Heads of Government endorse Regional Strategy for the Development of Statistics (RSDS)

The Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) have endorsed the framework for the Regional Strategy for the Development of Statistics (RSDS).

The RSDS is being developed to strengthen and improve the availability of quality statistics for evidence-based decision-making across the Region. It is considered to be the Region’s gateway to building resilience and achieving sustainable development that is anchored on sound data.

The Heads of Government made their decision during the Thirty-Ninth Regular Meeting of the Conference of the Heads of Government of CARICOM. Their endorsement completes Phase One of the RSDS development plan, which was built on the results of the Diagnostic Assessment of the National Statistical Offices (NSOs) of Caribbean countries, which was done in 2011/2013.

The approval has given CARICOM the green light to develop a comprehensive Implementation Plan for the RSDS and to pursue a Resource Mobilisation Strategy for the CARICOM RSDS implementation, a Monitoring and Evaluation Framework and a Communication and Advocacy Strategy.

Both the Member States and the CARICOM Secretariat were encouraged to allocate the necessary human resources needed at both national and regional levels to implement the strategy successfully.

The RSDS was jointly produced by the Standing Committee of Caribbean Statisticians (SCCS) and with funding support of the Partnership in Statistics for Development in the 21st Century (PARIS21). The Heads of Government placed on record their appreciation to PARIS21 for its support to the Region. (Reporting by Nikita Blair)