Challenges of Data Collection
with special regard to
developing countries
Asad Elahi
Secretary Statistics Division
Government of Pakistan
Asad Elahi, Secretary Statistics Division, Gov. of Pakistan, slide 1
Data collection
All activities involving collection of data
• directly from respondents or
• from secondary sources
for the production of official statistics.
Asad Elahi, Secretary Statistics Division, Gov. of Pakistan, slide 2
Two types of difficulties
• Endogenous (within official statistics)
– Weaknesses of institutional set-up
– Weaknesses of organizational set-up
– Lack of resources, infrastructure
– Performance not up to the mark
• Exogenous
– Inability of civil society, of establishments and
enterprises and even of administration to part
reliable and timely data
Asad Elahi, Secretary Statistics Division, Gov. of Pakistan, slide 3
Exogenous weaknesses (1)
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Illiteracy
Deficiencies in law and order
Cultural constraints
Infrastructural deficits
Large informal economy
Low standards of bookkeeping, low
administrative coverage, low standards of
social performance
Asad Elahi, Secretary Statistics Division, Gov. of Pakistan, slide 4
Exogenous weaknesses (2)
• Low support from governments
• Low propensity of respondents to give
data
• Institutional set-up of the society is rapidly
changing
• Heterogeneity of society and of living
conditions
• High variance and volatility of some
variables (prices, wages, consumption)
• Option for secondary sources limited
Asad Elahi, Secretary Statistics Division, Gov. of Pakistan, slide 5
Endogenous weaknesses
• Little pay and no pride in job
• Infrastructure for internal communication is
poor
• Lack of comprehensive and up-to-date
directories
• Lack of autonomy
• Outdated or insufficient legal frameworks
Asad Elahi, Secretary Statistics Division, Gov. of Pakistan, slide 6
How to overcome endogenous
weaknesses? (1)
• Make autonomous legal entity under
modern statistical law
• Induct high top professional management
• Strengthen capacity building and training
• Modernize workflow and performance
• Install / strengthen field organization
• Modernize statistical program and
enhance outcome
Asad Elahi, Secretary Statistics Division, Gov. of Pakistan, slide 7
How to overcome endogenous
weaknesses? (2)
• Join international statistical projects like
ICP, ICT or health accounting
• Join modern forms of data delivery: public
and scientific use files
• Install a statistical business register
• Promote private-public partnerships
• Involve the stakeholders and the media
• Get help from donor organizations
Asad Elahi, Secretary Statistics Division, Gov. of Pakistan, slide 8
Internationally organized efforts (1)
Paris21 Consortium (2001)
• Goal: promote evidence-based policy
making, improve governance and
government effectiveness in reducing
poverty and achieving the MDGs
• Purpose: greater demand, availability and
better use of statistics and statistical
analysis
Asad Elahi, Secretary Statistics Division, Gov. of Pakistan, slide 9
Internationally organized efforts (2)
Marrakesh Action Plan for Statistics (2004)
• Mainstream strategic planning of statistical
systems and prepare national strategies
• Prepare for 2010 census round
• Increase financing for capacity building
• Set up an International Household Survey
Network
• Improve monitoring MDGs
• Increase accountability of the international
statistical system
Asad Elahi, Secretary Statistics Division, Gov. of Pakistan, slide 10
Summary / recommendations
• Capacity building of statisticians be accorded
highest priority - Special fund (UNSD)?
• Strategic plans for modernizing NSO need a
long way to go. International support is required.
• Developing country should actively participate in
technical groups on international standards.
• International bodies should rely on data of NSO
rather than indulging in self-imputation.
• Data collection needs to be followed by strong
analysis of the governments.
Asad Elahi, Secretary Statistics Division, Gov. of Pakistan, slide 11
MDGs and statistics
• No management without measurement
• Statistics matter, in all countries of the
world
Asad Elahi, Secretary Statistics Division, Gov. of Pakistan, slide 12