The Proposed Action Plan for Improving Development Statistics

The Second Roundtable on Better Measuring, Monitoring, and Managing for Development Results took place in Marrakech, Morocco in February 2004. Nearly 200 participants from aid organizations and developing countries met in a roundtable to assess progress, focus on the challenges countries face in managing for results, and attempt to increase the political commitment of the international community to support the global results agenda. The Roundtable participants endorsed the core principles and a global action plan on managing for development results.

Better statistics remain an important part of the results agenda. Managing for results requires timely and reliable statistics at the country and global level. Many countries need greater capacity to produce reliable statistics and make use of them for effective decision-making. To help improve the availability and quality of basic data, since the first Roundtable on Results in 2002, the statistical community has been working to improve national and international statistical systems. A number of initiatives are showing progress, but much more needs to be done if better data for evidence-based planning and global monitoring are to be available for the 2005 and 2010 reviews of the MDGs and the 2015 target year.

Drawing on operational work, special studies, and the experience of partners, the attached documents outline recommended short- and medium-term actions consistent with long-term, sustainable improvements in national and international statistical capacity. The actions are interdependent: improvements in national statistical systems will lead to improved international statistics, while a more effective international system could provide more consistent advice and better support for improving national statistics.

The first set of recommendations address national needs:

• Mainstream strategic planning of statistical systems and prepare national statistical development strategies for all low-income countries by 2006
• Begin preparations for the 2010 census round
• Increase financing for statistical capacity building

The second set address international responsibilities:

• Set up an international Household Survey Network
• Undertake urgent improvements needed for MDG monitoring by 2005
• Increase accountability of the international statistical system

These recommendations are described in the attached documents: