ECLAC’s Executive Secretary: Accurate, Up-to-date and Comprehensive Data are Crucial for Measuring Development Gaps and Traps

The Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), José Manuel Salazar-Xirinachs, stressed the importance today of data and statistics for moving towards more productive, inclusive and sustainable development, during Brazil’s National Conference of Data Producers and Users, where he spoke on behalf of United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres.

“It is only through open and transparent cooperation among public institutions, academia, the private sector and civil society that we can make significant advancements in the production of high-quality statistics,” he emphasized in his remarks at the inauguration of this high-level event, which is taking place through Friday, August 2 at the State University of Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), and is organized by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE).

ECLAC’s highest authority added that the event’s central topic is a high priority for the UN Secretary-General, in terms of building a whole-of-UN ecosystem that unlocks the full potential of data for making better decisions and providing stronger support to people and the planet in development strategies and in the moments that matter most.

“His ‘Data Strategy for Action by Everyone, Everywhere’ is our agenda for a real data-driven transformation. Data permeates all aspects of our work, and its power – harnessed responsibly – is critical to the global agendas we serve. The UN family’s expertise and connectedness create unique opportunities to advance global ‘data action’ with insight, impact and integrity,” he affirmed.

The senior United Nations official reiterated that the region is caught in three development traps: a trap of low growth, one of high inequality and low social mobility, and a third of weak institutional and governance capacity.

“Accurate, up-to-date and comprehensive data are crucial for measuring these development gaps and traps and evaluating the policies implemented to close the gaps and escape the traps. In other words, statistical capacities are one of the most fundamental Technical, Operational, Political and Prospective (TOPP) capabilities of institutions,” he stated.

He added that data and official statistics are essential for monitoring progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), noting that this information enables us to develop solutions, oversee implementation, and make essential adjustments.

“Without a robust data foundation, it is impossible to fully grasp our successes and shortcomings in implementing public policies and achieving the SDGs,” he declared.

ECLAC’s Executive Secretary warned that the evaluation of progress on the SDGs is hindered by ongoing issues with data availability and timeliness on the 17 Goals, and he stressed that despite progress on improving internationally comparable data for SDG monitoring, challenges remain.

He specified that in 2016, about one-third of the global indicator framework had good data coverage. Today, 68% of indicators have good data coverage, and trend data are available for 51% of the indicators in over half of all countries. However, data timeliness continues to be a problem, since about one-third of indicators lack data from the past three years.

“This gap hampers policymakers’ ability to make timely, informed decisions and the necessary adjustments,” he affirmed.

He further emphasized that the commitment to data must be assumed at the highest level, and the production of information must occupy a central place in public policy discussions.

“In the words of the Secretary-General, ‘Humanity has shown time and time again that it is capable of great achievements when we work together.’ This sentiment is especially pertinent in the realm of data and statistics,” he said.

José Manuel Salazar-Xirinachs pointed up the work carried out by countries in the framework of the Statistical Conference of the Americas of ECLAC. He noted that in recent years, the region has produced a Generic Law for Official Statistics and a Regional Code of Good Practice in Official Statistics, along with reports on the role of data stewardship for National Statistical Offices, to guide national statistical systems in tackling the challenges of organization and coordination.

Finally, he expressed his gratitude to the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics for organizing the conference, “which marks a crucial step in the right direction to strengthen the link between the production and use of statistics in our region.” In addition, he applauded the long-standing collaboration between IBGE and ECLAC.