The French National Council for Statistical Information: Lessons from a formal dialogue between producers and users on sustainable development

Abstract

Focusing on the French National Council for Statistical Information (Cnis), this paper offers an overview on the value and strength of the dialogue between producers and users of official statistics in France. Highlighting its specific contribution to shape official statistics in relation to sustainable development, it presents its role and original value added in the French context on a critical issue for the post-COVID era. If this case study proposes lessons to learn from this experience, its history, and transformation over time, it wants also to point out promising evolutions and paths for the future. In a context of crisis and pandemic, the need to produce quality and timely statistics adapted to the situation has showed its capacity to adapt and to confirm its critical role.