National Statistics Strategy aimed at providing comprehensive, accurate data — DoS

AMMAN — The second phase of the National Statistics Strategy (2017-2021) seeks to provide comprehensive, accurate and timely statistics for planning and decision making, said Department of Statistics (DoS) Director General Qasem Zu’bi.

Speaking on Monday at a workshop on stakeholders' contributions to the national strategy, Zu’bi highlighted the importance of providing decision makers with truthful information, even if the figures "do not please" decision makers.

He cited the strategy as a national effort that engages all partner ministries and public agencies, noting that the members of committees representing official agencies are contributors to the success of the "national effort".

He told The Jordan Times that DoS does not seek to "rush" the mapping out of the strategy, yet he expected it to be ready by the end of 2017.

Tayseer Miqdadi, the head of the development and strategic planning unit at the DoS, said the strategy, which is carried out in partnership with 13 public entities, covers the following sectors: population, labour, health, education, commercial registrar, agriculture, ICT, energy and the environment, transportation, and finance and economy.

He added that the strategy comprises three stages: preparation, which started in Monday's workshop, implementation and follow-up.

A national strategy unifies efforts and information, Miqdadi said.

Commenting on the national population census, which was carried out last November and whose results were released earlier this year, Zu’bi said countries like Egypt, Palestine and Sudan have shown interest in learning from Jordan's "successful" experience to apply it in their countries.

He added that the UN has invited Jordan to participate in an international conference later this month to share its census experience.  

The automation of the census allowed for retrieving the final results within two months, while previous manual techniques may have taken up to two years, Zu’bi said. 

Based on data collected for the census, DoS will compile a series of atlases, he said, adding that the department will launch a website to display information based on geographical areas in the Kingdom.

The statistics strategy will be in line with the Jordan Vision 2025 and the government’s executive plan and development programme. In addition, it is set to incorporate 230 indicators from the UN Sustainable Development Goals, according to DoS officials. 

The first phase of the National Statistics Strategy covered the years 2008 to 2012.