Challenges
National planning agencies and statistical offices often do not figuratively speak the same language. Although both are interested in showing results as articulated in national development plans, they are not aligned in terms of procedures and processes used to report these results. National planning agencies tend have an interest in showing progress in policy objectives whereas statistical offices want to assure integrity of applied methodology and assure the accuracy of the indicators used to report progress.
Enhancing statistical coordination in Paraguay
In Paraguay, the Advanced Data Planning Tool (ADAPT) developed by PARIS21 has been instrumental in eliminating the barrier between the national statistical office, Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE), and the planning agency, Secretaria de Planificación (STP).
ADAPT has created a consultative environment for positive change by catalysing communication within the national statistical system (NSS) and especially between the two agencies. The tool has provided a platform for the planning agency and the statistical office to define data gaps and engage in a systematic process of planning and approaching communication in the NSS.
The STP has modified their metadata template for obtaining planning information from the many national agencies involved in implementing the national development plan in order to standardise entry into ADAPT. ADAPT is useful for capturing and harmonising planning metadata especially as it pertains to defining indicators used in a results framework. Applying a template that conforms to the ADAPT structure enhances communication and reporting. It is also standardising the results framework with actors within the NSS.
Implementing the NSDS and monitoring progress
In a webinar, organised by the INE on 7 July 2021 and designed to monitor the implementation of the NSDS, over 100 representatives from more than 30 agencies of the NSS discussed their progress on implementing the National Strategy for the Development of Statistics (NSDS). The event was the first regular follow-up meeting to take place every six months and assure coordination of the statistical processes. The initial launching took place in December 2020.
During the session, the STP referred to ADAPT as a game-changing application that will contribute to the coordination of the statistical system. Nimia Torres, Director of Social Analysis in Policy Planning, explained the benefits of the tool and the potential in using the tool to assist in monitoring the national development plan as well as the NSDS.
Understanding data needs and planning processes
The webinar also gave PARIS21 an opportunity to understand the relationship between the national planning agency and the key planning information required in the ADAPT by the STP. These elements effectively cross over concepts between the statistical agenda and the planning processes and link both agencies in these common concepts.
In response to this, PARIS21 created an application programming interface (API) in ADAPT for communicating information between the statistical office and the planning agency. Sharing of data through interconnectivity is now an inherent process in the ADAPT development in Paraguay.
The recording of the webinar is available to watch here.
What is ADAPT?
Developed by PARIS21, the Advanced Data Planning Tool (ADAPT) is a free, cloud-hosted, multilingual and consultative data planning tool for data producers to adapt their data production to the priority data needs. ADAPT helps NSOs and other data producers within the country effectively plan for data required by policymakers and to monitor progress.
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