17.15 The NSO and the international statistical system#
17.15.1 Engagement of NSO with the ISS and international cooperation activities#
Capacity development programmes such as training, technical assistance, and statistical strategies, are likewise designed around bilateral and multilateral cooperation. These are implemented in various schemes. The actors may be NSOs, in schemes often referred to as “South-South” or North-South” cooperation. In many cases, NSOs mainly from the North are the implementing arms of their respective aid and cooperation agencies or donors for bilateral cooperation. For example—Statistics Canada and CIDA, Statistics Sweden and SIDA, USA and USAID, UK and DFID, Japan and JICA, Norway and NORAD, and Australia and DFAT. The programmes may be multilateral, such as programmes of international or sub-regional entities involving several of their member states.
International cooperation on statistics also includes responding to data collection questionnaires from international statistical organizations, which serve as inputs to international statistics produced by the organizations in accordance with their mandates. These statistics are described in the agency profiles (Cards) provided Annex 6 - The United Nations System and in Annex 7 - International Statistical System and Links to Cards.
17.15.2 NSO functional unit responsible for international cooperation in statistics#
For NSOs, engaging in international cooperation requires carrying out logistical, coordination and communication functions. The activities may include preparation of project proposals; working with legal and financial requirements of capacity development projects; internal and external coordination of statistical development projects as recipients or providers. Participation in regional and global statistical intergovernmental meetings and technical meetings (expert group meetings, Friends of the Chair, advisory groups, etc.) is a major part of international cooperation activities. Some NSOs may also co-host international forums with international agencies. In many NSOs, an “international cooperation unit” has been established to serve as the focal point for managing the above mentioned activities. Examples of such at the national level are provided here under.
Examples of international cooperation units and functions of NSOs:
Foreign Statistics and International Cooperation Department (FSIC) of the General Statistical Office (GSO) of Viet Nam is a public administration unit of GSO with advisory function to assist the General Director of GSO in guiding, managing and conducting the work of foreign statistics and international cooperation in the field of statistics: Mandate and responsibilities (🔗).
The National Statistics Office of Mongolia (MNSO) has a Foreign Relations and Cooperation Unit (🔗) under its Administration Department (one of five departments) that manages —bilateral and multilateral cooperation and engagement of the MNSO in the Global Statistical System.
Statistics Poland (GUS) has an International Cooperation Department (🔗) within its organizational structure as a separate unit subordinate to the chief statistician. The Department is responsible for four main areas of international cooperation: (1) organizational aspects of this cooperation, (2) receiving EU funds for statistical development and caring out international capacity building projects, (3) dealing with EU law-making process; (4) coordinating the cooperation with the European Statistical System and other international organizations (mainly UN and OECD).
17.15.3 Participation in international meetings and events#
With respect to participation in intergovernmental meetings such as the UNSC sessions or regional statistical committees/conferences, staff members of national statistical offices, including chief statisticians and senior managers, can contribute most effectively to and learn from discussions when they follow some ground rules.
This section aims to guide participants in strategic and technical intergovernmental meetings and international forums at global, regional and sub-regional levels.
Registration and logistics: it is crucial to register (or confirm) as early as possible and through the appropriate national channels, the nominated participant(s) to an international statistical event. The NSS may also consider informing the national Resident Coordinator’s Office (RCO) for UN meetings. For high-level UN meetings, one may also consider informing the Permanent Mission to the United Nations of their meeting participation. If the meeting is organized remotely, make sure well in advance that you have the right IT configuration and solutions to connect. If needed, ask the organizers to conduct a test before the event.
Before the meeting: study the meeting agenda and identify the topics for which you plan to prepare interventions. If needed, hold internal coordination meetings and consult with members and stakeholders of the NSS such as data providers, producers of official statistics and main users to gather comprehensive national views on the topic. Where needed, these consultations may be used to obtain a consensus on joint statement or position of the NSS.
For high-level international events such as the UN Statistical Commission, where the NSS wishes to have their country’s view or position reflected in the regional or sub-regional statement, you may formally or informally coordinate with the region’s or sub-region’s representative.
