Scaling Up Investment in National Statistical Systems
A Note on Applying a System-wide Approach to Implementing National Strategies for the Development of Statistics

September 2007

This paper has been prepared by the Development Data Group of the World Bank and the PARIS21 Secretariat at the request of the PARIS21 Steering Committee. It is part of the follow-up to the Third International Roundtable on Managing for Development Results in Hanoi in February 2007 and the meeting on scaling up support for statistics held during the World Bank and IMF Spring Meetings in Washington in April 2007.

Scaling-up Support to Statistics

Executive summary This paper briefly discusses why scaling up investment in National Statistical Systems is needed and then focuses on how this could be achieved by applying a system-wide approach, drawing lessons from the Sector-Wide Approaches (SWAps) used successfully in areas such as health, education and agriculture. It argues that an effective and efficient National Statistical System is essential for managing for development results. Investments in statistics are needed, just as much as in areas such as financial management and procurement. National Statistical Systems provide the data needed to develop appropriate policies, to target scarce resources, to measure progress, to make effective use of aid and to monitor and evaluate outcomes. At the Third International Roundtable on Managing for Development Results, which was held in Hanoi in February 2007, participating country teams emphasized that to be successful any scaling up of support to statistics must be grounded in and directly linked to national poverty reduction strategies or other development plans, must be based on well prepared and realistic national strategies for the development of statistics (NSDSs), and must involve harmonized and coordinated donor support. Many