Proposal for a generic law on official statistics for Latin America

Agreement Signed to Collaborate in the Development of Official Statistics

With the aim of promoting collaborative policies for the development of projects in statistics, the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) and Colombia's National Statistics Department (Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística, DANE) today signed a Framework Agreement for Collaboration to foster exchange of technical support and greater efficiency in conducting their respective objectives. The agreement was signed at ECLAC headquarters by the Executive Secretary of this regional UN commission, José Luís Machinea, and DANE Director&nb…

ECLAC Development of official statistics in the region. Report of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean on the development of official statistics in Latin America and the Caribbean

This document was prepared by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC); and offers a description of the main trends in the development of official statistics in Latin America and the Caribbean and the principal challenges in that regard.The first chapter provides an analysis of the state of development of statistical production in the region, based on statistical information for 41 Latin American and Caribbean countries and eight specific areas. The institutional organization of national statistical systems in the region is also described. Chapter II examines the his…

Generic Law on Official Statistics for Latin America

The Generic Law on Official Statistics for Latin America was adopted by the Statistical Conference of the Americas of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean at its tenth meeting. Its purpose is to provide a regional model for Latin American countries that are interested in formulating or reformulating the legal basis for the functioning of their National Statistical Systems (NSS) and the production of official statistics. The Generic Law defines the rights and obligations of the bodies that compose the National Statistical System as well the principles and procedures to be…

Timely Disaster Training for Tobago Officials

With the “rainy” season in Trinidad and Tobago already beginning, the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) subregional headquarters for the Caribbean took its Damage and Loss Assessment (DaLA) methodology training to Tobago from 23-25 May 2018. Some of the areas that were covered over the three days included an introduction and basic concepts of the Disaster Assessment Methodology, the role of planning in disaster risk management and its impact on the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), how the population can be affected, and how areas such …

ECLAC Development of official statistics in the region. Report of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean on the development of official statistics in Latin America and the Caribbean

A review of Caribbean national statistical legislation in relation to the United Nations Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics

This study presents an assessment of national statistical legal frameworks across the Caribbean. It aims to ascertain the extent to which the UNFPOS are incorporated in the statistical laws of Member and Associate Member Countries of the Caribbean Development and Cooperation Committee (CDCC). Such an assessment provides the basis for making recommendations to the respective countries on policy actions needed to ensure the full incorporation of these principles in their statistics legislation thereby laying a solid foundation for the effective functioning of their NSS. Furthermore, an up-to-dat…

Policy Brief: Incorporating the United Nations Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics in Caribbean national statistical legislation

The United Nations Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics (UNFPOS) are considered the basic framework that National Statistical Systems (NSS) must observe in order to produce high quality, independent statistics that support informed decision-making and public confidence in government. The UNFPOS were first adopted in 1994 by the United Nations Statistical Commission. These principles were subsequently endorsed by the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) in 2013 and the United Nations General Assembly in 2014. Statistical laws in the Caribbean have lagged in incorporating…

An assessment of big data for official statistics in the Caribbean: Challenges and opportunities

The data revolution for sustainable development has triggered interest in the use of big data for official statistics such that theUnited Nations Economic and Social Council considers it to be almost an obligation for statistical organizations to explore big data. Big data has been promoted as a more timely and cheaper alternative to traditional sources of official data, and one that offers great potential for monitoring the sustainable development goals. However, privacy concerns, technology and capacity remain significant obstacles to the use of big data. This study makes a case for incor…