C A R I B B E A N                          C O M M U N I T Y                          S E C R E T A R I A T

 

THIRTY- FIRST MEETING OF                                                                                        

THE STANDING COMMITTEE OF

CARIBBEAN STATISTICIANS                                                       SCCS/2006/31/3

 

Port-of-Spain, Trinidad                                                    

6-8 November 2006                                                                          9 October 2006

 

 

 

STATISTICS IN DEVELOPMENT PLANNING IN THE OECS

Discussion Paper

 

Vasantha Chase

Director, Social and Sustainable Development

and

Sean Curtis Mathurin

Economic Affairs Officer, Economic Affairs Division

 

 

 

 

 

 

1.    BACKGROUND........................................................................................................................ 4

2.    INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................................... 5

3.    THE STATUS QUO................................................................................................................... 5

3.a.     Operations of OECS Statistical Offices.........................................................6

3.b.    Legal Framework Guiding OECS Statistical Offices..................................9

3.c.    Structure and Functions of OECS Statistical Offices.............................9

3.d.    Equipment Stock in OECS Statistical Offices................................................ 13

3.e.     Surveys Conducted by the OECS Statistical offices................................14

A.     Economic Surveys............................................................................................................................................... 14

B.     Social Surveys...................................................................................................................................................... 18

C.     Databases and Administrative Information............................................................................................. 22

4.    THE ANALYSIS....................................................................................................................... 23

5.    CONCLUSION........................................................................................................................ 25

 

 

 

1.      BACKGROUND

The OECS region has been "pigeonholed" by International Organisations, Development Donor Partners, Investors and the like as a region deficient in the production, compilation and application of relevant, timely and reliable statistics. Consequently, the region is more often than not disadvantaged and unprepared to avail themselves of and partake successfully in negotiations and to seize potential opportunities. Additionally, the region's capacity to strategize and monitor successful development initiatives is hamstrung by the lacking acknowledgment of the importance of statistics to development planning. The root cause of this inadequacy and failure is indisputably linked to the sub-region's inability to move to a level where the production, compilation and utilization of relevant, timely and reliable statistics would guide and inform decision-making, policies and development planning. Compounding this is the prevailing culture which is not conducive to the dissemination of data.

 

A procedural and mindset change, vis-à-vis the warranted importance of statistics in guiding and informing policies and decisions, are necessary to bring about any deviation from the prevailing irregular significance presently characterising the operations and functions of central statistical offices.  For statistics to play its important role as a public good, statistical systems must make a significant contribution to national development by implementing a strategy that will serve to bring together the most important indicators and data sets within a coherent framework.

 

This paper has been prepared with three main objectives in mind.  The first objective is to identify the causes that have resulted in a serious lack of statistical data in the OECS; the second objective seeks to put to bed the sometimes vexatious argument of the relevance of economic statistics over social statistics; and the third objective is to identify a series of inter-related recommendations for producing statistical information that is accurate, timely and which can be used for evidenced based planning and decision-making.  It attempts to evaluate and summarise, into a single document, the various studies and analyses that have been undertaken of the structure and functioning of central statistical offices in the OECS.  Secondly, the paper itemises the various surveys conducted by central statistical offices, very often in collaboration with other government agencies and departments.

 

2.      INTRODUCTION

Statistical information can no longer be about number crunching; it is about producing a "public good" (UNECLAC, LC/CAR/L.69 19 December 2005).   Based on this premise, this discussion paper is divided into three parts:  The first part summarises a number of surveys on the status of central statistical offices in the OECS, including reports that had been produced by the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) and UNECLAC in 2005; the second part undertakes an evaluation of the results of the surveys and other reports and makes a case for a new vision for the planning, collection and reporting of statistical information in the OECS region.  The third part provides recommendations for an avant garde change necessary for statistics to make a significant contribution to the overall national development effort.

 

 

3.      THE STATUS QUO^[1]

In December 2005, UNECLAC conducted a survey of   statistical offices in the all the Caribbean Development and Cooperation Committee (CDCC) member countries as well as Bermuda, the Cayman Islands and the Turks & Caicos Islands.  The purpose of this survey was to provide a snapshot of the framework, legal and institutional, existing in these countries. The survey was also designed to provide information on staff qualifications and training, available equipment, an inventory of data series collected and published and an insight into the level of technology in use in statistical agencies.   For purposes of this discussion paper, only some tables will be reproduced and that too, only for the OECS States.

