Strengthening the State’s Statistical, Geographic and Evaluation Information System in the State of Yucatán 96079 October 18, 2010 FOUNDATIONS FOR A M&E SYSTEM A Strategy for the Development of Statistics in the State of Yucatán, México Overview Through technical assistance from IBRD, the State of Yucatán has developed essentially the first State Strategy for the Development of Statistics. The project has facilitated consensus of the information priorities among key state and national stakeholders. In doing so, it has created a model for replication in other states in Mexico and beyond, as a first critical building block in the development of a State Monitoring and Evaluation System. Challenge The Mexican Constitution recently prioritized results-based More Results management as the modus operandi for all levels of government. Yet this mandate had been difficult to fulfill, particularly at the state level, given the poor quality, unreliability and limited access to disaggregated information needed for effective decision-making. At the project, program and policy levels, budgetary and programmatic decisions MORE INFORMATION were largely made in a vacuum, following operational trends, Plan Estrategico SIEGEY (s) rather than evidence of impacts. Consequently, the project Presentacion Estrategia SIEGEY sought to identify and address the information challenges (s) faced by state-level producers and users of statistical, geographic and evaluation information through a common Mexico and the World Bank strategy to strengthen the state statistical, geographic and Mexico Country Partnership evaluation information system to support evidence-based Strategy (FY2008-FY2013) decision-making. CPS Progress Report (FY08- FY10) Approach Active Projects in Mexico The basic premise of the project hinged on the idea of trying LAC Results in Action: LAC Monitoring and Evaluation to identify the most critical information needed on a Systems consistent basis by state-level decision-makers to allow for informed decision-making. Following much in the methodology of the National Strategies for the Development of Statistics (NSDS), this technical cooperation sought to replicate the NSDS experience at the state level, yet with a stronger focus on information for monitoring and evaluation of public programs and policies. In doing so, it necessitated an extensive analysis of the existing conditions – principally the demand and supply of information for state decision-making. This required a series of diagnostics, involving in-depth consultations with key stakeholders, to determine the information needs and the current gaps. With a clear picture of the information landscape, a state information strategy was developed to address the institutional, technical and operational aspects of the statistical, geographic and evaluation information system. The project then complemented its activities with additional resources from strategic national and international technical institutions, allowing for initial implementation of the recommendations proposed in the strategy. Results The project has resulted in a clear strategic agenda for information for evidence-based decision-making. This has allowed the state to achieve the following results: Development of a Strategy to Strengthen the State Statistical, Geographic and Evaluation Information System, which has begun implementation through a concrete action plan Collaboration with INEGI to support the disaggregation of statistical data at the state and, where possible, municipal level Documentation of metadata through the provision of software and training provided by the Accelerated Data Program Establishment of the first State Committee for Statistical and Geographic Information in Mexico. Bank Contribution This project was financed through a fee-based service with the Secretary of Planning and Budget (SPP) from the State of Yucatán, México, thus ensuring client ownership. The total cost of this technical cooperation was US$215,000. Partners Much of the success of this project can be attributed to the aligning of various strategic partners in support of the efforts initiated by the SPP. The convening power of the SPP among state and national stakeholders was critical to drawing the actors towards consensus and pushing forward a common agenda. The involvement of the National Statistics Institute (INEGI), not only in terms of their technical contributions to the project, but also in terms of their expressed commitment towards its replication, further strengthened the broader impact of the project beyond the state of Yucatán. Finally, the IBRD was able to leverage additional resources through the Trust Fund for Statistical Capacity Building and the Accelerated Data Program to provide the needed technical tools to move the strategy forward. Moving Forward The project truly served its purpose in establishing the foundations to build a state M&E system, as the SPP has initiated a second fee-based service with the IBRD to advance the information system towards the creation of an M&E system.  In addition, INEGI is exploring the possibility of replicating the experience of Yucatán in other states as well. Beneficiaries The direct beneficiaries of the project have been the more than 65 institutions that comprise the State Information System, which are encompassed through the recently established State Committee for Statistical and Geographic Information.  This includes the SPP, which has been one of the prime beneficiaries, given that the advances in the information system directly affect their principal activities in program planning and budgeting.  But the indirect beneficiaries extend to all citizens of Yucatán who will benefit from more effective public programs that better meet the needs of the population.