Statistical Capacity Building Programme for the Constituents of National Statistical Systems of OIC Member Countries

Strengthening the statistical capacities of national statistical systems of OIC Member States through South-South and triangular cooperation

Towards a Solution

Against this background, the Statistical, Economic and Social Research and Training Centre for Islamic Countries (SESRIC) carries out a flagship statistical capacity development initiative entitled ‘Statistical Capacity Building (StatCaB) Programme for the Constituents of the National Statistical Systems of OIC Member Countries’. Initiated in early 2007, the StatCaB programme of SESRIC aims to strengthen and improve the national statistical systems (NSSs) of OIC Member States to produce better national statistics, thereby assisting policymakers in improving national policies and implementing national, regional and global development plans. The StatCaB programme assists in monitoring the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as prioritized by the OIC Member States in 2018, particularly SDG 1 on poverty; SDG 2 on hunger; SDG 3 on good health and well-being; SDG 4 on education; SDG 5 on gender equality; SDG 8 on decent work and economic growth; SDG 9 on industry, innovation and infrastructure; and SDG 13 on climate action.

The StatCaB programme also strengthens the NSSs of OIC Member States to better achieve the targets of the OIC 2025 Programme of Action. The StatCaB programme collects information by conducting biennial questionnaires in an effort to identify the statistical needs and capacities of the constituents of NSSs. As a result, statistical training courses, study visits and technical missions are organized through South-South and triangular cooperation. Similarity of training needs and capacities, geographical balance and language of instruction are taken into consideration to match OIC Member States so as to enhance the impact and cost-effectiveness of the StatCaB programme.

In line with SDG targets 17.9, 17.18, and 17.19 on partnerships, a total of 309 StatCaB activities were conducted in 50 OIC Member States between 2007 and August 2020, with generous support from 26 OIC Member States and the Economic and Statistical Observatory for Sub-Saharan Africa (AFRISTAT). Approximately 2,000 experts participated in the 242 short-term statistical training courses, 45 study visits, 20 technical missions, and two online statistical training courses organised during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The StatCaB programme was born out of a necessity to cater to the statistical capacity development needs of OIC Member States and proved to be an innovative programme. It relies on the technical expertise of OIC Member States and their willingness to trust and benefit from the expertise of others. SESRIC serves as a facilitator between beneficiary and provider countries to provide the required secretarial and follow-up services. It also contributes co-financing for the organized activities. It is evident that the StatCaB programme can only be sustainable if the OIC Member States are willing to provide and receive statistical capacity development. The relationship established among OIC Member States through the StatCaB programme facilitated by SESRIC must also lead to bilateral cooperation activities. In addition, sufficient resources must be provided to SESRIC to continue financing the StatCaB programme.

In recent years, the number of OIC Member States to have statistical cooperation agreements with SESRIC has increased, whether in the form of memoranda of understanding (MOUs) or commitment letters (CLs). Currently, five OIC countries, including Malaysia, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, the State of Palestine and Uzbekistan, have signed MOUs with SESRIC to assist in statistical capacity development efforts at the OIC. Additionally, SESRIC has signed an MOU or CL with nine international and regional organizations including the Arab Institute for Training and Research in Statistics, AFRISTAT, the International Labour Organization, the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the Islamic Financial Services Board, the Statistical Centre for the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, the United Nations Statistics Division, the World Bank Development Data Group, and the World Tourism Organization. These partnerships mobilize the resources required to meet the statistical capacity development needs of OIC Member States.

This initiative has become the leading capacity development programme for SESRIC and serves as an exemplary model to establish other capacity-building programmes. Provided the target audience has been clearly identified, the SESRIC StatCaB programme can be replicated. When it first began, the StatCaB programme targeted only relevant officials at the national statistics offices of OIC countries. However, to enhance NSSs and to support the global development agenda, SESRIC extended its focus to institutions that produce official statistics, including relevant ministries and government agencies in OIC Member States.