 

In addition to the UNECLAC Survey, the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) also embarked on a Statistical Capacity Building Indicators (SCBI) Survey^[2] in the Member States^[3] in 2005.  The purpose of this survey was (a) to develop a set of qualitative and quantitative indicators to assist in the identification of capacity gaps and; (b) to monitor the progress of Member States' initiatives in building their statistical capacities. 

 

 

3.a. Operations of OECS Statistical Offices

The findings of the ECCB survey revealed vast disparities in the budgetary expenditure on statistical functions (ranging from EC $21,000 to EC $1.8 million), size of the office (ranging from 5 to 35 staff members), number of PCs/Laptop in use (ranging from 8 to 30) and number of staff with individual work email address (ranging from 0 to 35). The overall ratings of Statistical Offices based on the qualitative Statistical Capacity Indicators (SCBI) were all the more telling. The ECCB report on the results of the SCBI survey revealed the following:

 

"Based on the responses from the countries and applying the PARIS21 four-scale assessment level rating, Dominica received 3.68 average on the four-scale assessment level, indicating that its statistical system is moderately to highly developed. Montserrat and St Vincent and the Grenadines averaged 3.56 and 3.51 respectively, indicating moderately developed systems. St. Lucia (3.29), Anguilla (3.21) and Antigua and Barbuda (3.13) have slightly moderately developed systems. Grenada and St. Kitts received 2.73 and 2.60 respectively, indicating developing to moderately developed systems.^[4]

 

Listed below are the results of the SCBI in tabular format:

 

Table 1:

Overall Rating of Statistical Offices based on the qualitative Statistical Capacity Indicators

 

Country	Statistical Capacity Indicator
Dominica	3.68
Montserrat	3.56
St Vincent & The Grenadines	3.51
St Lucia	3.29
Anguilla	3.21
Antigua & Barbuda	3.13
Grenada	2.73
St Kitts &Nevis	2.60

Source: ECCB, 2005.

 

 

Of the central statistical offices surveyed in the UNECLAC study, Anguilla, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, the Netherlands Antilles, Saint Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, operate as Central Statistical Organizations (CSOs) with the sole responsibility and authority for the collection and dissemination of data. The Antigua and Barbuda and St. Kitts and Nevis agencies do not operate as CSOs. In addition, the offices in Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, Kitts/Nevis, and Saint Lucia are operated as departments within a ministry. In St. Vincent and the Grenadines, the central statistical office functions as a unit within a government department. In most cases the head of the statistics agency reported to an official at the level of Permanent Secretary.^[5]  No information was available for the British Virgin Islands.

 

 

Table 2:

Organisational Structure of OECS Statistical Offices

 

Country	Parent Organisation	Reporting Lines
Anguilla	Ministry of Economic Development, Investment, Commerce & Tourism	Permanent Secretary
Antigua and Barbuda[6]	Ministry of Finance & the Economy	Financial Secretary
BVI	Development Planning Unit, Chief Minister's Office	Permanent Secretary
Dominica	Ministry of Finance & Planning	Financial Secretary
Grenada	Ministry of Finance	Permanent Secretary
Montserrat	Development Unit, Ministry of Finance & Economic Development	Permanent Secretary
St. Kitts and Nevis	Ministry of Sustainable Development	Permanent Secretary
Saint Lucia	Finance, International Financial Services & Economic Affairs	Permanent Secretary
St. Vincent and the Grenadines	Ministry of Finance & Planning	Director of Planning

Source:   Modified from UNECLAC 2005

 

Antigua and Barbuda, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines reported that other agencies were engaged in the collection and dissemination of data. Given the OECS Secretariat's own experience, it is safe to say that this is also true in all the other Member States. The agencies involved mostly included the ministries of agriculture, education, health, and labour, of these, only the Antigua and Barbuda office reported that they had any input into the functioning of the other agencies on the island involved in the compilation of statistics The statistics office reportedly provided "guidelines re: best practices and the implementation of universal/conventional statistical standards, schemes, formats for data collection, compilation, analyses, and dissemination". This is surprising, particularly if the statistics offices in these countries relied on those other agencies for input into data series which they compiled.

 

In terms of the preparation of and the expenditure of approved budgets Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, and Saint Lucia are responsible for the preparation of their annual budgets. All of the offices, with the exception of the one in Antigua and Barbuda are free to spend the approved budget without further approval.

