Step 1.1 Develop a policy document on the need for the NSDS
The NSDS policy document is the government’s official statement recognizing the need for statistical development and announcing the formulation of the NSDS. The policy document serves to encourage cooperation of all relevant government agencies and advocate for support from other stakeholders .
The policy document should:
- highlight the importance of statistics to the national development agenda and other relevant development policy frameworks including the sustainable development goals;
- identify key issues and challenges in statistics , including the need for sustained capacity development and investment toward a modern national statistical system; and
- explain the rationale for the NSDS and identify the statistical priorities to be addressed during the planning period including specific domains such as subnational, gender, education, disability and agriculture statistics.
- highlight the need for a capacity gap assessment in line with the Capacity Development 4.0 approach
- include the importance of mapping data gaps in the NSS.
Concrete Actions:
- Identify and classify the key stakeholders of statistics according to roles, data uses, development sectors or statistical domains (mapping of stakeholders).
- Knowing and understanding the stakeholders of statistics and their varying roles, capacities and needs will contribute to an NSDS that is relevant, responsive and inclusive
- Have the NSDS policy document approved and endorsed by the highest statistical body , if any exists, and/or the highest statistical authority in your country.
- Disseminate the policy document to key stakeholders and influencers in government, private sector, civil society, academia, and international development partners through official means.
- Transmitting the policy document officially sends a clear message recognizing statistical development as a key policy thrust and priority of the state
- Publish the NSDS policy document on the government’s official website and websites of NSO and other key agencies (or through a link to the NSO website).
- The wide publication of the policy document will ensure reach of the key message and help with statistical advocacy among all other stakeholders of statistics including the public
