National data provide a snapshot of progress in a country. At the global level, national statistics are aggregated to provide a global snapshot of where the world is as a whole. Results measurement at the global level is made difficult by the wide variety of performance indicators used at the country level – making comparisons between countries difficult.

In the water supply and sanitation sector, the World Bank has been working with the UNICEF-WHO Joint Monitoring Program to increase consistency between the data collection instruments used in the water and sanitation sector. The FAO program AQUASTAT provides a global information system for irrigation and drainage. In the broader water sector, the United Nations Environment Programme has started an initiative to compile water statistics that different agencies collect for all types of water uses.

The Bank’s World Development Indicators provide a collection of the most important country statistics on water supply and sanitation, water resources management, irrigation and drainage and hydropower. These are accessible in a searchable format on the data and statistics page.

However, country data are of limited use as a planning tool for local policy makers. The meaningful monitoring unit for decision making is subnational. In order to set and monitor programs, policymakers require disaggregated data gathered by local jurisdictions. Often, special information is required to respond to the needs of the poor, who often do not show up as a disaggregated unit in consumer databases or even in survey and census information.

A balance has to been found between investing in monitoring and acknowledging the inaccuracy of the data. Investments in better monitoring will only improve future data to some extent, as the current limitations of monitoring systems are hard to fix. Missing data and the lack of reliable statistics will continue to be a limitation to monitoring progress. Efforts should be focused at country level and aim to improve monitoring tools to ensure data is available for better planning at subnational levels

Adequate statistical capacity at the country level is critical to country-led implementation of poverty reduction strategies. Therefore, the World Bank plays a leading role in strengthening statistical capacity to collect and use data, and measure progress toward core development outcomes. To assist countries in improving their statistical capacity, the Bank has established the STATCAP program. 

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