The role of training & capacity building in the modernisation of statistical systems

1. The role of training & capacity building in the modernisation of statistical systems Transformative Agenda for Official Statistics: Caribbean Conference Carol Coy Statistical Institute of Jamaica

2. Introduction • “Human capital is probably one of the essential factors in the perspective of the modernization of statistics” 1 • Statistical production requires specialized knowledge on subject matter statistics • Continuous staff training and development are therefore essential to maintaining and enhancing the capacity of a National Statistics Office (NSO) 1 Concept note- Regional/Sub-regional conferences on transformative agenda for official statistics

3. Introduction • Statistical capacity building still remains a challenge in the region despite assistance from International Development Partners

4. Current Situation • Adequate training is available in economic statistics in areas such as national accounts, prices, balance of payments, government financial statistics, tourism as well as in labour force statistics • Designated international agencies see these areas as critical to their work and so give priority to training

5. Current Situation • Areas in need of support: • Social statistics, statistical infrastructure such as sampling, data analysis, survey management • Non-technical • Management & leadership • Communication • Report writing & presentation skills • Project management

6. Challenges • Small size of statistical offices • limits the pool of knowledge in the organization- especially in specialised areas such as sampling • limits the available time for training • High staff turnover especially among technical staff including information technology • Difficult to compete with private sector or other high income countries in the region • Lack of succession planning

7. Challenges • Training is costly – usually cannot be accommodated in the limited budgets of NSOs • Needs of NSOs, given specialised nature of statistics, not being fully met by the local universities • Limited focus placed on exposing staff at the managerial level to soft skills such as leadership, change management, communication

8. Training/Capacity Building-STATIN • On the Job Training • New statisticians undergo 2-3 week training period at the start of employment. Focus is on subject matter area but there is some exposure to the work of other divisions • In-house experts facilitate training in areas such as SAS, database management, index number theory

9. Training/Capacity Building-STATIN • On the Job Training • Data Collection • Training is always undertaken prior to surveys • A comprehensive training programme for data collectors is done at periodic intervals to include areas such interviewing techniques, communication skills, data collection quality issues, security

10. Training/Capacity Building-STATIN • In-House training facilitated by external experts • Internally Funded e.g. Bureau of Labor Statistics, University of Michigan. Areas of focus include sampling and data analysis techniques • Externally funded-poverty analysis, public speaking and presentation, supervisory management • A training component is usually included in technical assistance to ensure knowledge transfer

11. Training/Capacity Building-STATIN • Local External Training • Government of Jamaica sponsored training in areas such as • poverty mapping • small area estimation • project management • leadership

12. Training/Capacity Building-STATIN • Overseas Training • Targeted training that might not be available locally or regional for e.g. summer programs at University of Michigan • Regional/international workshops organized by international and regional bodies such as IMF, CARTAC, Caribbean Tourism Association, CARICOM, UNECLAC, STATCAN under the PRASC project, ILO.

13. The Way Forward • A strategic view must be taken on training and capacity building if transformation of NSOs/NSS is to be successful • There must be a clear and direct link between training and succession planning • NSOs will need to undertake a gap analysis to determine the skills and competences that are required to sustain the current and planned programs

14. The Way Forward • Regional training is the best option given the small size of NSOs in region. It is uneconomical for each country to develop its own national training system • South-south cooperation will also be critical, including attachments • NSOs must take advantage of e-learning. Examples; SEEA training by UNECLAC and UNWTO free online courses on tourism statistics

15. The Way Forward • Closer collaboration with regional universities to host short term courses geared at improving statistical skills • Training offerings beyond technical areas must be expanded to include those skills necessary for managing change and driving transformation such as leadership, management and communication.

16. The Way Forward • Increased investment is required from national governments to build statistical capacity • Governments should therefore implement the “Action Plan for Statistics in the Caribbean ” which was endorsed at the 37th meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government in July 2016.

17. The Way Forward • Action Plan Issue 1: “Governments should undertake the strengthening of the National Statistical Systems (NSS) and specifically the National Statistical Offices (NSO) “ Specific Action Required • Identification of training in statistics for staff of the NSO and NSS and priority given relative to the award of scholarships by Governments/International Development Partners (IDP)

18. The Way Forward • Action Plan Issue 2: “Governments should pursue the upgrading of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) base” Specific Action Required • The training of statisticians as data scientists to make more effective use of IT and Statistics should be enabled.

19. The Way Forward Thank You