Page 353 - Invited Paper Session (IPS) - Volume 2

IPS277 Matthew Shearing

Developing effective models of public-private
partnerships (PPPs) in National Statistical
Ecosystems: Lessons from Asia
Matthew Shearing
GOPA Statistics and independent consultant on official statistics

Abstract
The data revolution and adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals
(SDGs) gave a new impetus for the development of national statistical systems
(NSSs). These developments call for more support to the NSSs and finding
efficient methods for the private and public sectors to work together to share
knowledge and deliver high quality statistics. To ensure effective use of the
limited financial support available, traditional donor-recipient models may
need to be revised and new means of collaboration developed that sustain
innovation and maintain quality in official statistics. The Asian experience is
rich in terms of learning from how a wide variety of organisations have worked
together in different ways as providers of data, innovation, and of skills and
knowledge. This paper aims to analyse examples of experiences in Asia in PPPs
inform the development of PPPs globally.

Keywords
official statistics; PPPs; SDGs; financing; capacity development

1. Introduction
The Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness and the Accra Agenda for Action
underline the need for “building partnerships for development. Such
partnerships are most effective when they fully harness the energy, skills and
experience of all development actors” . Moreover, the financial context for
1
official statistics is highly challenging. The OECD’s Development Cooperation
Report 2017 identifies an annual funding gap of $685 million for SDG data in
2
developing countries . However, in 2016, the Global Partnership for
Sustainable Development Data estimated that only $240 million would be
delivered for IDA-eligible countries .
3
In terms of meeting these gaps, current models of public-public sector
cooperation and PPPs are clearly not meeting demand. However, the global
statistical system has recently focussed its attention on the private sector as a
provider of data rather than a provider of wider services. But is this missing a

http://www.oecd.org/development/effectiveness/34428351.pdf
1
2 http://www.oecd.org/dac/development-co-operation-report-20747721.htm
3 https://opendatawatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/development-data-funding-
2016.pdf
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