To be well - prepared, be sure to participate in studies and surveys conducted by international organizations. When meeting organizers request feedback and inputs on issues, success stories or discussion points for the meeting, send on time your written contributions so that these can be incorporated into the documents and materials to be made available to participants of the meeting.
During the meeting: quality rather than quantity is the key. Speak with authority and make interventions brief and to the point. Where relevant or requested, prepare presentations or contributions aligned with the session’s topic and limit yourself to the allocated time. Presenting or speaking based on the allocated time allows others to share insights challenges and success stories; a presentation is a way to engage with other participants in a discussion. Hence, it is important to focus on the essence of the presentation and share the key messages, challenges, solutions, and learnings.
Interventions or comments that lead to constructive solutions or action points moving forward are always well-received. It is important to be consensus-oriented and provide constructive solutions and support countries that share the same national position. To avoid unnecessary repetitions, connect the interventions to the ongoing discussions, making references to delegations that share the same views.
Where relevant, such as when additional discussions beyond the time allocated to the sessions are needed, hold informal meetings over coffee and lunch breaks. Such interactions may help identify common positions and opinions or further technical details you are interested in. For practices or experiences that you may consider replicating, this is also the time to express interest and obtaining contact information for further discussions after the meeting.
After the meeting: provide feedback to the meeting organizers by responding to the evaluation survey typically issued at the end of the meeting or electronically a few days later.
Prepare a meeting’s report with main outcomes to be disseminated to the staff of the NSO and, if relevant, to other partners within and outside the NSS. In some instances, a general report for administrative purposes and a second one would be useful at a more technical level. In particular, never forget to report back and share the report with all data providers, producers of official statistics, main users and other important stakeholders consulted before the meeting. Use the outcome of the meeting! Identify the good practices presented by participants at the meeting. Do not delay implementing, with appropriate adaptation to the national context; starting with those that could be replicated in your country swiftly and at low cost.
17.15.4 Donor-partners coordination group on data and statistics#
An increasing number of donors and statistical development partners working with NSOs and the NSS in countries, with encouragement from the government, have established coordination groups. These groups’ objective is to increase coordination in the introduction, planning and/or implementation of statistical capacity development initiatives within the country.
Coordination of capacity development activities across the NSS should be led by the NSO. A National Strategy for the Development of Statistics (NSDS), which establishes priority statistical programs and activities, is a valuable coordination mechanism that an NSO can use to inform donors and development partners about specific needs of the NSS. As it responds to national data demands arising from major policies such as the national development plan, it provides a robust framework for investment in data and statistics. Through a consultative process with different actors, the NSDS, together with sectoral statistical plans, aims to be a multi-donor focal point for funding statistics, with counterpart domestic funding.
The coordination groups are frequently part of the data mechanisms established for the implementation of the SDGs monitoring framework—typically established by the United Nations Country Team (UNCT) in the country as a mechanism that is part of the coordination function of the UN Resident Coordinator for the country. Box 16 provides an informative note on the UN Resident Coordination system’s role in statistical development activities at the national level as envisioned by the proposed financing mechanism for implementing the CTGAP.
Box 16: The UN Resident Coordination System
The purpose of the proposed financing mechanism for implementing the CTGAP is to support national priorities and NSOs, and thus, there will be a strong connection to the UN Country Teams (UNCTs). Working with UNCTs, which provide inter-agency coordination at the country level, the financing mechanism can further enhance the delivery of capacity development activities as an integrated process.This financing mechanism builds upon the existing role of the UN system in countries to facilitate national ownership. The UNCTs can help with the coordination at the national level of projects carried out by the mechanism and ensure that these projects are integrated, when appropriate, into activities of the UN system’s entities active in the country. As the mechanism will match the national priorities to existing projects and funding available, the UNCTs offer an opportunity to work within this existing structure, potentially broadening the impact of the financing mechanism’s initiatives and deepening support for the NSOs.National priorities and national development plans will guide the financing mechanism to meet national data needs. Working with the UNCTs, the financing mechanism can further ensure that capacity development initiatives reflect the reality of priorities established by the governments.