A recent assessment tool for country statistical capacity and further reflections on the way forward
What is it about?
The Statistical Capacity Index (SCI), developed by the World Bank in 2004, measured the ability of countries to produce high-quality statistical data. It focused on assessing statistical methods, data sources, and reporting regularity, primarily in low- and middle-income economies. However, the SCI became outdated due to advancements in data production by statistical systems and is limited by its narrow focus on poorer countries and some conceptual and technical gaps. The Statistical Performance Indicators (SPI) were introduced to address these limitations. Specifically, the SPI offers a more comprehensive and modern approach, covering a broader range of data sources, statistics, and infrastructure and including both low- and middle-income and high-income countries. It emphasizes new areas such as data use, openness, accessibility, and timeliness, making it a more relevant tool for today’s global data environment. The SPI is also more aligned with modern frameworks like the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and has stronger correlations with key agriculture and development outcomes. Finally, clear guidance is given on how the SPI will be maintained going forward as well as the protocols used to ensure data quality.
Why is it important?
The Statistical Capacity Index (SCI), developed by the World Bank in 2004, has long served as a tool for measuring the ability of countries to produce high-quality statistical data. The SCI has been used as a performance metric for monitoring projects related to statistical capacity building at the World Bank, and has been used in several academic articles studying development trends, the importance of statistical capacity building, and the role statistics play in improving development outcomes and achieving the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs). The Statistical Performance Indicators (SPI) were introduced to build off the successes of the SCI, but it also addresses key limitations of the SCI to better suit the modern, evolving statistical landscape.