Gender Statistics Training Workshops: Vietnam

SESSION 5

Dissemination and Communicationof Gender Statistics

February 18-20, 2014: Moc Chau – Son LaFebruary 25-27, 2014: Danang

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Objectives of Session

The main objectives of this session are to:

• provide guidance on aspects that should be considered in developing dissemination and communication strategies and plans;

• describe and illustrate the main types of products that are used to disseminate gender statistics;

• outline various types of promotional activities that can support data dissemination.

Primary references:UNECE and WBI 2010, Developing Gender Statistics: A Practical Tool, Chapter 5UNSD 2013, Integrating a Gender Perspective in Statistics, Chapter 4World Bank Gender Data Portal Training Materials Communication and Dissemination

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Dissemination of gender statistics: main messages

• Effective dissemination is critically important to ensure that available gender statistics are fully utilised.

• This involves getting the information to those who need it, in the form that they need it, and when they need it.

• It is important that both data and metadata be disseminated and that they be disseminated on schedule.

• The dissemination schedule should be incorporated into the statistical agency’s published calendar of forthcoming releases.

• Decide how the statistics will be used and by whom as a first step towards developing a dissemination strategy or plan.

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Typical target groups for gender statistics

• Government bodies promoting equal opportunities

• Other government bodies (e.g. ministries of labour, education etc.)

• Women’s organisations and gender-oriented social institutions (e.g. women’s support centres)

• Research institutions (e.g. areas focusing on gender-related issues)

• Libraries and information centres

• Media

• General public

• International organisations (UN, donors, etc.)

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Importance of user consultation for effective dissemination

• In general, a multi-faceted dissemination strategy with a variety of products is necessary to meet the needs of different groups of users.

• It is important to identify the core groups within the user community and to engage closely with them to understand their needs.

• Dissemination plans should be developed in consultation with these groups to ensure gender statistics reach a wide audience and in forms convenient to that audience.

• Design, content and delivery of each product should reflect the needs and capabilities of those for whom it is intended.

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Examples of engagement mechanisms

• User advisory groups:– can debate gender statistics work plans and priorities from different user perspectives.– may focus solely on gender statistics or have wider advisory responsibilities, e.g., for

other sectors or for implementing the gender strategy.– may be set up for a defined task or have an ongoing role.

• User satisfaction surveys:– can consider views of individual organisation in depth.– can employ mix of survey methods, e.g. interview methods for major users and mail-

back questionnaires for other users.

• Workshops or seminars:– can be convened to discuss directions and priorities in gender statistics, including data

gaps.– can also be used to develop partnerships and coordinate plans across organisations.

• Focus group discussions:

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Different methods of dissemination

• Gender statistics and related information can be provided to users in various formats, on different media, and using different delivery mechanisms.

• A combination of different approaches may be used, depending on user needs, complexity and cost.

– Printed publications made available through bookshops and mailed to, or collected in person by, users

– Electronic publications released on websites, CDs or in electronic data files– On-line databases accessed through agency web sites– Detailed tabulations prepared as standard products and mailed to subscribers– Customised products and services prepared on demand for specific users– Telephone, fax or email responses to special data requests– Newsletters, media releases and briefing documents– Unit record files made available through data centres and data laboratories– Presentations at seminars and conferences

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Types of products used to disseminate gender statistics

Products generally fall into 3 broad types:

1. Those providing analysis as well as statistics, such as• Analytical reports and articles• Statistical publications focussed on gender issues• Statistical publications presenting results of specific collections, including main

findings

2. Those providing statistics without analysis, such as • On-line databases

3. Those providing micro-data, such as • Confidentialised unit record files

Each example is described in more detail in the following slides.

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Analytical reports and articles

• Data disseminated in analytical reports, and in articles on specific topics, are generally intended for a wide audience.

• Data is typically presented in small summary tables and charts and discussed in accompanying text. Large tables with more detailed data may be provided in annexes.

• Data from more than one source and from different statistical fields may be covered.

• Policy concerns are usually taken into account.

• A gender perspective can be integrated through:

– data-based analysis of gender issues related to each topic;

– illustrations with gender-sensitive tables and charts; and

– systematic sex-disaggregation of data presented in annexes of the publication.

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Statistical publications focused on gender issues

• These publications are a particular type of analytical report. They are addressed to a wide audience and present statistical data along with analysis and interpretation of the data.

• They typically contain data on various statistical topics and from different sources, and they cover multiple policy areas and gender issues.

