The need for statistics
The international development goals have helped to focus global attention on the fight to eliminate abject poverty from the world. Progress toward the goals is measured by 21 quantitative indicators. But these indicators are only part of the picture. All of them are derived from national statistical systems. Effective statistical systems not just to monitor progress toward the goals, they underpin development by providing the basis for rational decision making, macro-economic management, and the efficient allocation of scarce resources.

Despite the greater demand for statistics, there is still a critical shortfall in the national and international efforts to develop appropriate and sustainable statistical capacity. For statistical capacity to be treated as a priority by national governments and international agencies, the awareness of the importance of timely and relevant statistics for policy, management, monitoring, and democratic accountability needs to be raised. And donors need to provide more funding and technical assistance to support national efforts to develop their capacity to produce, analyze and use statistics.

Programs to increase statistical capacity
The Partnership in Development for Statistics in the 21st Century (PARIS21) is a consortium of international organizations, countries, NGOs, and individuals who are working together to increase statistical capacity in developing countries. To find out more about its work, click here: http://www.paris21.org

The International Monetary Fund has an extensive program of technical assistance in statistics. It encourages member countries to adopt standard practices in compiling and reporting statistics and strongly recommends public dissemination of statistical information. Click here to go to the IMF Data Dissemination Standards Bulletin Board: http://dsbb.imf.org

The World Bank works in many countries to improve statistical systems. The
map below shows projects currently under way.

The World Bank has over 200 active loans and credits that include some element of statistical capacity building. The value of the loans and credits is over $11 billion, but in most cases statistical work is only a small fraction of the total. The largest single loan for statistical capacity building is $58.5 million to Russia. In addition the World Bank has given grants totaling $7.7 million to 18 countries to assist them in improving their statistical systems.