Coordination with other Partners in the National Statistical System

1. Coordination with other Partners in the National Statistical System Olav Ljones SADC Work Shop, Luanda 2-6 December 2006

2. Why and with whom to coordinate? • Several government institutions will be relevant as partners both as data providers, producers of statistics and users of official statistics • Data capture, Other government bodies that create, collect and store data. Example, Vital registration, Customs, Tax • Production and dissemination of statistics. Other institutions. (Even private firms may produce statistics on contract with the government) • Need formalized contact with User Groups. • What to aim at: Consistence, coherence, international comparability, and not to forget reduced response burden and a cost efficient statistical system.

3. Statistical tools for better coordination • Concepts • Units and population • Standards and classifications • Dissemination, Internet portals • International coordination,

4. Cooperation with other public institutions • ….is a must for NSOs • Is it sufficient with good intentions, good will and nice behavior? • Strategic theory, thinking and practice, will help. Strategy, tactics, actions, counteractions, results, • Our public image – very important also for our ability to build bridges and cooperate. • We - the NSO management - believe that NSOs are special (producers of a public good and professional independence). • Will we meet other institutions that respect our integrity and behave altruistic • Trends – New Public Management (focus on core activities, pricing policy and incentives)

5. Some examples from cooperation • Concepts: • Definitions and traditions for concepts and measurement of manpower (incl working hours) is not equal between, Labor Force Surveys, School administration, Hospitals, etc. A common set of definitions will not be the best solution for a precise measurement of labor in all sectors • Accounts, variations in basic principles cash accrued, gross/net, revenues from fees paid by users etc

6. More examples • Dissemination. Some Directorates/Ministries will have as an obligation to pre inform their minister of major events. Example New estimates on emission to air, based on a tight cooperation with the Directorate of Environment Protection. • Some Public Bodies will have a new regime for budgets and revenues and are obliged to go market and maximize revenues. Norway – geographic information and maps. The Directorate want to sell and Stat Norway ask for information free of charge. Second conflict we put the same information as a public good on our web site

7. More examples • The understanding of differences in roles between NSOs and other agencies. The very important distinction between data collected for statistical purposes and data collected for administrative purpose. Example: Income data collected for income statistics (For example. Gini coefficient) and income data collected for calculation of taxes to pay) • In cooperation NSO a single purpose body while others will often be a multipurpose body (administration and statistics)

8. More examples • Some regulations on privacy and confidentiality are strong and protects data even from use in official statistics. Example Health data collected by health staff and regulated by health staff privacy regulations • All government bodies want to have the best web pages

9. The Model for Cooperation • How to build relations? • Advisory boards for users. • Bilateral agreements • Overall Advisory Council for Official Statistics • Council for government data registers

10. The Norwegian Council for Official Statistics • Who are invited? • The ToR/Mandate • The experience • Common training program • A special Register forum for data owners

11. The Council for Coordination of Official Statistics (CCO), Mandate • It is established by a decision of the DG Statistics Norway • CCO is an advisory body to give advice to Statistics Norway and other producers of official statistics in Norway. • The CCO shall : • contribute by coordination of production and dissemination of official statistics • Contribute by establishing quality requirements, as regards independency, quality (relevance, coverage, accuracy and punctuality, coherence and consistence, accessibility and documentation) confidentiality and lowest possible response burden

12. Mandate cont. • Contribute to cooperation that fulfills these quality standards and to an (resource) efficient production of official statistics • Be a Forum for exchange of best practice and building of competence. Spread good methods for data capture, production and dissemination of official statistics and for deliverance of data to the research community. This may be done by arranging seminars and training courses.

13. Mandate cont. • When appropriated contribute to coordination of international statistical cooperation. • A yearly report • The Council is chaired by the DG of Statistics Norway

14. Members list • Employment Directorate • General Business Register Office • Fishery Directorate • Housing Bank,Govnm. • Institute for Public Health • Institute for Research on Education and Research • Central Bank • Data Archive for Social Sciences • Police Directorate • Post and Telecommunication Directorate

15. Members list 2 • Social Insurance Directorate • Central Tax Office • Directorate for Health and social affairs • Government Environment Inspectorate • Geography and Map Directorate • Agricultural Directorate • Central Directorate for Roads • Education Directorate • Immigrant Directorate (very informal translation of names)