Page 196 - Special Topic Session (STS) - Volume 2

STS479 Sabit A.H et al.

Modernisation of statistical systems -
Experiences of GCC-Stat
Sabir Al Harbi, Nancy McBeth
GCC-Stat, Muscat, Oman

Abstract
GCC-Stat - the Statistical Centre for the Cooperation Council for the Arab
Countries of the Gulf has a key role in supporting member countries in both
the modernization of their statistical systems and in providing the indicators
necessary for the 2030 Agenda. The establishment of the centre in 2011 to
provide a common official pool of statistics and data for member states; built
on the strong history of statistical cooperation in the region. This paper will
discuss the role of GCC-Stat in supporting modernization, with particular
reference to the provision of SDGs indicators. The paper will describe how
active cooperation between member states, and a focused regional statistical
office, underpinned by common strategic frameworks and international best
practices have been key to the statistical modernization agenda in the region.
In reviewing some of the achievements, the paper will describe some of the
lessons and broader implications.

Keywords
SDGs, Regional Cooperation, Statistical Strategy, Capacity Building, Data
Revolution, Harmonized Projects

1. Introduction
The six countries United Arab Emirates, Kingdom of Bahrain, Kingdom of
Saudi Arabia, Sultanate of Oman, State of Qatar and the State of Kuwait
formed the Cooperation Council for the Arab Countries of the Gulf (GCC) in
1981 in order to achieve a high level of institutional coordination in economic,
social, political, defence and security fields. The six members are all major
producers of oil and gas, share many historical, economic and cultural links,
and actively cooperate in many fields including statistics.
In 2015, GCC-Stat – the Statistical Centre for the Cooperation Council for
the Arab Countries of the Gulf, together with the National Statistical Institutes
in the Gulf region began to implement the 2015-2020 GCC regional statistical
strategy. This strategy reflected a need to improve the range of available
statistical information, at both the GCC and country level, and to ensure that
statistics produced in the GCC were internationally comparable. The strategy
also emphasises the need to improve efficiencies of statistical operations,

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