Page 20 - Contributed Paper Session (CPS) - Volume 3

CPS1931 Arman B. et al.
Addressing above three issues requires regular and active engagement
between producers and users of official statistics. However, it is not common
that data producers actively participate in policy discussions to understand
where the evidence for policymaking is missing, and policymakers often fail to
specify what data and at what level of disaggregation are needed for
monitoring sectorial and national policies. Advocating for user-producer
dialogue and evidence-based decision is not a new topic (Heine K & Oltmanns
E, 2016; Vardon M et al, 2016). However, the efforts are focused on making
use of available data. There has been very little or no effort in identifying issues
or target groups neglected by the policy that, in principle, must be
addressed/targeted (Heine K & Mause K, 2004), and data currently being
produced but neither demanded nor useful for any policy
formulation/monitoring (Jules M, 2017).
Therefore, two characteristics are necessary for any effective framework for
facilitation of user producer dialogue: a set of principles on which all parties
can agree up on, and identification of issues to be addressed by and all target
groups to be affected by (benefit from) policies. The EPIC (Every Policy Is
Connected) is developed based on these two building blocks to facilitate a
principle-based and participatory engagement of policy makers and data
producers for effective “monitoring’ of “inclusive” policies.
Structured engagement between data producers and users at the national
level is critical to address the above problem. National statistical offices need
to engage with national planning agencies, line ministries and other relevant
national agencies to understand data and information needs, so that the
official statistics that are ultimately produced are adequately responsive to
policy needs and demands.
While the need for coordination and engagement between data producers
and users is not a new discussion and has been registered time and again by
the international statistical and policy communities, what has been lacking, or
at least partially lacking, is specific guidance on how to promote and
operationalize such engagement and collaboration in a practical sense. EPIC
(Every Policy Is Connected), is a tool that attempts to bring practical guidance
on systematic, purpose-driven engagement between users and producers of
data. The participatory process that it promotes not only helps in identifying
and streamlining data needs, identifying data gaps and even data waste, but
also in reviewing and reformulating national comprehensive and sectorial
policies and plans by engaging all relevant stakeholders at the national level.
The tool guides the identification of priority population groups, issues and
needs as stated in existing national development policies or plans; uses this
information to identify data needs, including disaggregation requirements;
and thereby works towards the development and/or strengthening of

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