Page 201 - Special Topic Session (STS) - Volume 2

STS479 Sabit A.H et al.
support automatic information exchange between GCC-Stat and GCC member
countries, and provide an integrated data dissemination platform. This
dissemination platform will strengthen data visualization and data
presentation through for example an enhanced data portal. This IT solution,
scheduled to be fully operational in mid-2020, will have a key role in enriching
accessibility of GCC and country statistics, including SDGs.
In the meantime, GCC-Stat remains committed to the dissemination of as
wide a range as possible of SDGs and other official statistics about the GCC.
Consistent with that commitment, GCC-Stat has adopted the Open Data
principles in the dissemination of GCC statistics.

5. Discussion
The GCC statistical system, comprising GCC-Stat, the six GCC countries and
the user communities, is progressing on a modernization path. As the paper has
shown, GCC-Stat plays a key role in many of the regional modernization
initiatives. Some such as the Integrated End-to End solution are designed to
provide a technology based solution to some of the issues associated with data
management and dissemination. Other such as the adoption of Open Data
principles and protocols, are designed to enhance the use and reuse of
statistical data. Common to all are strategic frameworks which enable countries
to work together to achieve improved efficiency and effectiveness. At the GCC
level, the 2015-2020 Statistical Strategy provides the framework for not just
improved efficiency, through modernization of statistical processes and
methodologies, but also improvements in the range of available and
internationally comparable statistics.
The GGC strategy has emphasized the importance of not just
implementation of harmonised priority projects, but also enhancements in
data availability and capacity building. The linkage of these three components
is key. Greater supply of GCC level data requires more harmonised data.
Capacity building is key to supporting the NSIs deliver on the harmonised
projects.
While the GCC strategy pre-dates the international SDG framework, the
strategy has served countries and GCC-Stat well in the initial implementation
of SDGs. However, as the OECD have noted, building statistical capacity is a
long-term process (OECD, 2017). In our experience, while the numbers of
courses and attendees provide a useful metric, they do not reflect the
consequential improvements in the range and quality of statistics, which take
time to implement. For example, four countries have provided VNRs and two
will submit their reviews in 2019.
Yet there remain gaps. The latest GCC report on SDG indicators only
represented a range of indicators, and didn’t relate to all the goals. This reflected
the availability of data, in part due to local priorities. The need to prioritise reflects

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