• They are an important tool for gender specialists, gender advocates and policy makers.

• A typical example is the ‘Women and Men’ publications produced by many statistical offices.

• The publications may be ad hoc or produced on a regular basis.

• The next four slides provide examples of publications on gender issues.

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A Vietnamese example: an ad hoc gender statistics publication

In 2012 the GSO published Gender Statistics in Vietnam 2000-2010.

The publication was designed to be a useful tool for policy makers and development practitioners, assisting them to analyse the gender situation in Vietnam and to develop, implement and monitor appropriate policies and programs towards gender equality.

It provides sex-disaggregated and gender specific data in various fields. The data are sourced from regular reporting systems and surveys over the decade.

It consists of two parts: the first part focuses on data analysis from a gender perspective, using text and graphs; and the second part presents detailed data tables.

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An Australian example: a regular gender statistics publication

The publication Gender Indicators, Australia is a six-monthly electronic product released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

It supports analysis and monitoring of outcomes for women and men in Australia and informs government decision-makers in the development, monitoring and evaluation of policies and programs aimed at achieving gender equality.

It presents data for a national set of 51 key gender indicators and 47 related supporting indicators across all the major areas of social concern. These draw on a wide range of data sources.

The indicators are updated as soon as relevant data are available.

Commentary on key points and graphs are provided for most indicators. Use is also made of electronic data visualisation techniques for selected indicators. Key series are also available as data cubes.

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Australian Bureau of Statistics Gender Indicators Publication

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A 5-yearly UNSD gender statistics publication

•The World’s Women: Trends and Statistics has been published 5 yearly since 1990.

•It covers a comprehensive range of gender issues and assesses progress.

•Differences between the status of women and men in 8 key areas of contemporary life are highlighted.

•Statistics on men figure as prominently as statistics on women.

•It provides a model for similar statistical profiles for countries, regions, etc.

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Statistical publications presenting results of specific collections, including main findings

• These dissemination products are part of the regular production of a statistical office. They may be printed or electronic products.

• They usually concern one type of data source (e.g., a census, survey or administrative data collection) or a particular statistical topic (e.g. labour statistics).

• Data can be detailed, organised in large tables, and often presented as absolute values to give users more flexibility in doing their own analysis.

• They include some analysis of the data, highlighting the main findings.

• A gender perspective can be integrated into these products by systematic sex-disaggregation of data and systematic coverage of data needed to address gender issues.

• Gender issues may be a primary focus of some specific collections, such as time use surveys and domestic violence surveys.

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On-line databases

• This type of dissemination product includes both dedicated gender databases and more comprehensive databases (e.g., focused on a wider range of social or development indicators).

• These databases are usually targeted towards users interested in undertaking their own analysis and monitoring of developments.

• Data disseminated in this form usually cover a number of areas of concern and several points in time or time periods.

• Data are usually presented in tables and are often shown as indicators.

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On-line databases (continued)

• Provision of data in tables allows a large number of users to have broad access to a wide variety of data.– Users can browse the tables and choose those statistics of most

interest to them. – The World Bank World Development Indicators database lets users

create their own tables by country/region, indicators and years

• Some statistical organisations also provide users with the ability to customise tabular output through the use of self-help web-based table-builder products.– The starting point for customised output is often aggregate data at

the finest level of detail possible from the micro-data file.– Users are then provided with options on how to build their own

tables based on themes or variables of interest.– For example, the OECD.Stat web browser provides a single on-line

platform for access to statistical data in OECD databases.

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UNSD gender statistics website

The website provides the latest statistics and indicators on women and men in 6 specific fields of concern: population, health, families, education, work, and political decision making.

The data are provided in table form and refer to the latest year for which sex-disaggregated data are available

The data have been compiled from official national sources as well as international sources.

All sources along with technical notes on the indicators are given at the end of each table.

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Micro-data files

• These are specialised dissemination products relating to specific data collections. They typically contain very detailed data in unidentifiable unit record form.

• They are intended for specialised researchers who want the full dataset with maximum flexibility for analysis.

• In cases where they are made available, and provided a gender perspective has been integrated into the collection, they can be a rich source of data for analysis of gender issues.

• To protect confidentiality, restrictions may be imposed on who can access these files, where access can occur, and for what purposes access can be given.

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Gender statistics portals on web sites

• Portals (or web pages) are central access points to gender statistics and related information on the web sites of national statistical offices and other agencies.

