THE NEED FOR A STRATEGIC APPROACH TO
STATISTICAL DEVELOPMENT IN GRENADA
HIGH LEVEL FORUM ON STATISTICS
RADISSON BEACH RESORT
GRAND ANSE
ST. GEORGE’S
GRENADA
Presentation Outline
 The National Statistical System (NSS)
 National Strategy for the Development of Statistics (What? And Why?)
 Assessing the State of the NSS in Grenada: CSO Challenges & National
Consultation
 Key issues emanating from consultation and benefits of consultation
 Challenges post National Consultation and lessons learnt
 The way forward
THE NATIONAL STATISTICAL
SYSTEM IN GRENADA
COMPOSITION
The National Statistical System
 The statistical system in Grenada is made up of Many Players
who will fall into three major categories:-users, producers and
suppliers of information.
 At the core of this system is the Central Statistical Office (CSO)
the department that has the legal mandate to collect, produce
and disseminate official statistics.
Key producers of statistics
 Central Statistical Office (Core)
 Central Government (Ministries and Departments)
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Finance
Agriculture
Health
Education
Labour
Police (RGPF )
 Public
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National Insurance Scheme
Grenada Tourism Athority
Users of Statistics
 Central Government
 Ministry of Finance & Energy
 Ministry of Economic Development, Planning, Trade and Cooperatives
 Other Ministries- planning officers
 Regional organisations- ECCB, CARICOM,OECS, CDB etc.
 International- IMF, World Bank , United Nations, ILO etc.
 Civil society- NGOs, organisations, churches etc.
 Students and educational institutions
 Researchers
 Private and Public institutions
 General Public
Suppliers
 Public and private Institutions and establishments
 Organisations, groups and embassies.
 Government Ministries department and agencies
 Households
NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR THE
DEVELOPMENT OF STATISTICS
(WHAT? AND WHY?)
Background to NSDS (What?)
 The National Strategy for the Development of Statistics is a
strategic planning process.
 Enables developing countries to build a reliable statistical
system.
 Results in a statistical system producing the data necessary to
design, implement, and monitor national development policies
and programmes.
The Need for NSDS for Grenada (Why?)
 The increasing demand for statistical information
 Limited statistical capacity
 The urgency of meeting the demands of the national, regional
and international community.
 Lack of appreciation among persons at many levels of the role,
power and importance of statistics as a strategic resource for
planning decision making, good governance, accountability and
management.
The Need for NSDS for Grenada (Why?)
 Low priority given to statistical production
 the “vicious cycle” of underfunding and
underdevelopment.
 Consequences:
Limited organisational & institutional
development
 Limited quantity and quality of statistical
data.
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 Ultimate Result
 Decrease demand for data
 eventually leads right back to the further
underfunding of statistical production.
• small size of the statistical
office,
• inadequate infrastructure
• limited opportunities for
training and development of
staff.
• non-response to surveys and
data request,
• An uncoordinated NSS,
• Out-dated legislative
framework and
• Statistics not responsive to a
changing environment and
more specifically changes in
the economy.
ASSESSING THE STATE OF
THE NSS IN GRENADA
CHALLENGES OF THE CSO IN GRENADA
AND
THE NATIONAL CONSULTATION ON THE NSDS
Major Challenges of Central Statistical Office in
Grenada and Consequences
 Outdated Statistical System
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Low compliance, no enforcement of Act, Increase Moral suasion and burden on
limited office staff.
 Little Coordination
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Duplication of resource/efforts, production of conflicting data, no established
metadata or little harmonisation of metadata, increased burden on CSO. Wrong
interpretation of statistics can lead to misguided policies.
 Insufficient and underdeveloped human and infrastructural resources
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Inability to respond efficiently to data users request, Infrequent and inconsistent
undertaking of surveys, inability to produce survey results in a timely manner
 Low levels of Advocacy
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Non response to surveys, statistical underfunding, little use of statistics produced by
public and for evidence based planning, lack of appreciation for statistics produced.
National Consultation to Launch NSDS
24 April 2012
 Participants/ Stakeholders:
 Users, producers & suppliers of statistical data within the National Statistical
System: Representing a wide cross section of the economy (Private & Public
sector, NGO)
 CARICOM Secretariat, PARIS21, ECCB and STATIN
 A total of 73 persons
 Rational for large size of conference:
Important for mass sensitisation and to garner buy in to NSDS from the start
 To develop interest and support for Official Statistics in Grenada.
