Thirty-sixth Session of the UN Thirty-sixth Session of the UN Statistical CommissionStatistical Commission

1-4 March 20051-4 March 2005New York, USANew York, USA

Keeping Pace with Development: Keeping Pace with Development: Challenges for the National Statistical Challenges for the National Statistical

System of I.R. IranSystem of I.R. Iran

Hamidreza NavabpourHamidreza NavabpourStatistical Center of IranStatistical Center of Iran

IntroductionIntroduction

The latest statistical Law in Iran dates back to The latest statistical Law in Iran dates back to 1975.1975.

Based on the 1975 Law, the statistical system of Based on the 1975 Law, the statistical system of Iran is centralized, led by the Statistical Center of Iran is centralized, led by the Statistical Center of

Iran (SCI).Iran (SCI).

The SCI is affiliated to the Management and The SCI is affiliated to the Management and Planning Organization (MPO) which is headed by a Planning Organization (MPO) which is headed by a Vice President. Therefore, the President indirectly Vice President. Therefore, the President indirectly supervises the National Statistical System (NSS). supervises the National Statistical System (NSS).

According to the Law, the statistical system of According to the Law, the statistical system of Iran is illustrated by the following chart. Iran is illustrated by the following chart.

Organizational Chart of the National Organizational Chart of the National Statistical System Statistical System

President

Management and Planning Organization

Statistical Center of IranHigh Council of

StatisticsGovernment

AgenciesStatistical Research

Center

Deputies of the SCI

Director Generals of the SCI

AdvisoryCouncil

ExpertCommitteeSpecialized

Commission

30 Provincial Offices

Statistical Center of IranStatistical Center of Iran

Within the system, the SCI is indirectly connected to Within the system, the SCI is indirectly connected to other government agencies ( through the High Council other government agencies ( through the High Council

of Statistics). of Statistics).

The nominee for presiding SCI is proposed to the The nominee for presiding SCI is proposed to the President by the Head of the MPO. When accepted, the President by the Head of the MPO. When accepted, the nominated person will be appointed as the Head of the nominated person will be appointed as the Head of the

SCI for an indefinite period. SCI for an indefinite period.

Main duties of the SCIMain duties of the SCI

Implementation of demographic, economic, and social Implementation of demographic, economic, and social censuses and sample surveys and dissemination of censuses and sample surveys and dissemination of

results;results; Provision of statistical data to meet national development Provision of statistical data to meet national development

planplanningning requirements; requirements; Provision of technical advice to statistical departments of Provision of technical advice to statistical departments of

ministries, government agencies and/or government ministries, government agencies and/or government affiliated bodies, state-owned companies, and – whenever affiliated bodies, state-owned companies, and – whenever

possible – to private sector agencies; possible – to private sector agencies; Preparation and compilation of standards, methods, and Preparation and compilation of standards, methods, and

regulations for statistical data production and regulations for statistical data production and dissemination;dissemination;

Implementation of scientific studies and researchImplementation of scientific studies and researcheses on on official statistics and related issues for quality official statistics and related issues for quality

improvement of the SCI's performance; andimprovement of the SCI's performance; and Compilation of required statistical data obtained from Compilation of required statistical data obtained from

public and private sectors and centralized documentation public and private sectors and centralized documentation of administrative records. of administrative records.

High Council of Statistics (HCS)High Council of Statistics (HCS)

The HCS is composed of deputies for planning of 10 The HCS is composed of deputies for planning of 10 Ministries and Central Bank. Head of the MPO is Ministries and Central Bank. Head of the MPO is

Head of the HCS and its secretary is the Head of the Head of the HCS and its secretary is the Head of the SCI.SCI.

Main duties of the HCS:Main duties of the HCS: SStudying short- and mid-term plans of the NSS;tudying short- and mid-term plans of the NSS; Studying statistical production priorities of the Studying statistical production priorities of the

NSSNSS; and; and Studying national statistical plans to ensure their Studying national statistical plans to ensure their compliance with the general policies and statistical compliance with the general policies and statistical

prioritiespriorities..

The approvals of the HCS are mandatory for The approvals of the HCS are mandatory for government agencies and they are bound to follow government agencies and they are bound to follow

them.them.

Advisory CouncilAdvisory Council

Advisory Council in the SCI is composed of survey Advisory Council in the SCI is composed of survey statisticians and academics in economics, statisticians and academics in economics,

demography and IT. The Council is responsible for demography and IT. The Council is responsible for reviewing all existing procedures and providing reviewing all existing procedures and providing

rectifying comments aimed at their improvement rectifying comments aimed at their improvement as well as presenting consultative comments on as well as presenting consultative comments on

procedures in case of the SCI’s Head request.procedures in case of the SCI’s Head request.

