Peer reviews – a driving force
towards the excellence in official
statistics?
Presentation in the CCSA Conference on Quality for
International Organizations, Newport, UK
27 April 2006
Hilkka Vihavainen, Statistics Finland
Basic questions
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Why peer reviews?
How do they impact on the excellence
in official statistics?
How can international organisations
contribute to peer review process?
Why peer reviews?
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Need to assess practices against agreed
standards or principles
Lack of credibility
Essential part of quality management
Need to benchmark and compare
national statistical systems with each
other
In peer review process
National statistical system analysed
 Institutional set-up – the whole system in terms of
independence, impartiality and objectivity
 Capacity in terms of knowledge and competences
 Organisation, processes, products in terms of
effectiveness and quality
 Stakeholder relations/needs in terms of flexibility
 Competitive performance in comparison with others
Driving force towards the
excellence in official statistics?
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Identifies gaps and weaknesses, notes
strengths and may give support to the
chosen direction
Provides peer advise
Assists in prioritisation
Transfers know-how on best practices
Supports in building capacities
How can international organisations
contribute to peer review process?
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Harmonised methodologies
Development of indicators on the
performance of the statistical systems
Collection of information on the best
practices
Feedback to the countries on the
inconsistencies in the figures and
metadata