 

 

Table 3:

Budgetary Expenditure on Statistical Functions in EC$ 000s

 

Country	Current Expenditure	Capital Expenditure	Personal Emoluments	Donor Expenditure
Anguilla	21.00		252.00
Antigua and Barbuda
Dominica
Grenada	223.98	1,250.00	560.24
Montserrat
St Kitts and Nevis	33.00	40.00	44.40
St Lucia	1,800.00		1,100.00	1,800.00
St. Vincent and the Grenadines

Source: ECCB Statistical Capacity Building Indicators Survey (SCBI), 2005.

 

The UNECLAC survey asked the respondents to identify problems they encountered during data collection.  The responses received are worth repeating here:

• Better assurances to suppliers of information on the Confidentiality of data;
• More public awareness programmes on the need and usage of reliable data;
• Speedy release of data after collection;
• More public access to analysed data;

• More interaction between data collectors and data suppliers;
• More staff for data collection, compilation, and analyses;
• More user friendly products;
• Use of electronic media/technology for data collection and dissemination;
• Better interpretation of numerical data for public consumption^[7];
• Better enforcement of existing penalties; and
• More focus on policy applications of data and statistics.

 

 

3.b. Legal Framework Guiding OECS Statistical Offices

Table 4:

Statistical Acts in Effect in OECS States^[8]

 

Country	Availability of Act/Law	Name of Act/Law	Year Enacted	Year of Revision
Anguilla	YES	Statistics Act	1969	2000
Antigua and Barbuda	YES	General Statistics Act	1975
BVI	YES	The Virgin Islands Statistical Act	2005
Dominica	YES	Census and Statistics Act	1959	1986
Grenada	YES	Statistics Ordinance	1960	1991
Montserrat	YES	Statistics Ordinance	1973
St. Kitts and Nevis	YES	Statistical Act	1971
Saint Lucia	YES	Statistics Act	1973
St. Vincent and the Grenadines	YES	Census and Statistics Act	1983

 

 

Statistics offices in OECS Member States are all governed by statistics acts which give them wide-ranging powers of collection, compilation and dissemination of data. These offices can therefore decide what data sets to collect and the importance they place on their collection. They do not, however, have any provisions which currently allow them ready access to resources that would permit them to carry out this mandate. As a result, most offices suffer from severe staff shortages. The functions of all the Central Statistical Offices in the OECS are governed by old laws^[9] which are very similar in content and in text.  It is therefore not surprising that their functions are also very similar.

 

The current laws are, however, inadequate:

• The fine for the refusal to provide information is too low^[10];
• The legislation provides insufficient  mandate to the statistical offices to cover a wider and more detailed range of data sets;
• It does not ensure that the information collected is used for statistical purposes only; and
• The legislation is silent on some of the more pertinent administrative arrangements necessary for data collection, compilation and dissemination across sectors and between agencies^[11].

 

 

3.c. Structure and Functions of OECS Statistical Offices

The functions of statistical agencies are set by the various laws either by direct mention of the agency or by the duties assigned to the head of the agency. In general, the laws list four main functions. They are as follows:

 

a)      To take any census;

b)      To collect, compile, analyse, abstract and publish statistical information relating to the social, agricultural, mining, commercial, industrial and general activities and conditions of the inhabitants;

c)      To collaborate with departments of the government in the collection, compilation, analysis and publication of statistical records of administration; and

d)      Generally, to organize a coordinated scheme of social and economic statistics.

 

Table 5:

Resources for Statistical Offices

 

Country	Number of Staff	Vacancies	Number of Staff-attended Training	Number of training courses conducted by Stats Office	Number of PCs/Laptop in Use	Number of PCs with Internet Access	Number of staff with individual work email address	Local area-network available (Y=YES, N=NO)
Anguilla	5	1	6	Over 5	8	8	ALL	N (WAN)
Antigua and Barbuda	35	5	2		20	5	35	Y
Dominica	12	0	1		13	9	14	Y
Grenada	22	1	0	0	15	14	0	Y
Montserrat	6	0	1	0	7	7	6	Y
St Kitts and Nevis	11	4	0	0	13	13	0	Y
St Lucia	35	0	7	2	30	27	15	Y
St Vincent and the Grenadines	15	2			10	3		Y

 

 

Table 6:

Functions of Central Statistical Agencies ^[12]

 

