Consensus has been reached internationally on the centrality of an holistic, strategic approach to improving national statistical systems to provide the information needed for poverty-focused development programmes. For instance, the Second International Roundtable on Managing for Development Results in February 2004 and the resulting Marrakech Action Plan on Managing for Development Results set out the aim that "National Statistical Systems can meet the monitoring and evaluation requirements of PRSPs, MDGs and other national development plans" through "integrated statistical plans covering all data sectors and users" and to increase the "number of countries with a fully costed, integrated statistical action plan". The Marrakech Action Plan for Statistics (MAPS) was even more specific in recommending "Mainstreaming strategic planning of statistical systems and preparing national strategies for the development of statistics (NSDS) for all low income countries by 2006".

The concepts of strategic planning for statistics have evolved over the past two decades but recognition of the needs for strategic approaches are not new. A number of international initiatives have addressed these needs, for instance as long ago as the late 1980s when the Addis Ababa Plan of Action for Statistics in the 1990s (prepared by UNECA) was based around demand-driven, user-focused national statistical development plans. A number of countries have worked to develop their statistical systems in this way, including with international support, and subsequent international initiatives and programmes have been relevant to -- and helped to develop -- strategic approaches to the development of national statistics in developing countries. These include: the General Data Dissemination System (GDDS), Multi-annual Integrated Statistical Programme (MISP), the third edition of the UN Handbook of Statistical Organisation and most recently the STATCAP Master Plan (SMP) and NSDSs.

These approaches are complementary and specific to particular situations. Each seeks to take the agenda forward in their specific domain: e.g. MISPs mainly in the former Soviet Union, SMPs in countries seeking an IDA loan for statistics, GDDS initially for quality and access to economic and financial data (now broader). There is no competition between them, and none is needed.

For its part, PARIS21 focuses its efforts on encouraging -- through its regional programmes, advocacy efforts, and partnership and reporting activities -- all low-income countries to design and implement National Strategies for the Development of Statistics (NSDS) and to have nationally owned and produced data for all MDG indicators. Countries need to have an overall vision of the development of their national statistical system which will include the national, regional, and international needs; be part of the country development and poverty reduction policy; serve as a framework for international and bilateral assistance; include all parts of the data production units and address the issues related to the analysis and use of data; follow the international standards including quality; and build on all past and existing activities and experiences.

An NSDS is expected to provide a country with a strategy for strengthening statistical capacity across the entire national statistical system (NSS). The NSDS will provide a vision for where the NSS should be in five to ten years and will set milestones for getting there. It will present a comprehensive and unified framework for continual assessment of evolving user needs and priorities for statistics and for building the capacity needed to meet these needs in a more coordinated, synergistic and efficient manner. It will also provide a framework for mobilising, harnessing and leveraging resources (both national and international) and a basis for effective and results-oriented strategic management of the NSS.

A website devoted exclusively to NSDS, aiming at presenting a comprehensive set of information and knowledge related to statistical capacity building in developing countries, provides detailed information on the NSDS process for some 80 developing countries, along with materials of methodological guidance and sample advocacy brochures. The site can be accessed at the following page: http://www.oecd.org/paris21/nsds/.