United Nations Economic Commission for Africa
African Centre for Statistics
Seminar on Innovations in Official Statistics
Innovations in Governance
40th Session
UN Statistical Commission
20 February, 2009
Outline
A: Introduction
B: Inhibiting factors to effectiveness of NSOs
C: Some innovations in governance
D: Conclusions
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A. Introduction
 recent years witnessed unprecedented demand for
“good” data in developing countries
• new focus on managing for development results
(MfDR) (at national/international levels)
• poverty reduction strategies
• MDGs
 National Statistical Systems in many developing countries
overwhelmed
 In many countries, inadequate investment in statistics led
to a vicious cycle of :
• limited institutional development
• limited outputs (scope, quantity & quality)
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• fewer resources
 there are also technical challenges in such areas as
agriculture statistics, informal sector, gender,
environment, etc.
 financial and technical issues tended to be over-stated visà-vis governance issues (leadership/management)
 even in country papers for this seminar, little discussion of
governance issue
 times demand more effective leadership & management to
meet data challenges of 21st century
 many countries are introducing statistical reforms to make
NSSs more effective, efficient and credible
 Some of the reforms involve innovations in statistical
governance
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B. Factors driving statistical
reforms
 In many developing countries, NSOs mainstream
departments of Ministry of Finance/Planning
 This can & has constrained statistical development:
• decisions on staff usually handled by parent Ministry in
bureaucratic manner
• government bureaucracy & rules inhibit introduction
of changes and innovation in statistical management
• working conditions not attractive – high staff attrition
• NSO budgets are part of parent Ministry budgets
• administrative regulations require clearance of
releases & reports (e.g. approval of census results by
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Parliament)
 Combination of these factors affecting:
 effectiveness
 efficiency &
 credibility of official statistics

Statistical reforms are ongoing in many countries
 key driver in developed countries – enhancing
credibility
 key driver in developing countries – administrative
reasons
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C. Innovations in governance
 Different types of reforms depending on administrative
set up in each countries:
 NSOs made special departments where there are
categorizations of govt. departments (raise profile of stat)
 Head of NSO put at same level as technical head of
parent Ministry with considerable decision-making (raise
profile of stat)
 trend towards making the NSO a autonomous
government agency
 different models of autonomy (Australian model,
corporate model, other models in-between)
 discuss corporate model (Uganda, Kenya, Nigeria, etc.)
with own governing board (Board of Directors)
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 responsibilities for Governing Boards include:
Outward looking focus
• to promote statistics and their use
• making case for appropriate levels of funding
• promoting & protecting the credibility, integrity and
impartiality of official statistics
• promoting & protecting professional independence
of the NSO
Focus on NSO
• setting policies on organization & management of
NSO & coordination of NSS
• approving the structure, corporate plans, work plans
& budgets of the NSO
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Focus on NSO (ctd)
•
approving terms and conditions of service of staff
•
staff recruitment, development & motivation
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Developing countries

How has autonomy helped?:
•
improve public perception about official statistics
•
boards introduced changes away from “business
as usual”
•
Improved schemes of service negotiated
•
staff retention & sustainability
•
Competitive appointment of heads of NSOs
•
Heads of NSOs appointed on fixed-term
performance contracts
•
bureaucracy minimized
•
own budgets approved by Parliament
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
Where autonomy has failed to make a difference:
•
•
Ineffective leadership & management at level of:
o
governing board
o
Leadership of NSO
reforms have been partial and not a total
package
Autonomy is not a “silver bullet”
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D. Conclusions
 financial and technical issues tended to be over-stated visà-vis governance issues (leadership/management)
 times demand innovations in governance to enhance:
 effectiveness
 efficiency &
 credibility of official statistics
 there is a trend towards making NSOs autonomous
 making autonomy is not a “silver bullet”
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Thank you!
African Centre for Statistics
Visit us at
http://www.uneca.org/statistics/
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