Within the framework of the official statistics transformation project implemented by the Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics (MDPS) in cooperation with the United Nations Statistics Division, in which Qatar was chosen as a pioneering country, MDPS is completing its efforts for the modernization of the statistical system. Thus, MDPS is organizing the second workshop which will be held from 25 to 26 September, with an international participation of the British, Dutch, Danish and Italian Statistical Offices, the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), the Statistical, Economic and Social Research and Training Center for Islamic Countries (SESRIC), as well as a number of Qatari institutions, such as the Ministry of Public Health, and HBKU’s Qatar Computing Research Institute, Qatar Social Work Foundation, and Microsoft.
MDPS will make presentations on the methodology of population, housing and establishment census to be conducted in 2020, and its data sources and statistical outputs. MDPS will also highlight the process of communication in official statistics, using digital techniques, its role in serving data users, and the prompt delivery of information to users for use in decision-making in a timely manner. The workshop will be also attended by representatives of ministries, government agencies, universities and others. The participants will work in groups to express their opinion and contribute to determining the future aspirations of the modernization process.
The Workshop aims at resuming the dialogue that began last December during the 1st workshop on modernization of official statistics to determine the priorities of transformation in the national statistical system in partnership with various stakeholders. The workshop will focus in particular on:
1. Discussing priority actions and measures with partners who are data producers and users to improve the production of accurate and reliable statistics that support the monitoring of national and international development goals.
2. Highlighting several priority issues that contribute to a quantum leap in the statistical system, such as active communication which aims to build a distinct reputation for the statistical system as a provider of evidence to decision makers, and to transform data and statistics into specific information used for development planning.
3. Emphasizing innovation in many statistical areas, such as data collection and compilation, dissemination and provision of statistical products to users, and the use of new data sources.
4. Highlighting some of the goals of the Sustainable Development Agenda and its data needed and how they are achieved and related to the Sustainable Development Strategy 2018-2022.
The results of this workshop are expected to contribute to a better understanding of the modernization process of the national statistical system and its importance in supporting the implementation of the goals of the Sustainable Development Agenda 2030 and the National Development Strategy 2018-2022. It is further expected to make a quantum leap in the official statistical system in collaboration with partners using innovation in the statistical process, build statistical capacity, increase productivity and provide data to users through user-friendly platforms that enable decision makers to prepare the necessary national reports in a timely manner.
On this occasion, Dr. Saleh M. Al Nabit, Minister of Development Planning and Statistics, stressed the importance of participating in the workshop to benefit from the presentations and participate in discussions and deliberations. This would certainly contribute to determining the priorities of the modernization of statistical system in line with the view of concerned authorities in the state, the private sector and civil society organizations, universities and research centers.
