Regional Workshop

on National SDG Reporting Mechanism: An End-to- End Process Framework

National SDG Data Flows

Dilli Raj Joshi

Deputy Director General

Central Bureau of Statistics

Nepal

Outline of Presentation

1. Statistical System of Nepal

2. Composition of National Statistics Council (NSC)

3. Main Activities of CBS

4. National Strategy for Development of Statistics (NSDS)

6. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs

Statistical System of NepalCentral Bureau of Statistics (CBS) as per Statistical act:

• Is authorized as sole & central statistical agency responsible to collect, process, analyze and disseminate data & has mandated to implement survey clearance system

• Decentralized statistical system

• Local governance act authorizes to record vital registration

• Nepal Rastra Bank engaged in CPI, WPI, BoP and other financial statistics

• Various ministries, departments collect and disseminate data as per their requirements

National Statistics Council (NSC) was established in 1988 with 3 Objectives

– To develop an Integrated Statistical System (Short, long term Statistical Policies, Plan)- Policy directives

– To act as a coordination body among all involved in statistical activities

– To standardized statistical activities

Composition of National Statistics Council (NSC)

Chairman - Vice Chairman of the National Planning Commission (NPC)

Members:

– Member, National Planning Commission

– Governor of the Nepal Rastra Bank

– Secretary - NPC Secretariat

– Secretary - Ministry of Finance

– Secretary - Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supply

– Secretary - Ministry of Education

– Secretary - Ministry of Health

– Secretary - Ministry of Agriculture

– Chairman, Central Statistics Department, Tribhuvan University

– Executive Director, Center for Economic Development and Administration (CEDA); and

– Director General, CBS (Member-secretary of NSC)

Main Activities of CBS

Statistical Programs

– Population Census (Every 10 Years)- 11th census on 2011

– Agriculture Census (Every 10 Years) – 6th Census on 2011

– Manufacturing Census (Every 5 Years)- 9th completed

– National Economic Census (First time in 2018)

– Census of Small Scale Industries (Every 5 Years)

– National Account Estimates (Annual)

– Price and Production Indices (Four Monthly)

– District Profiles (Annual Updates)

Main Activities of CBS....

Other surveys

– Nepal Living Standard Survey I, II, III (1995/96, 2003/4 & 2010/11)

– Nepal Labour Force Survey 1998/99,2008 & 2017/18

– National Accounts Benchmarking Survey

– Hard Drug Users’ Survey

– Surveys on Satellite Accounting

– Distributive Trade Survey

Publication & Micro Data Distribution:

– 50% free distribution

– 50% with minimum price

– Most of the publication can be downloaded freely from the www.cbs.gov.np

– Based on certain conditions, CBS provides micro data to users & researchers

CENTRAL BUREAU OF STATISTICS

Main Activities of CBS…

• CBS has recently completed Nepal Labor Force Survey (NLFS) III according to

19th ICLS, field work of NMICS (Nepal Multi Indicator Cluster Survey) is in

progress & supposed to complete in 2019. CBS is going to conduct Nepal Living

Standards Survey (NLSS) IV in 2019/20

• CBS has plan to conduct the 12th National Housing and Population Census in

2021. These surveys/census provide the main SDGs indicators for monitoring the

2030 agenda of SDGs.

National Strategy for Development of Statistics (NSDS)

National Strategy for Development of Statistics (NSDS) being necessary for to arrange & produce all data needs required for SDGs monitoring system.

National Strategy for Development of Statistics (NSDS) comprise:

a): Mission (to produce quality statistics and provide statistical services needed for the sustainable development of Nepal)

b): Vision (to be an effective, well-coordinated and highly functional National Statistical System)

c): Strategic Objectives (Produce statistics in required quantity and quality that meet the needs of all levels of government for evidence- based policy measures and the needs of the wider users in the national and international community) has been approved by the government in 2018.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

• After having the new constitution of Nepal 2015, the government of Nepal has been restructured the administrative system

• Now in Nepal 753 local and 7 provincial governments

• A strong monitoring system with credible data is crucial for the success of the SDGs, Only a strong statistical system can measure the progress across the goals

• Till even today, major surveys are often financed by donors, which is subject to delays in aid mobilization

• The government is in the way to make necessary legal, organizational and operational changes (applying NSDS) in the existing data system to generate and share large, high quality and timely data for monitoring the progress of the SDGs.

