More on Misuse of Statistics: time to speak out - 22 February 2021
This event is a call to action at the national, regional and global level: where there is misuse of statistics it is time to speak out. The event will build on the webinar hosted by the International Association for Official Statistics (IAOS) on 6 October 2020.
The aim is to examine the issues raised from diverse perspectives and propose solutions to an issue that matters greatly to all members of the Statistical Commission and is relevant to many of the items on the agenda for the 52nd meeting. A number of papers on this topic will also be published in the Statistical Journal.
Eurostat and SCORUS: Regional and local statistics for more informed policy making - 26 - 27 October 2020
Speakers: L. Franconi, M. Mantuano, D. Ichim, Italian National Institute of Statistics. K. Loik, Statistics Estonia. V. Angelova, Statistics Bulgaria. J.Gaffuri, Eurostat. C. Ozguzel, OECD. A. Onnerfors, Eurostat. M. Diaz Ramirez, OECD. M. Kamphorst and J. Van der Valk, CBS.
You can view the presentations from the webinar here.
New World Order and Official Statistics in Nigeria - 22 October 2020
Speakers: Prof. O. E. Olubusoye, Dr Pieter Everaers, Dr Iyabode F. Oyenuga and Prof. D. A. Agunbiade
Misuse of Statistics: Time to Speak Out - 6 October 2020
Speakers: Ed Humperson, Director General, Office for Statistics Regulation, UK with panellists Martine Durand, Pali Lehohla, Andreas Georgiou and Hernan Munoz
The IAOS is very pleased to announce the results of the 2020 YSP competition. Once again, the standard was very high, and we would like to thank all those who entered. This year, in addition to first, second and third place winners, a new category for a paper from a developing nation was awarded
The winner will present their paper at the next IAOS conference. Winning papers are also eligible to be published in a future issue of the SJIAOS.
The IAOS would like to congratulate the winners and thank all entrants. We would also like to thank the International Judging panel for their efforts.
2018 First-prize winner, Ms. Helle Visk, receiving her award at the IAOS-OECD Conference in Paris, France (19-21 September 2018). Also in this photo (from left to right), Ms Gemma Van Halderen (YSP Coordinator), Mr. Mario Palma (IAOS President 2017-2019), Peter Van de Ven (Head of National Accounts, OECD).
2017 IAOS Prize for Young Statisticians
2017 First-prize winner, Ms. Hannah Thomas, presenting her paper at the 61st ISI World Statistics Congress in Marrakech, Morocco, in July 2017.
2016 First-prize winner, Mr. Rolando Gonzales Martinez, receiving his award from Ms. Ola Awad (IAOS President 2015-2017) at the 15th IAOS Conference in Abu Dhabi, UAE (6-8 December 2016).
2015 IAOS Prize for Young Statisticians
2015 First-prize winner, Mr. Andreas Mayer, presenting his paper at the 60th ISI World Statistics Congress in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 26-31 July 2015.
The results of the 2013 IAOS Prize for Young Statisticians are as follows: First Prize Using kernel methods to visualise crime data by Kieran Martin and Martin Ralphs [United Kingdom]
I feel very fortunate to have been elected as President of the International Association for Official Statistics for the period 2019-21.
I have the good fortune to be following Mario Palma, and his predecessors in the role. They have built the Association into what it is today and my task is made all the easier by their leadership over many years.
I also have the good fortune to be part of a brilliant and diverse newly elected Executive Committee (EXCO) team [ https://www.iaos-isi.org/index.php/latestnews/246-announcement-iaos-executive-committe-2019-2021 ]. The IAOS is an entirely voluntary Association and the commitment of those who are elected to serve is testament to how much they care about the role of official statistics in serving the public good across the globe.
Finally, I have the good fortune to come into the role at a critical time for our community: the need for trustworthy numbers to guide decision making is everywhere evident; the opportunities arising from new data sources, technologies and methods are tantalising; and the IAOS has a unique place, both in upholding the centrality of official statistics to effective democracy and in calling out those who seek to undermine it and seduce others to ignore evidence and instead rely on anecdote, whim or populist rhetoric.
Now is a time for us to find our voice.
One month into the role I am greatly encouraged. The World Statistics Congress in Kuala Lumpur (with IAOS EXCO member Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin, Chair of the organising committee, a most wonderful host) included many sessions organised by the IAOS and many other sessions strongly linked to our interests, such as on statistical literacy.
I particularly enjoyed the passion displayed in the session on official statistics and Parliaments organised by our founding President, Jean-Louis Bodin (one of no less than eight IAOS Presidents present at the WSC). There are plenty of other highlights on YouTube [
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My thanks also to Rolando Ocampo, who was the IAOS representative on the WSC Scientific Committee.
Our new Executive Committee has got off to a great start and we have launched a consultation into the IAOS strategy for 2019-2021. Make sure you have your say
Plans are well advanced for our conference in Zambia (19-21 May 2020 - note for your diary) which promises to be an exciting celebration of all that we value as a professional community.
Our Journal is thriving and developing fast in the hands of new Editor-in-Chief, Pieter Everaers and his impressive editorial team. Do you have a paper or an article that could inspire others? Or a contribution to make to our online discussion platform? Register at www.officialstatistics.com and have your say! Our first discussion topic is based on the recently published article “You say you want a [data] revolution”: A proposal to use unofficial statistics for the SDG Global Indicator Framework by Steve MacFeely and Bojan Nastav.
