National Statistical System of Afghanistan Annex 1. Assessment Framework OVERALL METHODOLOGY: Desk review of existing documents Semistructured interview with staff SWOT /PESTLE analysis Technical capacity and need Assessment Cross-tabulation on quality of statistics produced by CSO Meeting with data users Consultation meetings Methodology Sources Key dimensions of assessment Expected Outcome Time frame Key findings Recommendations 1. HISTORICAL REVIEW OF STATISTICAL SYSTEM IN THE CONTEXT OF FRAGILE STATE - Desk review of documents since 2001 -Meeting with staff CSO documents and staff When was the first national statistical plan designed and to what extent was it implemented? What number of statistical acts, strategies developed and implemented? What is the existing guiding policy document for development of national statistics system and its percentage of implementation? What has been the impact of long-enduring conflict on statistical system, infrastructure, capacity, accessibility…etc.? Was the statistical system collapsed entirely and data lost during severe conflicts? When rehabilitation took place? Are back-ups for data (remote site for data archiving)? Historical review of national statistical system to help inform design of NSDS in the context of political, economic and social volatility 27 Jul – 10 Aug 2. REGULATORY FRAMEWORK FOR NATIONAL STATISTICAL SYSTEM -Desk Review - analysis of regulatory framework against 10 principles of official statistics Key policy documents of CSO and national s What is the legal framework in which CSO is operating? What other statistical bodies at national and sub-national have level created, what are their roles, how often and how do they interact with each other and CSO? Does the legal framework empower CSO to lead nationally on statistical activities (provision, coordination, dissemination)? Has the legal role of CSO been fully recognized by other data producers/data users, and law has backed mechanisms of interaction between them? Regulatory framework for the NSS identified the role of CSO and other stakeholders involved in CSO and terms of working and scope of working for them 27 Jul – 10 Aug
Are the laws, regulations, policies and measures under which the statistical systems operate are made public? 3. GOVERNANCE OF NATIONAL STATISTICAL SYSTEM: Meeting with senior CSO staff Is there one entity/body/agency responsible for coordinating the national statistical system (e.g., to regulate, coordinate, monitor and evaluate the development, production, and dissemination of official statistics and ensuring their quality? Is there a specific entity/body/agency that promotes and monitors the adherence to standard concepts, definitions and classifications within the NSS? Are specific statistics committees/ inter- agency task forces/working groups that are convened regularly to discuss specific topics and concern on statistics? How many times did those committees meet during 2014-15? What number of development partners involved in production of statistics and how do they interact with CSO? The governance structure for NSS identified to guide the development and implementation management of NSDS 27 Jul – 10 Aug 4. STATISTICS IN NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT POLICY Desk review Meeting with staff and documents Is statistics used in development, implementation and monitoring of national development policies (and/or Is statistics development included in national development policies or part of the wider government programs? What role does CSO play in monitoring of the national development goals? Which other bodies are already working towards addressing the data needs of national development goals? What is the preparation mechanism to make CSO and other data producers ready for provision of statistics for Afghanistan Sustainable Development Goals (SNGs)? Identify use of statistics for national policy decision making, monitoring of national development goals and readiness of the NSS for accommodating the statistics needs for NSGs 10-15 Aug 5. STRATEGIC PLAN ON STATISTICS Desk review CSO and other stakeholders document Is there a national statistics plan or national strategy for the development of statistics or the NSS? Was the statistics plan based on the assessment of the NSS (strengths, weaknesses, challenges) and user needs? Identification of strategic extent for development of NSS and statistics in Afghanistan 10-15 Aug
Does the statistics plan serve as a framework for external (and domestic) support to statistical activities in the NSS? Was the statistics plan formulated through a participatory process? Has it defined the: direction and objectives, prioritized work, coordination mechanisms, budget, and performance objectives? 6. OPERATIONAL STRUCTURE FOR NATIONAL STATISTICAL SYSTEM Desk Review & Interviews with CSO staff, and workshop with Afghanistan National Statistical Master Plan, admin and financial reports, field operational reports, CSO staff and other ministries and development partners What are the working units in CSO (operational and technical) at the central and provincial levels, their ToR, system of performance review, awards and promotion? How does the reporting structure work in CSO? What are the strengths and weaknesses of existing structure and if it corresponds to the needs of CSO for current and in the future? What is the total number of CSO employees ( central, provincial, male, female, with their education level)? What is the CSO operating budget? on-budget and the budget execution capacity (expenditure out of planned and committed budget) What are the estimated financial needs of CSO and if the current funding flow corresponds to the needs? What is CSO plan to address the budget constraints? Are there provisions for human resource development? If yes, what types training, post-graduate studies, etc.) Are these available to CSO only or to other government units also producing statistics? What statistical units exist in the government system and what capacity do they have? What is the mechanism for their interaction with CSO? Determine whether CSO possess sufficient operation capacity to lead NSS operations 15 Aug – 04 Sep 7. ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY SWOT / PESTLE analysis of NSS and meeting with each department of CSO Key staff of CSO including key stakeholders of the NSS (other data producers and data users); major donors and Part I. SWOT/PESTLE: Assess the data gaps particularly between supply of and demand for data. Also data collections, production, dissemination, access and use Strengths: What are our advantages? What do we do well? Weaknesses: What is done badly? What obstacles prevent progress? A good picture of organizational dynamics in NSS to guide what additional systems, processes, management approaches and equipment needed for 07- 30 Sep