Understanding Nauru's National Statistics Challenges and Objectives

3RDMEETING OF THE PACIFIC STATISTICS STANDING COMMITTEE (PSSC) NAURU 25 NOVEMBER 2020

NAURU NATIONAL SITUATION IN RELATION TO TYPSS PHASE 3 OBJECTIVES Objective 1: PICTs have technical capacity and statistical capability (either in-house or through TA) to manage and implement core statistical collections, including greater utilisation and integration of key administrative databases. 1. TA has been made available and received by other line ministries and agencies such as health, education, the registrar of births deaths and marriages and through other regional bodies by Customs. However, there is still considerable disconnection or discontinuation of the work occurring, which NSO s have little control over. These include staff turnover, lack of prioritisation and manpower. Although TA has been received an adequate assessment within non-nso office has not been ascertained to view how effective the TA s have been. The data source providers still remain heavily reliant on the NSO s to do the collections, consolidation and analysis and provide them the final product that may or may not be utilised. These are the ongoing challenges small systems face that evidently showcases a dysfunctional National Statistical System. 2. Greater use of admin data will only flow through if the whole Statistical System can function properly and efficiently through collaboration and coorporation. In most agencies databases do not exist. Example; Human Resources. Defunct databases include Health Information System, Customs PCtrade, and non-core include Environment, Climate Change, Agriculture. Existing database with no access include Fisheries and land use held by regional entities (SPC/PNS/FFA/SPREP/ForSec/UN-Agencies). The non-core appear to be where the bulk of the financing goes and remains disconnected to the bureau that should act as the clearing house for official statistics.

NAURU NATIONAL SITUATION IN RELATION TO TYPSS PHASE 3 OBJECTIVES (cont ) Objective 2: PICTs are producing and disseminating (either in-house or through TA and shared services) an agreed core set of high-quality economic, social and environmental statistics in a timely and user friendly manner in line with national priorities, and integrating SDG and regional reporting requirements. 1. In the recent years dissemination have dropped considerable as the bureau was geared towards prepping for its anticipated surveys which aimed at collecting the baselines for much of the national priorities for social and housing, household income and expenditure including SDG s. Much of the gaps in our small statistical system rely on surveys to fill. If these do not occur then we need to rely on admin data that has its own challenges as above mentioned. 2. The integration of SDG s has not been the role of the bureau since it is not the lead agency. However, the bureau has laid out its plans linked to the national plan for a web portal which can showcase development in this regard where capacity exists according to the TIER system. Commitment and development relating to expert TA and financing is still required. Tracking the SDG s will require stronger links with regional and national official bodies.

NAURU NATIONAL SITUATION IN RELATION TO TYPSS PHASE 3 OBJECTIVES (cont ) Objective 3: All PICTs have in place some form of national statistics strategy or plan that articulates national priorities in line with their national development strategies and is aligned with the agreed core set of statistics. 1. Nauru s N-SDS is in the pipeline and needs only to be costed before finalising and then submitted for government approval 2. The process of developing the N-SDS involved extensive consultation and is in line with the nation plan. Recent changes after the elections are expected to have an impact on certain priority areas such as the creation of the new department for climate change, and the Desperate Imagination initiative implemented by this new government which are partly outside the scope of the national plan and the N-SDS. This latter initiative has a more urgent timeframe than both (February 2021). Objective 4: National statistics stakeholders are advised on an ongoing basis about emerging statistical tools, systems and international standards, and scaled-down methodologies and approaches that are fit-for-purpose for the Pacific. 1. Not currently happening at the national level. Advisors and consultants acting as head of ministries or agencies have vacated the island due to COVID19 or expiration of contracts. The remaining local staff require training to take up the void left in place. This a recurring problem as some positions have remained vacant for long durations. 2. New tools and scaled-down methodology are currently in discussion to counter over-burdening the lack of resources to the bureau as well as respondents. This is ongoing and not envisaged to be remedied any time before the end of TYPSS(I). Those systems identified in Phase 2 by the ICT working group have seemingly appear to be shelved by this new regional financing structure to TYPSS. Similarly with the findings of the other Working Groups. May be this is being over critical or too optimistic but scaled-down approaches that can be cross-pollenated with other statistical databases that are in line with government priorities is what NBS is aspiring to get support for, since core statistics is not always the flavour of the day.

NAURU NATIONAL SITUATION IN RELATION TO TYPSS PHASE 3 OBJECTIVES (cont ) Objective 5: Regional governance and coordination of statistics are both functioning efficiently and effectively. 1. My personal view is that this has deviated, wresting control out of the hands of the PICTS and to a stronger degree Micronesia and small- NSO s. Despite the notion that small economies of scale and NSS will always require external assistance. I anticipate the direction of the conversations will be driven by Development Partners under this COVID19 environment. It appears if one can pay to host a virtual meeting one can afford to push their agenda across and tick off the regional consultation box, while PICTS sit there in awe or simply pretend to be present by switching off their camera feeds. 2. As rep of Micronesia I haven t been afforded the support to communicate with my constituents. Communication is the key among PICTS. The governance and coordination has unfortunately been weakened in my tenure of chair of PSSC, and assessing the efficiency and effectiveness of the current system remains in the grey area in my view. As for the bureau coordinating with its existing partners the challenges of COVID19 has uprooted our plans from the previous two years and have left some gaping holes in our core administrative activities and shall be compounded if this continues in 2021.

NAURU LESSONS LEARNED AND OPPORTUNITIES & PRIORITIES [Please provide a few bullet points on lessons learned from TYPSS I; Please provide a few bullet points on opportunities and priorities for TYPSS 2.] Lessons learned from TYPSS 1 What has worked and what has not worked under TYPSS 1? 1 2 Opportunities and priorities for TYPSS 2 What are some opportunities and priorities for TYPSS 2 (2021 to 2030)? 1 2

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