A recently held Caribbean Conference on a Transformative Agenda for Official Statistics was part of a series of regional conferences on the topic, in support of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It was based on the outcome of the High-Level Global Conference organized by United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD) and Eurostat in January 2015 in New York and the recognition by the 46th and 47th sessions of the UN Statistical Commission of the emerging demands for high-quality statistics and the need for modernization of national, regional and international statistical systems. The Caribbean’s conference was held in Bridgetown, Barbados from 7th – 9th of September 2016.
The production of statistics to fulfil the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development will require a different thinking and approach to that taken in previous years. It will call for closer collaboration by the statistics offices in country with all the stakeholders in the National Statistical System (NSS) and more importantly the design and implementation a National Strategy for the Development of Statistics (NSDS) to guide production of quality statistics.
The conference focussed, through presentations, group work and discussion on four areas over the three (3) days. These were:
Session 1: Coordination at and between the Global, (Sub-) Regional and National Statistical Systems, Communication and Advocacy
Session 2: Integrated Statistical Systems: Data Collection, Processing and Dissemination of Integrated Statistics
Session 3: Innovation and Modernization through Standard-Based Statistical Business Architecture
Session 4: Capacity Building and Training
Discussions at this meeting brought closer home to those present that there is need by statistical agencies for cross collaboration with all agencies and stakeholders. There is also need for a the transformation, as it relates to the quality frameworks and measurement of performance of statistical systems and offices, the management and development of human resources/leadership in statistical agencies, the management and development of technological resources and coordination of Statistical work programmes across the country and at the international level.
The Conference was targeting heads of national statistical offices, chief statisticians of international and regional organizations, multilateral and bilateral partners, and other stakeholders.
Anguilla’s participation at this workshop was provided through the kind sponsorship of the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD) and was represented by Chief Statistician Mrs. Lori-Rae Alleyne-Franklin.