Asad Elahi, Secretary Statistics Division, Gov. of Pakistan, slide 1 Challenges of Data Collection -...

Asad Elahi, Secretary Statistics Division, Gov. of Pakistan, slide 1

Challenges of Data Collection -

with special regard to developing countries

Asad ElahiSecretary Statistics Division

Government of Pakistan


Data collection

All activities involving collection of data

• directly from respondents or

• from secondary sources

for the production of official statistics.


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


Exogenous weaknesses (1)

• 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


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


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• Outdated or insufficient legal frameworks


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


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


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


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


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.


MDGs and statistics

• No management without measurement

• Statistics matter, in all countries of the world

Asad Elahi, Secretary Statistics Division, Gov. of Pakistan, slide 1 Challenges of Data Collection -...

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