Bosna i HercegovinaAgencija za statistiku Bosne i Hercegovine

Bosnia and HerzegovinaAgency for Statistics of Bosnia and Herzegovina

PARIS 21 Meeting on Strategic Planning in Statistical Development for Fragile and Post-Conflict States

Experience of European Country Bosnia and Herzegovina

New York, 20 February 2010

Background

Bosnia and Herzegovina:

Geographic position: South East of Europe, Balkan peninsula Territory: 51.197 sq km Estimated population: 3.8 millionCapital: Sarajevo Recognised by UN in 1992

Statistics of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BH)

Statistical system in BH reflects complex institutional structure of the state:

LegislationThe BH Law on Statistics was imposed by OHR (Office of High Representative) in 2004

The responsibility of the Agency for Statistics of BH (Agency):

• To define statistical standards,• to produce and disseminate statistical data at the State• international representation and co-operation

The Director of Agency - the Chief Statistician of Bosnia and Herzegovina

The Entities legislation not fully harmonised with the state level legislation

Strategic planningAt the state level through consultations with Entity statistical institutes

Multi-annual Statistical Programme and annual plans haveto be are approved by the Council of Ministers of BH

The Statistical Council- advisory body (11 members, six out of them coming from statistical institutions)

The Entities strategic documents have to be aligned with the State level documents

Strategic planning, continuation

The latest adopted is Multi-annual Statistical Programme 2009-2012.Priorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the process of Euro Atlantic integrationsProfessional and reliable producer of high quality statistics comparable Data in line with EU and international standards and regulations.

Strategic planning, continuation

Our vision: • Compliance with international and, especially, EU

standards and regulations;• User-friendly orientation;• More modern approach in collecting, processing and

dissemination of data ;• Improving quality of statistical data;• Implementation of new ICT technologies and

innovations;• Application of the same statistical legislation,

Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics and European Statistics Code of Practice, by all producers of statistics;

• Capable and motivated staff;• Improving working conditions.

Strategic planning, continuation

Lengthy and quite slow process (three institutes involved)State level priorities not recognised as the first and most important by the Entities institutions One Entity requests the production of certain state level statistics Agreement on the implementation of harmonized methodologies and standards in preparing the statistical data

Problems of Statistics in Bosnia and Herzegovina

• Lack of cooperation between entities statistical institues• Cooperation with other relevant institutions insufficient • Administrative data sources not properly established

still • Insufficient number of employees • Limited absorption capacity and sustainability of

achieved results • Lack of professional knowledge is evident in many areas

Problems of Statistics in Bosnia and Herzegovina, continuation

• Financing big statistical activities still depends on donors

• The development of methodologies takes time

• Unavailability of required micro data at the state level

• Data dissemination is not well established

• 

•Major obstacle - political context (Complex political situation reflects in statistics)

The example of negative political influence: Population and Housing Census in BH, round 2010

Problems of Statistics in Bosnia and Herzegovina, continuation

Risks:

• continuation of current policy in general and its reflection in the statistics

• existence of three parallel statistical laws• not harmonized strategic dokument and plans• lack of cooperation between all “players” in

the statistical system• insufficient finance resources for further

development• insufficient human resources

Conclusions

Bosnia and Herzegovina has complex administrative structure and harmonization of legislation goesslowly

Problems in statistics similar to those in other small countries but also specific ones

Change of political climate is a precondition for better functioning of the statistical system

Better cooperation between statistical institutes and work on common priorities and objectives are necessary

Thank you for your attention!

Zdenko MilinovicDirector

Agency for Statistics of Bosnia and HerzegovinaZelenih Beretki 26, 71000 Sarajevo

Bosnia and HerzegovinaTel: + 387 33 22 06 26

E-mail: milinovicz@bhas.ba

Statistics of Bosnia and Herzegovina at: www.bhas.ba