Use of National Strategies
for the Development of
Statistics
Meeting between the Regional Commissions and ISWGNA
on the SNA implementation Strategy
21 February, 2009
What is an NSDS?
A guide to the development of a
statistical system
Coordination and sequencing
Consistency with national priorities and the
needs of data users
A sequenced set of actions to be carried
out over a period of 4 to 5 years
Key characteristics
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Integrated into national development and poverty
reduction policies;
Takes into account national, regional, and
international data needs;
Encompasses production, dissemination, analysis,
and use of data and related issues;
Covers all the main statistical production units, and
serves as a framework for sectors;
Serves as coordinating framework for international
and bilateral assistance;
Integrates existing activities, and draws on the past
experience
Why a strategic approach?
Resources are limited, and priorities
have to be made
Piecemeal approach is not cost effective
To ensure that all areas are covered
To promote alignment with national
policy priorities and plans
The NSDS Process
Five phases
Launching the process (road map)
Assessment
Developing the vision
An implementation plan
Managing implementation and monitoring
progress
NSDS: Timetable
The timetable depends on a number of
factors:
Political validation
What is already in place
Need for sufficient time for effective
consultation and review
Important to link preparation with national
processes and budget timetables
NSDS: Actors
The actors
Who decides? The national authorities.
Who leads the work? A central team
assisted by other teams.
Who advises? Specialists and users.
Who provides technical and financial
support? International and regional cooperation
NSDS: Content
Assessment and appraisal of existing
outputs
Strategic vision
Includes institutional development,
framework
Implementation plan
Costed, realistic, prioritized, timetabled,
flexible
NSDS: A comprehensive approach
Statistical system
Frameworks (regulatory, codes of practice)
Statistical infrastructure
Methods
Coordination & prioritization mechanisms
Products (“national statistics”)
Statistical agencies
Business or corporate plans
Short-term work plans
NSDSs and the SNA (1)
Data development requirements for national
accounts should be an integral part of the
NSDS
Improving the national accounts, including
implementing 2008 SNA, requires more and
better source data
Infrastructure for data collection—business
registers and sampling frameworks
Processing of source data
Frequency of surveys
Coverage of surveys
Consistency with international guidelines and
classification
NSDSs and the SNA (2)
Do NSDSs cover national accounts?
Some do some don’t
Lack of emphasis on economic statistics
Priorities not reflecting the needs of data
users
Not fully developed - lack of specificities,
including sequencing, costing, and human
resource implications
NSDSs and the SNA (3)
A need for reviewing
Data requirements for improving the
national accounts
New features in the 2008 SNA
The NSDSs with regards to
• SNA developments
• Related source data
A need for “updating” NSDSs
SNA development needs
Source data developments
NSDSs and the SNA (4)
Role of regional commissions
Coordinate the review of data needs and
existing NSDSs
Coordinate development of national and
regional implementation plans for national
accounts, including implementation of 2008
SNA
How the World Bank can help
Finance for NSDSs
Trust fund to support preparation
STATCAP financing for implementation
New Statistics for Results Facility to meet financing
gaps
Support for National Accounts
Working through ISWGNA
Working with partners on the ICP – 2005 and 2011
Monitoring statistical capacity
Bulletin Board
Working with partners – IMF, PARIS21, RDBs