Development of the National Statistical System

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There is a cycle of a lack of resources for statistical work, causing poor quality statistics, lack of demand, and a corresponding lack of resources. Budget cuts aimed at reducing administrative expenses have often, disproportionately affected statistical agencies. Inadequate levels of investment have left statistical agencies unable to take advantage of new technology, especially in computing and telecommunication. As a result, statistical services have become dependent on donor finance, leading to a donor-driven agenda of statistical activities, and inadequate resources for maintaining statistical infrastructure, and routine data collection. The statistical Capacity Building Program - STATCAP - is a means to implement long-term, comprehensive statistical capacity building plans, i.e., a mechanism to apply lessons from past statistical projects to future projects, in the form of best practice from shared expertise. This first Phase of the program will help Burkina Faso, and Ukraine, finance a share of investment and recurrent expenditures, based on the assessment, and plans contained in each country's Statistical Master Plan. The STATCAP will support improvements, in the following components. 1) The institutional framework for national statistics, which may include improvements in legal, and regulatory mechanisms to maintain integrity, independence and confidentiality, in the management and coordination systems for national statistics. 2) Statistical infrastructure, such as statistical registers, sampling frames, classifications, databases, geographic information systems. 3) The effectiveness and efficiency of statistical operations, including methods used to collect, and disseminate statistical data, and skills and capacity of staff involved. 4) Investment in physical infrastructure and equipment, to ensure that physical and communication infrastructure facilitate the production, and dissemination of data by statistical agencies.