Country	Functions
Anguilla	·          To collect, compile, analyse abstract and publish statistical information on commercial, industrial, social, economic and general activities and conditions of the people of Anguilla. ·          To collaborate with all other Government departments and with local authorities in the collection, computation and publication of statistical records of administration. ·          Organise a coordinated scheme of social and economic statistics and intelligence pertaining to Anguilla.
Antigua and Barbuda	·          To collect, compile, analyse, abstract and publish statistics portraying various aspects of the social, demographic and economic conditions of the people of Antigua and Barbuda. ·          To compile and publish national income accounts and estimates for Antigua and Barbuda. ·          To carry out such censuses and surveys in relation to the subjects listed in the Schedule and as may be necessary from time to time for the purposes of the above.
British Virgin Island	Provide quality, accurate and timely information to policy makers to guide the planning process. Collaborate with other government agencies and the private sector alike to gather data thereby allowing us to maintain quality, accuracy and timeliness in the delivery of services. Develop and maintain a comprehensive and accurate economics and statistics database from which requests can readily be addressed.
Dominica	to collect, compile, analyse, abstract and publish statistics portraying various aspects of the social, demographic and economic conditions of the people of the State.  to compile and publish national income accounts and estimates of the State.  to carry out such censuses and surveys in relation to subjects listed in the Schedule hereto as may be desirable from time to time for the purposes of a and b.
Grenada	·         The CSO is charge with the responsibility for compiling statistics over a broad range of subjects - population censuses, economic and social statistics.
Montserrat	·          To take any census in the Colony. ·          To collect, compile, analyse, abstract and publish statistical information relating to the social, agricultural, mining, commercial, industrial and general activities and conditions of the inhabitants of the Colony. ·          To collaborate with departments of Government in the collection, compilation, analysis and publication of statistical records of administrations and departments. ·          To organize a coordinated scheme of social and economic statistics relating to the Colony.
St. Kitts and Nevis	·          To collect, compile, analyse, abstract and publish statistical information relative to the commercial, industrial, social, economic and general activities and conditions who are inhabitants of this State. ·          To collaborate with all other departments of Government and with local authorities in the collection, computation and publication of statistical records of administration. ·          To take any census in the State. ·          To organize a coordinated scheme of social and economic statistics and intelligence pertaining to the State.
Saint Lucia	·          To take any census in this Island. ·          To collect, compile, analyse, abstract and publish statistical information relating to the social, agricultural, mining, commercial, industrial and general activities and conditions of the inhabitants. ·          To collaborate with departments of Government and with local authorities in the collection, compilation, analysis and publication of statistical records of administrations and departments. ·          To organize a coordinated scheme of social and economic statistics relating to this Island.
St. Vincent and the Grenadines	To    collect,    compile,    analyse,   abstract   and publish statistical information relative to the agricultural, commercial,    industrial, financial, social and general activities and conditions of the inhabitants of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.    To collaborate with the departments of the Government in the collection, compilation and publication of statistical records of administration. To take any census of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines as provided in the Act. Generally to organise a scheme of coordinated social and economic statistics pertaining to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

Source: Modified from UNECLAC (2005)

 

 

Table 7:

Staffing Patterns in Statistical Offices in OECS States

	Anguilla	Antigua and Barbuda	British Virgin Islands	Dominica	Grenada	Montserrat	St. Kitts and Nevis	Saint Lucia	St. Vincent and the Grenadines	Total
DEGREE	3	5	6	4	5	3	4	8	7	45
With subject matter training	3	3	2	4	5	3	4	8	4	36
Male		1	1		2		2	5	1	12
Female	3	2	1	4	3	3	2	3	3	24
Without subject matter training		2	4						3	9
Male		1	1						1	3
Female		1	3						2	6
NON DEGREE	3	37		9	30	3	10	34	9	135
With subject matter training	3	37		7	4	2	3	13	4	73
Male		8		4	2		1	3	3	21
Female	3	29		3	2	2	2	10	1	52
Without subject matter training				2	26	1	7	21	5	62
Male				1	10		2	5	2	20
Female				1	16	1	5	26	3	52
TOTAL STAFF	6	42	6	13	35	6	24	42	16	190
With subject matter training	6	40	2	9	11	5	30	21	8	132
Male		9	1	3	4		14	8	4	43
Female	6	31	1	6	7	5	16	13	4	89
Without subject matter training		2	4	2	26	1	7	21	8	71
Male		1	1		10		2	5	3	22
Female		1	3	2	16	1	5	16	5	49
% with Degree	50	12	100	31	14	50	29	19	44
% with Subject matter Training	100	95	66	85	26	83	50	50	50
% Female	100	76	66	69	60	100	64	69	56
Optimum staff levels [13]	10	55	8	15	50	12	24	44	21

