Data Availability and Constraints
http://www.unlao.org/Country%20Background/page.htm

Availability of data is considered a major constraint in policymaking and progress monitoring in the Lao PDR. Data disaggregation by sex, location and ethnicity is improving but does not yet support adequate analysis and policy formulation. The data collection carried out as part of the MDG reporting process in 2003 and 2004 highlighted a number of data gaps that remain unaddressed. There are a range of reasons for the data constraints including poor coordination between line ministries and agencies and between donors and development partners on data collection and analysis efforts. In addition, Government lacks the human resources and financial capacity to undertake data collection, analysis and reporting. At this stage the decree on statistics is yet to be adequately implemented. Data collection and analysis is also expensive, requiring continued and consistent support from international partners.

A number of initiatives have been put in place to strengthen data management capacity in the Lao PDR, linked to strengthening monitoring and reporting capacity. The National Statistics Centre is being supported to improve data collection, and line ministries are being supported to enhance their collection of primary data. Lao Info a version of Dev Info software is to be launched in November 2005, this will enhance data accessibility and monitoring of the Millennium Development Goals in Lao PDR. Towards the end of 2005 a number of important data collection exercises will be concluded that will greatly assist in strengthening statistical knowledge in the Lao PDR, including the ten-year census (later conducted in March 2005), a reproductive health survey, and a HIV AIDS survey. The UNCT considered delaying the CCA until such data was available, however this implied delaying the next UNDAF programming cycle and was therefore not a viable option.

The National Statistics Centre currently holds primary responsibility for data collection and analysis and has recently acquired a software package to better manage national data. This program will provide a one-stop data management capacity for monitoring indicators at the outcome and impact level in the Lao PDR, including indicators for monitoring the CCA and UNDAF, the NGPES, ASEAN indicators, the MDGs, the National Human Development Report, and other Government reporting needs.

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