Bringing the Future into Focus

SNA and SEEA and Transforming Global and National Statistical Systems for

Monitoring SDG Indicators

Ivo Havinga, Assistant Director United Nations Statistics Division

Inter-Regional Workshop

Experience and Lessons Learned from ECOSOC National Voluntary Presentations

Kingston, Jamaica

Outline

1. Integration of Statistical Systems

From silos to a standards-based integrated approach

2. National Perspectives on Integration of Environmental-Economic Statistics

SNA and SEEA: The conceptual framework for integration

SNA and SEEA: Conceptual framework

SNA and SEEA: The statistical framework for producing high quality SDG

indicators

3. International Perspectives on Integration of Statistics

Methodological consistency for an integrated monitoring architecture

National ownership of SDG indicators and consolidation of reporting

4. Roadmap: Towards an standards-based integrated approach

1. Integration of Statistical Systems

From policy and statistical silos to integrated policy and statistical agenda

Policy: The SDGs represent important moves

towards an integrated policy agenda

Institutions: Need to develop common

integrated policy frameworks at both the national

and international level to support policy

Statistics requires integration of:

• National Statistical Systems for an

integrated information system to inform

sustainable development based on a

consistent conceptual framework

• Global Reporting Mechanisms to reduce

overlap and streamline international

reporting initiatives based on a consistent

conceptual framework

Indicators

based on Standards

Higher quality

International comparability

Comprehensive basis for (dis)aggregation

Statistical Standards

Aligned Definitions and Classifications

Improved capacity to compare and/or combine statistics from

different sectors

Basis for coherent and comprehensive data sets

6

Frameworks

to coherently

integrate

information:

Standards-based Integration

2. National Perspectives on Integrated Statistics

Multi-dimensional policy needs and integrated statistics

Policy Needs:

• Multi-dimensional decision making requires a better

understanding of interlinkages and trade-offs.

Statistical Response:

• Develop an integrated information system. At the national

level this requires:

1. A conceptual framework for integration (i.e. the SNA and

SEEA)

2. Institutional mechanisms for integration

3. Integration of statistical production process

9

SNA and SEEA: Conceptual Framework

2. “Harmonizing Basic Data”: Application of

statistical standards to reconcile divergent

methodologies

3. “Seeing the overall picture and how things fit

together in detail”: Organizing data into accounts for

‘systems level’ understanding of the environment

4. “Getting an Overview of the Picture”: Headline indicators

derived from SEEA-aligned Information for an indication of

developments in environmental issues

1. Fragmented Social, Environment

and Economic Data: Data collection

dispersed across agencies using

different methodologies

An international standard to measure the environment and it’s

relationship with the economy:

10

Economic

statistics

IT processes etc.

Dissemina-tion

Analysis

Processing

Surveys and Admin

sources

Registers and frames

Meta-Data and

Standards

Social statistic

s

IT processes etc.

Dissemina-tion

Analysis

Processing

Surveys and Admin

sources

Registers and frames

Meta-Data and

Standards

Environment

al statisti

cs IT processes

etc.

Dissemina-tion

Analysis

Processing

Surveys and Admin

sources

Registers and frames

Meta-Data and

Standards

SNA and SEEA Accounts

and Indicators

Data Integration

Data Processing

Data Collection

Economic

Statistics

Social

Statistics

Environme

ntal

Statistics

Statistical Infrastructure

Standards and Methods:

SNA and SEEA

Specialized

corporate

services

The SEEA and SNA contribute to a systems architecture made up of common

institutional and statistical structures to support statistical production processes

SNA and SEEA: Common Statistical Architecture

Economi

c

Environment

al

Sociocultur

al

Sector/

Industry

n

Sector/

industry 1

Total

Sectors by land, water, energy, CC, SCP,

etc. and Industry by agriculture, industry,

services

DIM

EN

SIO

NS

OF

SU

STA

INA

BIL

ITY

in

mo

neta

ry a

nd

ph

ysic

al

term

s

SCALE

OF

ANALYSI

S

Regiona

l

Nationa

l

Local

National Statistical Information System:

a Cube

Economi

c

Environment

al

Sociocultur

al

Visitors Non-

visitors

Total

Regiona

l

Nationa

l

Local

ACTIVITES OF

PERSONS

DIM

EN

SIO

NS

OF

SU

STA

INA

BIL

ITY

SCALE

OF

ANALYSI

S

An Example: National Tourism Information

System - a Slice of the Cube

Economi

c

Environment

al

Sociocultur

al

Science Policy Statistics

Regiona

l

Nationa

l

Local

Interface

DIM

EN

SIO

NS

OF

SU

STA

INA

BIL

ITY

SCALE

OF

ANALYSI

S

Policy, Science and Statistics

Interface

National Adaption of Statistical Information System

Completing the National Information System

Statistical Frameworks and Indicator Frameworks are distinct but complementary

• Statistical Frameworks (i.e. SNA and SEEA):

> Guide the whole statistical production process through a

systems approach to collecting, process and disseminate

• Standard definitions, classifications and related methods for compiling

statistics

• Lends rigor to the calculation of indicators without suggesting any in

particular

• Value proposition is ensuring indicators are defined and compiled in a

methodologically coherent way, through an efficient production process

• Indicator Frameworks (e.g. SDG indicators): Provide

organizing principles to facilitate the choice of indicators for

different thematic aspects of sustainable development

3. International Perspectives on Integration of Statistics

Integrated Architecture of SDGs: Methodological Consistency

• Architecture of integrated global, (sub-)national, and thematic

monitoring requires methodological consistency across

themes and levels of monitoring.

