Statistikstöd Bangladesh

The project achieved limited results in the reporting period from November 2019 to October 2020. Implementation was severely hampered by the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic in March 2020, which lead to closure of the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) offices and relocation of Statistics Sweden's long-term advisor to Sweden, due to a suspension of international flights which lasted for several months. None of the technical missions that had been planned for the period from March onwards were possible to carry out. Some remote support was however provided through digital trainings and webinars. Results that were achieved in the period include: - In February 2020, BBS made a formal decision to form a methodological unit that will serve the whole organization and ensure improved quality in statistical methodology. -  A technical mission by advisors from Statistics Sweden was conducted in November 2019. The mission identified capacity needs related to communication and dissemination of statistics, including the need for more structured communication that is adapted to user needs, increased digitalisation in communication and dissemination to facilitate user access, and the need for a publication calendar. The importance of BBS taking a more active role in coordinating the National Statistics System (NSS) was also identified. A decision was made to close the project in February 2021, as it was assessed that the expected objectives and results would not be possible to achieve within the remaining time of the project. Results achieved in the period from November 2020 to May 2021, when the project ends, will be described in the final report.      

The overall objective of the project is “increased access to quality statistics in society by supporting the position of BBS as the central statistics institution”. The implementing partners are Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, BBS and Statistics Sweden, SCB. The project is expected to contribute to results in the following areas: - Statistical Methodology: BBS has a well-functioning methodology unit with skilled staff that is able to support both the organization and civil society, on a range of methodology related issues. - Management of a National statistics institute: BBS is a well-organized statistical institution, with a committed and professional management, that always strive for statistics to be published in a timely, user-friendly, reliable and accurate manner. The expectation is that this work will result in a stronger Bureau of Statistics in Bangladesh - with better capacity to take lead in statistics methodology development. - Labour Market statistics: The statistical officers at the labour force statistics wing have the ability to produce regular statistics in line with user needs, in a correct and sustainable manner. - Gender statistics: BBS is producing and making gender statistics available for a wide-range of surveys at BBS, in accordance with user needs. - Environmental statistics: The environmental statistics and accounts is under development, in accordance with SEEA, System of Environmental-Economic Accounting - standard. There is also a mainstreamed communication goal; BBS will have accessible and disseminated statistics. The work towards this goal will support the project to disseminate trustworthy statistics that is well packaged and easy to access. The partners aim to improve the capacity at Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, based on democratic principles. During 2016 a pre-study was performed which lead to the planned activities in the Project; achieving improved methods, procedures and processes as well as systems for collecting and analysis of statistics. A key feature throughout the project is to make statistics more transparent and accessible. Communications activities is expected to contribute to that end.