Expert CommitteeExpert Committee

Expert Committee is composed of the SCI’s young Expert Committee is composed of the SCI’s young experts from different departments in order to experts from different departments in order to

study official statistics. Whenstudy official statistics. When they find something they find something new and useful they implement a feasibility new and useful they implement a feasibility

study. When they find the case feasible, the case study. When they find the case feasible, the case will be referred (by the Head) to the responsible will be referred (by the Head) to the responsible

department for planning and implementation.department for planning and implementation.

Statistical Research CenterStatistical Research Center

Statistical Research Center is affiliated to the SCI. Statistical Research Center is affiliated to the SCI. The Center is responsible for statistical capacity The Center is responsible for statistical capacity

building of the NSS through:building of the NSS through: Conducting workshops and short-training Conducting workshops and short-training

courses on official statisticscourses on official statistics Implementing researches on official statistics Implementing researches on official statistics

Challenges for the NSS (1)

The tenure of the Head of the SCI is not specified, therefore The tenure of the Head of the SCI is not specified, therefore the preparation and fulfillment of mid and long-term the preparation and fulfillment of mid and long-term

statistical plans, such as National Strategy for the statistical plans, such as National Strategy for the Development of Statistics (NSDS), looks a challenging task.Development of Statistics (NSDS), looks a challenging task.

Statistical literacy and culture:Statistical literacy and culture:- Some of respondents are less aware of the applications of - Some of respondents are less aware of the applications of

the statistical data, consequently, they sometimes show the statistical data, consequently, they sometimes show little interest to fully cooperate in the surveys. little interest to fully cooperate in the surveys.

- Evidence-based management is not so widely applied, - Evidence-based management is not so widely applied, therefore, the demand for the statistical data and their therefore, the demand for the statistical data and their

applications are limited and insufficient.applications are limited and insufficient. The legal restrictions on the increase of the manpower of the The legal restrictions on the increase of the manpower of the

government has forced the Center to turn to the private government has forced the Center to turn to the private sector for collecting and entry of the statistical data. This sector for collecting and entry of the statistical data. This

outsourcing presents challenges with regard to data outsourcing presents challenges with regard to data confidentiality and quality.confidentiality and quality.

Challenges for the NSS (2)

Private sector in Iran is not capable of meeting the national Private sector in Iran is not capable of meeting the national requirements for official statistics. requirements for official statistics.

There is no statistical field of study with special reference to There is no statistical field of study with special reference to official statistics in Iranian universities; hence, it seems official statistics in Iranian universities; hence, it seems

necessary for the graduates in statistical disciplines to receive necessary for the graduates in statistical disciplines to receive some pre-service trainings on official statistics after their some pre-service trainings on official statistics after their

recruitment in the NSS.recruitment in the NSS. The Central Bank of the I.R. Iran independently produces The Central Bank of the I.R. Iran independently produces statistics, such as national accounts and price indices, while, statistics, such as national accounts and price indices, while,

according to the Statistical Law, the SCI is assigned to produce according to the Statistical Law, the SCI is assigned to produce them. them.

Absence of the experienced statistical departments in the Absence of the experienced statistical departments in the government agencies has caused calculation of the MDGs government agencies has caused calculation of the MDGs

indicators to face challenges. It is noteworthy that out of 48 indicators to face challenges. It is noteworthy that out of 48 indicators of the MDGs, 36 indicators are applicable to Iran of indicators of the MDGs, 36 indicators are applicable to Iran of

which 20 indicators are completely or partially calculated by the which 20 indicators are completely or partially calculated by the SCI.SCI.

Absence of a register-based statistical system for production of Absence of a register-based statistical system for production of required statistics has led to too much reliance on the surveys.required statistics has led to too much reliance on the surveys.

What have we done to overcome these What have we done to overcome these challenges?challenges?

Preparing an NSDS:Preparing an NSDS:

At the beginning of the work, 9 working At the beginning of the work, 9 working groups were formed and each group studied groups were formed and each group studied the existing situation in its own field of work the existing situation in its own field of work and prepared a vision for a better situation. and prepared a vision for a better situation.

Each of them developed a strategic plan.Each of them developed a strategic plan.

Nine Working Groups are:Nine Working Groups are:

1.1. Information Technology (IT) DevelopmentInformation Technology (IT) Development2.2. Statistical Data ProductionStatistical Data Production

3.3. The Organization of the Foundations of Statistical The Organization of the Foundations of Statistical SystemSystem

4.4. ManpowerManpower5.5. Statistical ResearchStatistical Research

6.6. Improved Data QualityImproved Data Quality7.7. Statistical StandardsStatistical Standards

8.8. Promotion of Statistical Literacy and CulturePromotion of Statistical Literacy and Culture9.9. Register-based Statistics Register-based Statistics

OutputsOutputs

Assessment of the current situationsAssessment of the current situations VisionsVisions Strategic plansStrategic plans

What do we need to do?What do we need to do?

Action plansAction plans ImplementationImplementation Monitoring and evaluationMonitoring and evaluation