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Group Discussions
 The Main Gaps of the National Statistical System NSS in
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Grenada - User Perspective
Priority Needs of Producing Agencies within the NSS
Coordination of the NSS
Reform and Restructuring for an Effective National Statistical
System (NSS) by Revising the Institutional and Legislative
Framework
Statistical Advocacy
Group 1: The Main Gaps of the National Statistical System
NSS in Grenada - User Perspective
Timeliness
• Data not very timely
• Late response to survey
• Untimely submission of other producers to CSO
Relevance
• Statistics not targeted to needs of users
• Not a wide variety of stats produced to meet needs of
everyone (E.g LFS, Health, Literacy, SLC)
Reliability
• Statistical data produced by CSO are fairly reliable
e.g economic statistics and household survey data.
Are we producing the statistics
that users need (relevance),
when they need them
(timeliness)?
Priority Needs of Users
 Data needs
 Labour Market Indicators
 Statistics on population with disability
 Migration
 Human Behaviour
 Providing regular progress updates to the public (public
accountability)
 Make available more disaggregated data.
Group 2: Priority Needs of Producing Agencies
within the NSS
 Resource
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Competent human resource
Training: short term specialised training courses or Degree/ scholarship
Financial assistance
IT: computer equipment (Software and Hardware)
 Sound Statistical Methodology
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Improved data collection techniques
Improved data analysis competencies
 CSO to take leading role in Coordinating the NSS
 Updated and enforced statistical legislation
 More Education and awareness about statistics
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Development of statistical analysis in the school curriculum
Additional incentives to pursue careers in statistics
Utilise all forms of Media for public sensitisation
Group 3: Coordination of the NSS - Challenges
 Breakdown in the linkage between the other producers of statistics
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and the CSO. As a result data is not timely and readily available.
Lack of awareness of data needs of users
Confidentiality concerns: Due to lack of knowledge of how
information is disseminated and what it is used for, producers may be
reluctant in providing requested information.
Absence of adequate Human Resources: Staffing Issues
Archaic legislative and regulatory framework governing the linkage
and coordination arrangements within the NSS
Outdated statistical software
Coordination of the NSS - Challenges
 The absence of a standard template/ generic format for the
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submission of data by various producers
Absence of user-friendly information disseminated to users
CSO’s lack of understanding of Users’ needs
Insufficient use of automated systems: manual production of
information is often inaccurate, time consuming and expensive
Ad hoc requests from users
Absence of dissemination of regular scheduled reports similar to
the CSO digest of the past (release calendar)
Absence of regular submission of data by producers to CSO
generate regular scheduled reports.
Group3: Coordination of the NSS
Mechanisms to Improve Collaboration and Coordination
Among Agencies
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National Statistical Advisory Committee:
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Established schedule of regular meetings to discuss specific needs
and challenges.
Pooling Resources:
 Increases financing of statistics and eliminates of duplication of resources.
 Eliminates the issue of conflicting data
 Increases cooperation among producers
Mechanisms to Improve Collaboration and
Coordination Among Agencies
 Conduct frequent user needs assessment and communicate results to
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producers (Gap analysis)
Conduct producer assessment-methods and procedures, adherence to
international standards, constraints and problems (Gap analysis)
Undertake public awareness campaign that enhances persons
understanding of frequently used statistical terms to ensure greater
efficiency in the submission of data and the interpretation of the
information.
Establishment of a Public Relations Officer position within the CSO
Ensure officers within the CSO and stakeholders are aware of the
mission and vision of the NSS and how they fit into this mission in
ensuring a well coordinated system.
Group 4: Reform and Restructuring for an Effective National Statistical
System (NSS)
Revising the Institutional and Legislative Framework
 Autonomy vs. Dependence
 In favour of transforming CSO into a Statutory body
Ensure integrity of data and unbiased reporting
 Eliminate government interference in statistical process
 Raises the profile of statistics and will attract more experienced and qualified
persons suitable for these job types.
 Increase in services provided.
 Anticipate higher productivity by staff
 Greater credibility and accuracy of data and dataset increases requests (increased
demand)
 Create a small stream of revenue.