• The SEEA can be the methodological basis for this:

SNA and SEEA: Streamlined Reporting for SDGs • Methodological Consistency resulting from implementation of the SEEA

reduces reporting burden of national ministries/agencies:

• Single Data System to Inform Indicators

• Data Compiled Once for Many

Purposes

• Reduced need for countries to make

arduous data adjustments for

international reporting

Facilitates streamlined reporting process for

global SDG Indicators

• Consistent definitions, classifications

and spatial units at national and

international level allows for direct

transmission of information

Common Interface

National Statistical

System/Office

based on SEEA and SNA

MINISTRY 1 I MINISTRY 2 I MINISTRY 3

INTERNATIONAL AGENCIES’ REPORTING

INITIATIVES

4. Roadmap: Towards SNA and SEEA Implementation

Sector Strategies and

Plans Water

Health

Education

Economy

Fisheries

Forests

Energy

Biodiversity

Climate

Change

Oceans / Marine

Resources

Tourism

Rural Development Disaster

Reduction

Vision

National

Developmen

t Goals

National Economic Development Plan /

Planning and Budgetary Processes

A National Information System to Support

Integrated Planning and Budgetary Process

Supporting Evidence

Water Energy Economy

Climate

Change

Forests

Agriculture

Biodiversity Etc. Etc..

Sector statistics

Tourism

Integrated Information System

SNA and SEEA

Presenting integrated economic, environmental, and

social dimensions

Ocean/Marin

e resources Agriculture

Trade Fisheries 25

Stages of public financial management

Planning

(National and sectoral plan,

project identification,

evaluation and ranking

Budgeting with performance indicators –

financing and budgeting

Implementation – procurement and

monitoring of indicators

Auditing

Roadmap: Global Statistical Community

1. Reflecting the SNA and SEEA in the SDGs;

• Indicators are based on proposals by experts in given thematic areas

• Where relevant, existing monitoring mechanisms should work to align with

the Statistical Standards

• Where new mechanisms are being set up, they should be established in

alignment with the Statistical Standards

2. Reflecting the SNA and SEEA in the thematic indicator

sets;

• Further adoption of SNA and SEEA as underlying statistical framework to

support policy frameworks (e.g. SCP, Water, Biofin, Aichi targets, etc.)

• Common message and approach to in-country work

• Alignment of established reporting to Statistical Standards over time

Roadmap: National Implementation Two processes must take place in tandem to support:

1. National ownership of information for integrated decision

making and international reporting:

2. Alignment with International Statistical Standards and

implementation of the SNA and SEEA

Transition towards SNA and SEEA

approach

Transition towards national ownership

Generic Institutional Framework for National Information System

29

High Level Steering Committee on Sustainable

Development Members: Planning, Finance, Environment, NSO

Terms of Reference: Direct work of Technical Committee

- Link to policy priorities

- Integrate and advocate work plan with national and international work

- Coordinate proposals for funding; Allocate resources

Technical Committee Members: Planning, Finance, Environment, NSO, Geospatial, Parks, Natural Resources, Agriculture,

Foreign Affairs, Research Terms of Reference: Coordinate technical aspects of work

- Internalize activities into planning documents

Subject-matter working groups Land, Water, Energy, Agriculture, Biodiversity &

Ecosystems Terms of reference: Inventory, acquire and develop

data

- Design specific accounts, tables and indicators

- Coordinate with functional working groups to design

and manage information system

Functional working groups Policy: prioritize indicators and link to policy

Spatial: integrate spatial data, maintain standards

Data standards and dissemination: Lead design of

information system, maintain standards and

classifications, lead development of dissemination

outputs

Interactions among working groups along common statistical architecture

30

Subject Matter Groups:

1. Land, Water and Carbon

2. Biodiversity & Ecosystems

3. SEEA-CF

4. Policy Working Group

Functional Working Groups:

5. Spatial analysis

6. Data, standards and

dissemination

Priority

setting

Lead priority

setting

Contribute

selection of

priority

accounts and

indicators

Contribute

establishment

of data sharing

agreements

Design and

build

Recommend

indicators,

specify

requirements

Inventory data,

design

accounts,

specify

requirements

Lead design

and build of

information

system

Collection and

Processing

Ensure focus on

indicators,

Ensure

requirements

are met

Lead

collection and

processing of

data; monitor

data quality

Support

classification

and

organization

Analysis and

Dissemination

Review outputs;

Lead writing to

ensure policy

relevance

Lead

compilation

and analysis

of accounts;

create outputs

Support (create

maps, process

data)

Evaluation

Lead

evaluation

Review

process

Lead data

quality and

process

assessment

GSBPM stage Statistical Production Model

THANK YOU seea@un.org