Animated video highlights importance of household surveys

OECS Statistical Services Unit works toward data collection sensitisation

Wednesday, May 24, 2017 — The OECS Commission is working with development partners to assure the security and wellbeing of citizens through improved data collection on living conditions.

The OECS Household Survey Animation, funded by the Government of Canada, will serve as groundwork for the OECS Statistical Advocacy and Communication Programme and will assist National Statistics Offices (NSOs) in public sensitisation efforts.

The short animation targets the general public and outlines the purpose, process and use of household surveys. The importance of public participation in data collection is also highlighted as this is crucial to effective information gathering and can greatly impact livelihoods.

Ms. Loverly Anthony, Statistical Development Officer for Advocacy at the OECS Commission, said videos are essential communication and advocacy tools.

“Visual media is a strategic means to engage people to create change. The aim is to increase awareness and support for statistics and the NSOs by increasing the visibility of statistics in positive contexts and by communicating why the NSOs’ function is valuable.

“These advocacy tools bring the messages of statistics to a more diverse audience,” Ms. Anthony said.

The video campaign is expected to provide essential content and will be a key element of the OECS Commission’s strategic statistical advocacy efforts to create an enabling environment to support critical areas for statistical development.

The typical surveys that are conducted in the OECS include:

a) Labour Force Surveys: that help monitor and measure levels of employment;

b) Survey on Living Conditions: to establish poverty lines and identify the poor;

c) Household Budget Surveys: to assess how households spend money on goods and services;

d) Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys: which provide data on characteristics of women and children;

e) Health and Wellness Surveys: which collect data on the population’s health; and

f) Other ad hoc surveys on Youth, ICT, Environment and Agriculture.

The Statistical Services Unit (SSU) was formally established in 2015, pursuant to the mandate established in the Revised Treaty of Basseterre which directs Member States to coordinate, harmonise and undertake joint actions and pursue joint policies in several key areas including statistics and information dissemination.

The SSU thus satisfies this overarching objective by representing the OECS Commission as a key player to configure, resource and maintain an inter-dependent and well-coordinated system of statistical governance, operations and cooperation.