimum
  framework.

Better Statistics for Better Management and
Better Development Outcomes
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Creating an Enabling Framework for Statistics
(contd)

• Regional Statistical Work Programme
• Critical Focus on Statistics to improve the
  range and coverage of statistics in countries and
  for the CARICOM Single Market and Economy
• Create a platform for a medium to long- term
  production of Key Statistics and Indicators and
  activities
• RSWP was presented to the Community Council of
  Ministers (Council) in 2005 and was approved.

Better Statistics for Better Management and
Better Development Outcomes
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Elements of the Enabling Framework

• Elements of the RSWP
• Six main themes
• Economy, Finance and Investment
• Population, Demography, Social and Living
  Conditions
• Environmental Statistics
• Information Communication Technology
• Public Relations, Data Dissemination and
  Statistical Coordination
• Each theme is sub-divided into programme areas,
  objectives, expected outputs, actions over a
  3-year period to be updated (2010-2014).
• RSWP was presented to the Community Council of
  Ministers in 2005 and was approved.

Better Statistics for Better Management and
Better Development Outcomes
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Elements of the Enabling Framework (contd)

• Resolution on Investment
• Arose out of the needs of the CSME monitoring
  and establishment
• From the recognition that National Statistical
  Offices (NSOs) could barely produce the
  traditional range of statistics
• Proposed the Resolution calling on governments of
  the Region to increase investment in Statistics
  as a priority, which was passed by Council in
  2005.

Better Statistics for Better Management and
Better Development Outcomes
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Elements of the Enabling Framework (contd)

• The Advisory Group on Statistics was created to
• Establish and develop a framework to implement
  the RSWP
• Make operational the Resolution on strengthening
  of the national statistical systems.

Better Statistics for Better Management and
Better Development Outcomes
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Elements of the Enabling Framework (contd)

• Minimum Datasets/Encouraged Indicators/Priority
  Activities
• With reference to the RSWP
• Identification of a minimum core set of
  statistics and indicators (20 core) given
  differences in the capabilities of NSOs
• Indicators that should be encouraged (17)
• Priority Activities (20)

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Better Development Outcomes
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Elements of the Enabling Framework (contd)

• Some elements of the Minimum Datasets
• Nominal GDP, GDP at Constant Prices
• CPI/RPI National, Quarterly, Monthly
  Inflation rate- Headline, Core, Food and Fuel
• Trade in Services Statistics (EBOPS)
• Poverty Statistics every five years
• Health Indicators Communicable
  /non-Communicable diseases.

Better Statistics for Better Management and
Better Development Outcomes
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Elements of the Enabling Framework (contd)

• Monitoring and Evaluating Strategy
• Target dates for all indicators
• Short-term, medium and long term
• Setting priorities
• Attempt at moving forward together.

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Better Development Outcomes
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Elements of the Enabling Framework (contd)

• Other Elements of the Framework
• Strategic Planning- NSDS, 27-29 July 2009
• Caribbean Statistics Day- October 15 2009
• Statistical Research Seminar-2008

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Better Development Outcomes
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Concluding Remarks

• Message 1
• Statisticians of the region are aware of the
  critical role that we play in providing the
  information base necessary to take our economies
  on a growth path and to give our region a
  competitive advantage vis-à-vis the rest of the
  world.

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Better Development Outcomes
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Concluding Remarks (contd)

• Message 2
• Despite the challenges and the constraints in
  terms of lack of resources, statisticians
  recognise that with concerted collaboration and
  action we can make significant strides in
  building a sustainable foundation for the
  continued development of statistics and to bring
  along the weakest members amongst us.

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Better Development Outcomes
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Concluding Remarks (contd)

• Message 3
• To survive the global crisis which inevitably
  will occur from time to time, it is even more
  critical that NSOs be empowered to continue to
  produce the information base to enable an
  understanding of ourselves

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Concluding Remarks (contd)

• Message 4
• Full support of Governments is required what we
  have been able to achieve based on the framework
  presented, as a combined statistical force of
  statisticians across the Region, if we are given
  the support required we can undoubtedly promote
  the CSME which would redound to the benefit of
  the people of our countries and Region.

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Better Development Outcomes
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• THE END

Better Statistics for Better Management and
Better Development Outcomes