Statistics for social progress

Abstract

The framework for monitoring social development policies adopted at the 1995 World Summit for Social Development (WSSD) is examined and its statistical implications are discussed. In particular, the essay offers a panorama of some of the main statistical challenges associated with monitoring the global targets underwritten at the 1995 WSSD and at the other major United Nations conferences of the 1990s. It is argued that although the framework represents a considerable step forwards, being able to monitor progress at the global level will require a more coordinated effort on the part of statisticians and policy makers. In particular it is stressed that more attention will have to be devoted to the design and development of relevant indicators based on timely, reliable and comparable data if the 1995 framework is to become fully operational. Based on the evidence prepared for the Geneva 2000 review, the relationship between social policies and statistics is still far too tenuous.

The authors propose to use the 1995 Framework and the Minimum National Social Data Set indicator list as a stepping stone for regional and national initiatives for monitoring social development. In particular, it is proposed that both outcomes and inputs are included in the framework to guarantee a more complete understanding of the effectiveness of policy programmes for social development. It is argued that to make the statistical framework operational, technical issues such as improving data collection, intensifying the conceptual development and integration of social statistical systems, investing in training and research and improving statistical dissemination are all requisites to moving forward. A series of follow-up measures to Geneva 2000 are also proposed.