STATISTICAL INSTITUTE OF BELIZE HOSTS TOOL FOR ASSESSING STATISTICAL CAPACITY (TASC) WORKSHOP

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

STATISTICAL INSTITUTE OF BELIZE HOSTS  TOOL FOR ASSESSING STATISTICAL CAPACITY (TASC) WORKSHOP

BELMOPAN CITY, BELIZE, November 27, 2024 – The Statistical Institute of Belize (SIB), in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), held a workshop yesterday at the Belize Biltmore Plaza. The workshop focused on assessing the statistical capacity of data producers within Belize’s National Statistical System (NSS) using the Tool for Assessing Statistical Capacity (TASC) developed by the U.S. Census Bureau. The workshop brought together over 40 representatives from key data-producing agencies and marked a pivotal step in the SIB’s ongoing efforts to strengthen Belize’s NSS.

The TASC assessment is a core activity under the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA)-funded “Enabling of Belize’s Statistical System Project,” which aims to strengthen Belize’s statistical network to support evidence-based planning and effective monitoring of sustainable development goals. The TASC is an innovative self-assessment tool designed to evaluate a country’s statistical capacity to produce and disseminate essential statistics derived from censuses, surveys, and administrative records. By applying assessment criteria based on international standards for official statistics, the TASC highlights strengths and identifies areas for improvement across various dimensions of statistical operations.

This workshop marked the second implementation of the TASC in Belize, following its initial application in 2016. Results from the first round informed the development of Belize’s first National Strategy for the Development of Statistics (NSDS) in 2018. The 2024 TASC exercise will build on these efforts to identify and address persistent gaps and emerging challenges in producing and disseminating timely and reliable statistics.

The workshop’s outcomes will guide future initiatives, including:

• Developing a comprehensive training plan for NSS agencies in 2025.
• Launching quarterly training programs to address capacity gaps.
• Strengthening NSS coordination and enhancing data quality and comparability through a Quality Assurance Framework.

The SIB remains committed to fostering a data-driven culture in Belize and enhancing its role as the country’s leading institution for statistical development. The SIB will share the TASC results and recommendations with stakeholders to ensure collaborative and impactful improvements in the nation’s statistical infrastructure.

For more information, please contact:

Javier Romero
Communications and Marketing Officer
Statistical Institute of Belize
jromero@mail.sib.org.bz
+501 822 2207 ext. 209

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