• All institutions of the state need to be on the same way to advance the sustainable development agenda

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)...

• Only a proper institutional mechanism can ensure the interventions related to SDGs are executed in a coordinated, coherent and complementary way

• The country ownership of the SDGs is manifested in the institutional set up of the high-level steering committee chaired by the Prime Minister, below this lies a coordination and implementation committee chaired by the Vice-Chair of the National Planning Commission (NPC), followed by thematic committees led by members of NPC.

• NPC is gradually shifting from a narrow monitoring process to results-based monitoring and evaluation system. Its role is crucial in institutionalizing the culture of using evidence in the SDG-friendly planning and policy making process. It is in the way to conduct systematic monitoring and evaluation of SDGs collaborating with other partners and produce evaluation-based evidence.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)…

• Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) has prepared National Data Profile (NDP) portal which is supposed to help national, 7 province & 753 local levels to update the necessary SDG indicators timely & accurately. It is historical development in the history of statistical system of Nepal

• From NDP all users, researchers will be benefited by easy access & updated statistical information mainly related to SDGs.

1. NATIONAL DATA PROFILE

2. NDP Data Items

Ru/Ur. Level

Muni. Sta.

System.

Prov. Level

Sta. SystemCentral Level

Sta. System.

National Data Profile

(Central Data Repository)

Supervision, Evaluation & Training

Basic Condition:

Designated Obligation to Upload/Respective Data or Information

nationaldata.gov.np

Access & Data

Download

Users’ Feedback

Info graphics,

Analysis,

Access & Use

National

Statistics

System

National Data ProfileM System Architectur

SDGs

National Data Archive (NADA)

• The supply of relevant, timely and usable data is essential for countries to set

priorities, make informed choices and implement better policies for sustainable

development

• National Data Archive (NADA) is a web-based cataloging system that serves as a

portal for researchers to browse, search, compare, apply for access, and download

relevant census or survey information.

• It was originally developed to support the establishment of national survey data

archives.

• The application is used by a diverse and growing number of national, regional, and

international organizations. NADA is a tool developed by the International Household

Survey Network (IHSN) and has been implemented by the World Bank and PARIS21

National Data Archive (NADA)…

The specific objectives of the National Data Archive is to:

• Promote best practice and international standards for the documentation of micro data

amongst data producers in the country.

• Provide equitable access to microdata in the interest of all citizens, by protecting

confidentiality and following international recommendations and good

practice.

• Promote the effective use of existing survey and census data for statistical and research

purposes, thereby encouraging a diverse range of analytical work through

secondary research.

National Data Archive (NADA) ….

1. National Data Archive (NADA)

• Ensures the long term preservation of micro data and the related metadata and their

continued viability and usability in the future.

• The NDA pursues the objectives within the framework of the national statistics

legislation (Statistics Act 1958 of Nepal) and of the United Nations Fundamental

Principles of Statistics.

NATIONAL DATA ARCHIVE

Problems & Challenges

1. Lack of Coordination among data producing agencies

- Inactiveness of NSC & existing organizational structure of Central Bureau of

Statistics

- Lack of a standardized protocol in the statistical system to tackle the problems of

duplication of data collection activities

- Execution of statistical activities in Ministries and Departments by non-Statisticians

- Non-responsive of CBS toward credibility, reliability and authenticity of the data

produced by other than CBS

Problems & Challenges…

2. Lack of Skilled Human Resources and Infrastructure

- GIS, IT related - System and network administrators, software

development

- Inability to implement Survey Clearance System

- Inability to implement Designated Statistical System

- Mind-set of the higher officials toward Statistics

- Lower preference for statistics in government program

- Under funding

- Data gap and lack of quality data

- Duplication of efforts/statistical activities

- Lack of coordination among statistical agencies