• A clearly visible, well-structured and well-maintained portal provides a quick and easy way for users to find what they want from a wide selection of material.• A portal can provide direct links to relevant publications , statistical databases,

and information on matters such as:– latest developments– the availability of gender statistics– key data sources– data limitations– concepts, classifications, methods and standards

• A portal also can be an important tool for mainstreaming gender in statistical activity – It raises the profile of gender as an area of concern and can help to lessen the risk

of it being overlooked by users because it cuts across many topics.

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World Bank gender data portal

•The data portal is a ‘one stop shop’ for gender information .

•It caters to a wide range of users and provides continuously-updated data from a variety of sources.

•Data at the country level are organised under six thematic headings.

•Other resources available through the portal include regional data, microdata for researchers, analytic tools, guidelines and training materials.

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A country example of a gender statistics portal

The gender topic page on the Australian Bureau of Statistics website provides a gateway for accessing a range of gender-related information.

It provides links to:• a noticeboard (for information on latest

publications, forthcoming release dates, other developments);

• data sources (including content of gender statistics publications, and sex-disaggregated data from census, survey and administrative sources);

• analytical articles on gender issues;• information on using gender statistics,

(e.g. data availability, data limitations, concepts and methods.)

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Provision of metadata for gender statistics

• Disseminated data should be accompanied by metadata to help users understand the data.

• Metadata should include, but is not limited to, information on:– concepts, definitions and classifications used;– basic features of the data sources;– survey methodology;– guidelines on use of the data;– data quality (e.g. sampling and non-sampling error, non-response

rates, data comparability).

• In some circumstances, it can be useful to release particular types of metadata in a dedicated publication.

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Country example of a metadata publication on gender statistics

In Vietnam, the GSO published a Handbook on Gender Statistics in 2011.

• The objective was to provide guidelines for the gender statistics work being undertaken by different agencies in the country to ensure reliability, consistency and timeliness of data produced.

• The Handbook defines a number of basic concepts applying to gender statistics and then provides a detailed description of the 105 indicators in Vietnam’s National Gender Statistical Indicator System.

• For each indicator it specifies: the purpose and meaning of the indicator; the concept, content and calculation method; the main disaggregations; and the data source.

• Are you familiar with the Handbook?

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Communication with users of gender statistics

• Communication and dissemination are closely related and intertwined subjects.– Communication activities focus on building relationships with users and

encouraging use of gender statistics– Dissemination activities focus on various forms of data provision

• Communication with users is important throughout the statistical production process to ensure planned outputs and associated dissemination arrangements meet user needs.– For example, user needs should be reflected in the content and timeliness

of the product, ease of access to it, availability of associated metadata, and regularity of updates.

• As a product approaches its planned release date, outreach and marketing activities are needed to let users know about it and to promote its value to them.

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A communication plan for gender statistics

• A communication or marketing plan can be a helpful tool in ensuring the message gets out to core target groups in a well-coordinated and timely manner.

• Key elements of such a plan include:– Identifying the core target groups– Developing the message to be conveyed to each group– Assigning responsibilities for communication with each group– Developing media contacts– Analysing feedback from each group

• It also can be helpful to develop and maintain mailing lists or contact lists of those persons interested in gender-related statistics

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Examples of communication activities

Prior to release of a gender statistics product• listing the product in published advices showing forthcoming products and

their release dates;• communicating directly with key users and relevant advisory groups to ensure

they are aware of the product’s release date and topic coverage.

Day of release• issuing a media release about the product and its key statistical messages;• holding an event to formally launch the product using a high profile speaker.

Period after release• conducting seminars or information sessions for users to explain and discuss

the main findings;• presenting sessions based on the product at policy forums and conferences; • providing brochures and other exhibits promoting the product at relevant

venues.

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Some tips on effective media releases

• General rule– Consider the audience: who are you trying to reach, and how can you

best reach them?

• Headline– Needs to be concise, precise and catchy: a hook to excite interest in

the story– No more than one line

• Content– Crucial to get the main story across in the first paragraph– Story needs to be clear, informative and easy to understand– Avoid complicating the story with too many figures, jargon, technical

language– Identifying what is new and answering questions such as where,

when, what, why, and how can be helpful in determining content– Keep to one side of one A4 page if possible

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Some tips on effective media releases (continued)

• Contact details– Need to place contact details of organisation spokesperson at end

of release– The spokesperson needs to be well prepared and fluent– Media may want to contact the organisation for reasons such as: an

interview; to delve deeper into an issue; for background or supporting information; for examples that humanise important issues, etc.