Source: Modified from UNECLAC (2005)

 

 

 

3.d. Equipment Stock in OECS Statistical Offices

When the stock of equipment available to Statistical agencies is examined Anguilla, Grenada, Montserrat were satisfied with their equipment stock. In Anguilla, Montserrat, and St. Kitts/Nevis, the Turks the ratio of computers to staff was 1.00 or higher; Dominica had a ratios of 0.92. Interestingly, calculators still feature prominently in the equipment stock of Statistical Agencies despite the advances made in obtaining computers for their staff. Internet availability to staff is on the increase and networking technology has allowed agencies to provide printing capabilities to staff without a proliferation of stand alone printers.

 

 

Table 8:

Resource Constraint for Statistical Functions

 

	Population	Staff/1000 population	1 PC to Number of Staff	1 Internet Access to Number of Staff
Anguilla	12,200	0.41	0.75	0.75
Antigua and Barbuda	80,139	0.44	2.00	8.00
Dominica	69,810	0.17	0.92	1.33
Grenada	104,490	0.21	1.53	1.64
Montserrat	4,681	1.28	0.86	0.86
St Kitts and Nevis	47,928	0.23	1.15	1.15
St Lucia	162,434	0.22	1.17	1.30
St. Vincent and the Grenadines	100,596	0.15	1.70	5.67

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Source: ECCB Statistical Capacity Building Indicators Survey (SCBI), 2005

 

 

3.e. Surveys Conducted by the OECS Statistical offices

A.    Economic Surveys

Consumer Price surveys and Labour Force surveys are conducted in all the countries. Statistical Agencies have also conducted a Census of Population and Housing within the last five years. Some of the surveys are either household based or involved the survey of persons in an individual capacity. A number of establishment based surveys are also conducted. All OECS States conduct regular National Income and Balance of Payments Surveys: Personnel from the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank assist in the compilation of the results in each of the Member States; they also assist in standardizing the information that is published on national income and balance of payments.

 

In the area of economic statistics, CARTAC^[14] has assisted OECS States in improving the compilation of national accounts through the integrative

 

Table 9:

Data and Information Sources of National Statistics Offices

 

National Statistics Offices
Anguilla	Antigua & Barbuda		Dominica		Grenada	Montserrat	St Kitts & Nevis	St Lucia	St Vincent & The Grenadines
Surveys
Constitutional & Electoral Reform	Census 2001			CPI (monthly)	CWIQ	CPI (monthly)	Labour Force (annual)	Labour Force (annual)
Radio Anguilla Survey	CPI (monthly)			National Accounts (annual)	Labour Force Survey	National Account (annual)	CPI (monthly)	CWIQ (annual)
Adolescent Health Survey	National Accounts (annual)			Labour Force (every 2 or 3 years)	Household Income & Expenditure	BOP (annual)	National Accounts (annual)	Establishment Surveys (annual)
Seat Belt Survey	BOP (annual)			Occupational Wages Survey Force (every 2 years)	CPI (monthly)	Construction Index (annual)	BOP (annual)	National Accounts (annual)
Minimum Wage Survey	Census			Survey of Living Conditions Force (every 3 years)	National Accounts (annual)	Census	Census	BOP (annual)
Reproductive Health Survey				Census	BOP (annual)			CPI (monthly)
Health Client Satisfaction Survey					Census			Census
Anglec Customer Satisfaction Survey
Tertiary Education Needs Survey
CPI (quarterly)
National Accounts (annual)
BOP (annual)
Census
Administrative Data Sources Used
Government Records		Education Planning (annual)				Registry, Physical Planning	Registrar Records (annual)	National Insurance Cooperation	Registry
Statutory Bodies Records		Health Statistics Unit (annual)				Treasury, Inland Revenue	Line Ministries records	Inland Revenue Dept.	Inland Revenue
Stores		Inland Revenue Dept. (annual)				Communication and Works	Statutory Bodies records	Health Statistics Unit
		Customs Dept. (monthly)				Post Office, Social Security		Registry, Births, Deaths, Marriages

Source: ECCB Statistical Building Indicators Survey (SCBI), 2005.