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‘Statutorisation’: Challenges Foreseen
 High start up cost may be needed:
 Additional burden in difficult economic times in light structural adjustment
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Need to Source external funding
 Inadequate revenue hence dependence on government financial
resources, which may hinder the speed of growth of the
institution
Revision of Statistical Act 1960- Contents of New
Statistical legislation
 Independence of the CSO
 Organisational Structure, authority and powers
 Storage of information
 Confidentiality, privacy, safety of confidential data information
 Non-disclosure/disclosure of Information
 Stiffer penalties for non-compliance.
 Flexibility to incorporate future changes to allow statistics to be
responsive to changing environment
 Reporting mandates and clear coordination mechanisms
Group 5: Statistical AdvocacyKey Messages and Target Audience
 Role and importance of Statistics in improving development
outcomes
 Evidence-based policy/ integration of statistics into policy
frameworks
 Role of statistics for better allocation of resources
 The importance of data providers in an effective NSS
 Appropriate and sustained financing of the NSS
Statisticians and data
producers
Government, Donors, Regional and
international organisations
 What’s in it for me? How can better statistics benefit me or my
organisation?
-Policy Maker,
Senior
Managers
-Regional and
International
Organisations
Education Institutions
and General Public
Statistical Advocacy
Methods of Reaching the Target Audience with the Key Messages of
Advocacy
 Presentation to Cabinet (political will- highly important)
 Use of media techniques
 Have Workshops for specific users
 Identification of Champions for statistics to deliver key messages- in
public, private sector and informal sector.
 Examples:
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Persons who are currently key users
Key influential persons in society
Prime Minister and Minister for Finance & Energy
Minister for Economic Development, Planning, Trade and Cooperatives
Professional organizations
Universities (SGU, UWI)
Policy makers
Key Issues Emanating from Consultation
and Benefits of Consultation
Key Issues Emanating from Consultations
 Better Coordination (highly recommended)
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A common issue in all the groups.
Conclusion that better coordination would reduce the gap between users and
producers of statistics and correct many of the inefficiencies plaguing the NSS.
The revision of Statistical Act is also of paramount importance to
the effective functioning of the NSS.
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was an issue arising in other groups apart from the assigned group of
‘reform and restructuring’
 Increased advocacy
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Unanimously agreed upon as an important action for the future of statistics
 Need for additional IT and Human resources and increased capacity
building
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Also common issue arising in group discussion as way forward for improvement
Benefits of the Consultation
 Consensus on the most important issues to address in the
context of NSDS.
 Identification of Champions of Statistics among the participants
 Greater appreciation of the challenges within the CSO and NSS
among stakeholders
 Stakeholders commitment to support the strategic design
process
CHALLENGES POST CONSULTATION
AND LESSONS LEARNT
Post NSDS Consultation
 Shift in focus & Loss of attention on NSDS for some time
 Reasons
(1) Priorities
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Devoting all efforts into the production of census results 2011, the completion
of ICP project, the hosting of the 37th SCCS and LFS 2013.
Election and change in administration –New government settling into office.
Late budget call.
(2) Resources
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Shortage of Staff: Reduced staff compared to an increasing work load.
Lessons Learnt
 Need to capitalize early on momentum from the consultation, the
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positive responses from participants and promised support of the
stakeholders.
The Key issues emanating from the group session is indicative of the
need for a Strategic approach to statistical development
Political will is critical to the success of the NSDS.
Need for Ministry of Finance Management team on board
Need to target the senior managers board to gain consensus
Need for an officer dedicated to NSDS besides the Director (a
champion within the CSO)
THE WAY FORWARD
The Way Forward
 Submission and Presentation to Cabinet about the need for and
benefits of NSDS for Grenada including report from NSDS Launch.
 Identification of Champions at the top and targeting them
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Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, no. 1 champion
Minister for Economic Development and Planning
Permanent Secretary Ministry of Finance
Formation of a national steering committee for statistics
 Formation of a national steering Committee to drive process
 Seek funding to recruit consultant for NSDS to assist in steering
process forward
 Having a series of key stakeholder visits to be followed by a national
consultation to reflect the findings.
The Way Forward
 A National Consultation to present the findings of stakeholders visit.
 Incorporation of Statistics Canada project (ISFP) as a component to the
NSDS.
 To get consensus on the Road Map
 Writing of Strategy Paper to be facilitated by consultant
 Implementation of plan
Thank You