It was a great joy for me to present the Young Statisticians Prizes for 2019 at the closing ceremony of the World Statistics Congress. Congratulations again to the 2019 winners. YSP 2020 is our tenth year. Do look out for good nominees. Applications for 2020 are now open http://www.iaos-isi.org/index.php/statistics-prize with a cash prize and a trip to Zambia on offer for the winners.
There are plenty of other opportunities too to contribute to the work of the IAOS. As well as the Conference, Journal and Young Statisticians Prize we are looking for people to help with communications, including engagement on social media and development of our website. Contact us to get involved at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or at https://twitter.com/IAOS_stat
Our membership has been growing fast but with more members we can do even more: if you have not joined yet do so; if you are already a member get a friend (or maybe five or more...) to sign up https://www.iaos-isi.org/index.php/about-us/join-us ]. We have had to increase the membership rates for 2020 to cover overhead charges levied on us by the ISI, but the new full member rate of E50 for the year remains great value and there are discounts for members in developing countries, students, individuals who work in an organisation who is an institutional member and Journal article contributors.
It is also important that we share experience and support each other. The case of Andreas Georgiou is an especially important one. The support given by Kathy Wallman and others in a recent letter to the Financial Times (Brussels must assess Greek judicial reform efforts ) calling for an end to the persecution of Andreas will hopefully make a difference.
As for me, I will be out and about spreading the word. September’s activities include the Bloomberg Data for Good Exchange [ https://www.bloomberg.com/lp/d4gx/], the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data Board meeting [www.data4sdgs.org/], meetings with Director of the United Nations Statistics Division and his colleagues, and the Valuing Statistics conference.
I have been enjoying getting to know lots more people over the last month. The more I see, the more impressed I am with what is going on in our network. I can also more clearly see the potential for the official statistics community to have a stronger voice and greater impact for public good in countries around the world.
The Young Statistician Prize 2020 is well underway. Please reach out to your networks and encourage submissions. This year we have introduced a new category of Honourable Mention for an author from a developing country. We have also brought the submission date forward to 30 November in order to make announcements ahead of the 2020 Conference in Zambia. So please, if you haven’t put in a submission yet, get writing soon.
We have also announced the call for papers for the 2020 conference. (https://www.iaos-isi.org/index.php/conferences)
The conference Better Lives 2030: Mobilising the power of data for Africa and the world -17th IAOS Conference/ 1st ISI Regional Statistics Conference for Africa, Hosted by the Zambia Statistics Agency will take place at the Avani Hotel, Livingstone, Zambia, 19-21 May 2020. Proposals for sessions, papers as well as events before and after the conference close on 31 December 2019.
In my last message I mentioned four events I was due to attend. The first, the Bloomberg Data for Good Exchange (DG4X) (https://www.bloomberg.com/lp/d4gx/ ), was an inspiring gathering of mainly private sector data scientists keen to work on public good projects. Michael Bloomberg’s influence as former Mayor of New York was clear through a number of excellent project case studies featuring cities from around the world.
The second event was the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data Board meeting ( www.data4sdgs.org ). We discussed how best the Partnership can scale its impact now it has become well established. Learning from the very positive developments in official statistics in Ghana provided an excellent touch point for our discussion.
The third event was meetings with Stefan Schweinfest, Director of the United Nations Statistics Division and two of his Branch Heads Francesca Perucci and Ronald Jansen (Ronald is also an IAOS EXCO member). They are all keen to build links with our community and I discussed with them opportunities coming up, including through our conference next year.
The fourth event was the conference on Valuing Statistics hosted by the United Kingdom. This event was about taking the conclusions of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) report (www.unece.org/index.php?id=51139 ) and turning them into concrete actions. I used the occasion to set out the important role played by the IAOS.
Finally, I was a speaker at the PARIS21 Cross-Regional Forum ( https://paris21.org/news-center/events/cross-regional-forum-2019 ) which has been focused on the issue of trust in Official Statistics. There was a super line up of speakers to help delegates get creative and inspired to act. PARIS21 launched their Trust Initiative at the event (https://trustinitiative2020.paris21.org/ ). Do consider whether you want to apply.
In the weeks ahead, following a meeting of EXCO, I will be visiting our colleagues at the Zambia CSO to help take forward planning for our conference and also attending the ISI/IFC meeting on Data Governance in Tunis.
If you have some other opportunities to spread the word about the IAOS, or have information to share with others interested in official statistics, contact me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
The 2017-2019 Strategic Plan was discussed at the 2017 General Assembly. This plan builds on the previous Strategic Plan, the new ISI Strategy, and a SWOT analysis. The Strategic objectives of the new plan seek to promote the understanding and advancement of official statistics, and to foster the development of effective and efficient official statistical services, particularly in developing countries, through international contacts among individuals and organizations, including users of official statistics as well as research institutions.
The strategic objectives are:
Providing forum for analysis and discussion of the most relevant issues in official statistics
Be a recognised vehicle for spreading knowledge in official statistics
Increase and diverify IAOS membership
Invest in creating mutual beneficial partnerships
Strengthen communicatons with relevant actor related to official statistics
Contribute to the promotion and defence of the fundamental principles of official statistics
Institutionalise IAOS functions
IAOS members and supporters are encouraged to plan
The 2015 -2017 Strategy had a strong focus on improve and develop the services of IAOS to meet the growing challenges facing official statistics as well as the improvement of statistical infrastructure in developing countries. The plan focused on enhancing relevancy, visibility and partnership as well as institutionalization.