 

mechanism of supply and use tables, improving data collection procedures, methodologies and coverage of the balance of payments, updating the consumer price index and developing a methodology for computing import and export price indices. In addition, CARTAC undertook diagnostic missions, advised on the preparation of GDDS^[15] metadata and assisted in the preparation of short- and medium-term action plans. CARTAC also provides advice in the area of compilation of government finance statistics according to the guidelines of the Revised Government Finance Statistics (GFS) Manual. Training has formed an integral part of the statistics activities. On-the-job instruction given as part of the diagnostic and advisory technical assistance work of CARTAC has complemented the formal training provided through three regional workshops and seminars on national accounts and balance of payments statistics. These activities sensitised participants to harmonized approaches to the compilation of macroeconomic statistics based on international standards and codes of good practice. Collaboratively, the OECS Secretariat and CARTAC have also been providing technical assistance to OECS Member States to compile and produce Export-Import Price Indices. On the subject of Labour Market Surveys, the OECS Secretariat has taken the initiative to conduct a Labour Market Survey (Needs Assessment) in St. Kitts & Nevis to guide and inform the transition process following the closure of the Sugar Industry. It is envisaged by the OECS Secretariat that a comprehensive Labour Market Study will be implemented in the OECS Member States. Additionally, the OECS Secretariat is among the seven (7)^[16] regional agencies embarking on the establishment of a plan for a system of Tourism Satellite Accounts (TSAs) for the region.

 

 

Table 6:

Data Series Collected

 

Source:  Modified from the UNECLAC Survey, 2005

 

      

B.    Social Surveys

There are currently several ongoing donor programs to support statistical activities in the region. Perhaps one of the most important is the MECOVI/SPARC Project which aims to provide an umbrella structure for insuring coordination of donor support to social statistics see Box1. In addition, the UNDP-led Poverty Reduction Trust Fund aims to coordinate donor support for a range of poverty-reducing interventions, particularly the design and monitoring of Poverty Reduction Strategies (PRSs).

 

MECOVI

The OECS MECOVI^[17]Project is designed to generate adequate and high quality information about the living conditions of people, in 6 States in the OECS, in terms of scope, coverage, reliability, timeliness and policy relevance. This kind of information is needed for the design, monitoring and evaluation of policies, programs and projects, aimed at reducing poverty and the promotion of greater social equity. The objective of the MECOVI Regional Training Program is to strengthen the institutional capacity of the personnel in CSOs by upgrading their technical skills and competence in planning, designing, and implementing household surveys. The users of the surveys are trained in up-stream survey activities including advanced training in data analysis and interpretation designed to strengthen their skills in wider poverty analysis.

 

The MECOVI Project is being implemented with a view that it will support the improvements of the Survey of Living Conditions (SLC).  In line with bolstering the improvements of the SLC was a consultancy^[18] directed towards analysing the beneficiary member Countries' capabilities to implement an efficient SLC using new and existing mapping (Enumeration Districts^[19]) and departmental resources. 

 

To date through the MECOVI Project (see Box 1 below for project description), the OECS Secretariat has conducted two regional workshops on:

• Living Standard Measurement Surveys; and
• Data Analysis and Interpretation for Informing Social Policy and Poverty
• Reduction Strategies.

 In addition, national workshops are being conducted on:

• Data Analysis and Interpretation;
• Sampling Methodology; and
• Social Policy Design, Development and Analysis

 

 

 

Country Poverty Assessment

The CDB in collaboration with DFID, the EU and CIDA are presently assisting Member States with formulating a second generation of Country Poverty Assessments (CPA)^[20].  A CPA has three overall objectives. The first is to assess the current living conditions affecting the welfare of people of the State and to analyse the poverty situation; the processes that generate and maintain conditions conducive to poverty, existing responses to the poverty situation; and the means available for effective actions to reduce poverty. The second is to identify the policies, strategies and action programmes that would reduce the extent and severity of poverty in the States; enhance social development; and improve the overall quality of life in the country. The third is to develop recommendations and a programme of action which sets out strategic options for addressing critical issues emerging from the study, including recommendations to improve existing social development interventions, and the institutional and legal framework. 

 

The CPA consists of four main components:

• A Macro-Economic and Social Analysis;
• A composite survey comprised of a Survey of Living Conditions (SLC) and a Household Budgetary Survey (HBS);