Social Statistics for Human Development Reports and Millennium Development Goal Reports: Challenges and Constraints

The preparation of over 564 Human Development Reports (HDRs) at various levels and, more recently, over 100 Millennium Development Goal Reports (MDGRs) have placed enormous demands on the national statistical systems across countries. While the evolving of newer indices designed to capture more qualitative dimensions of living pose one set of challenges, the need to compile data on much more specific indicators that are monitored over a long period of time in the MDGRs poses another set of challenges. Moreover, the spread of Right to Information and similar movements across countries has meant that, increasingly, questions are being raised about the ways in which information is collected and disseminated. The main objectives of the paper are to examine: the emerging statistical requirements for reporting on National HDRs and MDGRs, to examine their implications for generation and dissemination of data by National Statistical Systems, and to suggest alternatives to ensure that the 'process' that enables the National Statistical Systems to collate and disseminate data are in keeping with the principles of participation and transparency.