On the Right Path: Strengthening the National Statistical System in the Dominican Republic

In an increasingly interconnected and dynamic world, access to reliable and up-to-date data is key to identifying opportunities and overcoming challenges. Accurate information on the labor market, education outcomes, and security situations enables governments to design more effective policies and make informed decisions that ultimately foster development. The Dominican Republic has demonstrated its commitment in this area, making significant progress in modernizing its National Statistical System. Under the leadership of the National Statistics Office (ONE), the Dominican Republic is now better equipped to face challenges with robust data, benefiting all sectors of society.

In 2023, the Dominican Republic became one of the first countries to adopt “The Power of Data” initiative, a global effort led by the United Nations in collaboration with the World Bank and the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data. Under the guiding principle that "what is not measured cannot be improved," the initiative calls for systematic investments to strengthen data collection and improve the quality of data related to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including the goals of eradicating extreme poverty and hunger.

The Dominican Republics's progress in statistical capacity is reflected in its rising score on the Statistical Performance Indicator (SPI), a metric calculated by the World Bank to assess the level and progress of statistical performance in countries globally. Between 2020 and 2023, the Dominican Republic's SPI score increased from 64.3 to 74.1 on a scale of 100, placing it above the average for Latin America and the Caribbean (66 points) and high-income countries (69.3) (see Figure 1).

Figure 1: Statistical Performance Indicator (SPI) for the Dominican Republic, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Upper-middle-income Countries, 2016-2023

_{Source: World Bank}

While progress is evident, the SPI's various components reveal areas for further improvement (see Figure 2). In pillar two, Data Services, the Dominican Republic scored 68, indicating room to enhance the quality of statistical publications and the availability of data online in user-friendly formats, including metadata and terms of use. Making data more accessible and easier to understand would empower citizens to engage with it more effectively. In pillar three, Production of Indicators, the score of 79.8 suggests challenges, particularly in the field of environmental statistics.

In pillar four, Data Sources, the country scored 47.8, falling below the regional and upper-middle-income averages (54.7 and 57.5, respectively). This points to significant challenges in utilizing diverse data sources, which include not only censuses and surveys but also administrative data. Lastly, in pillar five, Data Infrastructure, the Dominican Republic obtained a 75, indicating that improvements could be made in the use of methodologies and classifications aligned with international standards.

Figure 2: Statistical Performance Indicator (SPI) by Pillar for the Dominican Republic, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Upper-middle-income Countries, 2023

_{Source: World Bank}

To continue strengthening and modernizing its National Statistical System, the Dominican Republic should focus on the following areas highlighted by the SPI:

1. Improve the quality and availability of data and microdata online, ensuring they meet international standards for cataloging and accessibility.
2. Promote the generation of data and statistics, including administrative records, in key areas such as health, education, employment, social protection, and the environment.
3. Increase the georeferencing of data and microdata produced by the National Statistical System.
4. Ensure confidentiality and protect personal data, in line with global best practices.

To maintain this positive trend, it is also essential to reinforce ONE’s leadership role by guaranteeing its institutional and budgetary autonomy and ensuring its technical independence. As highlighted in the World Bank's Data for a Better Life report, having a robust National Statistical System is critical to a country's economic, social, and political development. It promotes transparency, enables informed decision-making, and allows for the evaluation of public policy outcomes.

The Dominican Republic can consolidate its recent advances in statistical capacity and position itself as a regional leader, using data as a transformative tool to improve lives. 

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