Improving Statistical Capacity
for Better Development Results
Shaida Badiee
Director, Development Data Group
World Bank
Key areas of statistical work
• Data gathering and publication:
– International Comparison Program (ICP)
– Debt statistics
– World Development Indicators
– Data for research and analysis (e.g. Living
Standards Measurement Study surveys)
– Investment Climate Surveys and “Doing
Business” Indicators
• Improving statistical capacity
– Marrakech Action Plan for Statistics
Key areas of statistical work
• Data gathering and publication:
– International Comparison Program (ICP)
– Debt statistics
– World Development Indicators
– Data for research and analysis (e.g. Living
Standards Measurement Study surveys)
– Investment Climate Surveys and “Doing
Business” Indicators
• Improving statistical capacity
– Marrakech Action Plan for Statistics
The ICP and PPPs
International Comparison Program
• To obtain internationally comparable price levels,
Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) conversion
factors, and economic aggregates in real terms
• PPP-based data are in high demand
• Involves globally-coordinated price surveys by
National Statistical Offices of 150 countries
• Helps improve statistical capacity in the areas of
prices and national accounts
• ICP is a global partnership: World Bank houses
the ICP Global Office
External debt statistics
Global Development Finance (GDF)
– A unique publication and database with debt
stocks and flows data from the Bank’s Debtor
Reporting System
Little Book on External Debt
– A quick reference version of GDF with
individual country tables
Statistical Data and Metadata eXchange
(SDMX) initiative
– Partner in development of SDMX, particularly
for its application in the Joint External Debt
Hub with BIS, OECD and IMF
World Development
Indicators Database
• A comprehensive set of
global statistics for
monitoring
development progress
• Data are collected
through an extensive
partnership
• 1,000 indicators for 210
economies
• 22 regional and income
aggregates
Other WDI products
• Little Data Book, Little Green
Data Book, “Mini” Atlas series,
WDI Online
• Launching April 2007, copublished with Harper-Collins
• Agreed at the 2nd Roundtable on Managing for
Development Results, Morocco, 2004
• Clear message from data users
– Better statistics are needed to achieve better
development results
• Six actions form a time-bound and costed plan
• Something for everyone
– National and international agencies
• Has helped mobilize effort
Strategies for better statistics
• Many countries now have a National
Strategy (NSDS) for the Development of
Statistics
• Advocacy and guidance from PARIS21
• Need to set out realistic, prioritized and
costed development plans, aligned with
the needs of users
Investment in statistical systems
• Trust Fund for Statistical Capacity Building
– Support for strategies and small projects
• GDDS project for Anglophone Africa
• Since 2004, large-scale projects in several IDA
countries:
–
–
–
–
Burkina Faso ($10m)
Nigeria ($18m)
Kenya ($10m + donor cofinancing)
Tajikistan ($1m + donor cofinancing)
• Current IDA pipeline: Bangladesh, Sri Lanka,
India, Madagascar, Mongolia, Kyrgyz Republic
Investment in statistical systems
• Definitely not enough:
– To meet the additional funding requirement
identified in Marrakech ($120m per year
globally)
– And to ensure that all national statistical
strategies are implemented
• 3rd Roundtable in Hanoi Feb 5-8
– Reaffirmed relevance of Marrakech
– New campaign for financing
Participation in the 2010 Census
• UN is leading global advocacy and
technical support effort through a “World
Programme”, with some World Bank funds
• Country-led regional initiative also
underway in Africa
• But funding gaps possible in some
countries
Better household surveys
• International Household Survey
Network
• A network of international agencies,
Secretariat at World Bank
• Better coordination of international survey
programs and sharing of best practices
Measuring key topics and the MDGs
• The Accelerated Data Program
– a new initiative supported by the Marrakech Action
Plan to improve the use and quality of household
survey data at country level
• Creating country capacity to
Task 1:
Task 2:
Task 3:
Better document and disseminate
survey microdata
Analyze and assess survey quality
Improve survey design and data
collection
Measuring key topics and the MDGs
Results from the pilot of the
Accelerated Data Program:
Accessible, documented
datasets
Accelerating Progress
• Long term: Need greater levels of
investment to implement national
strategies for statistics
• More support for Census 2010
• Near term: Improvements in data
availability, dissemination and quality (the
Accelerated Data Program and other
initiatives)
• More can be done to harmonize effort
Thank you