Building Statistical Capacity in Fragile and Conflict-Affected States

IMF Working Papers, February 25, 2022

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The IMF’s Statistics Department capacity development program has prioritized technical assistance and training to fragile and conflict-affected states.
These interventions have yielded only slightly weaker results in fragile states than in other states.
Capacity development is constantly needed to make up for the dissipation of progress resulting from:
- insufficient resources that fragile and conflict-affected states allocate to the statistical function,
- inadequate inter-agency coordination, and
- the pervasive impact of shocks exogenous to the statistical system.
Statistical capacity development is more effective when it is tailored to countries’ level of fragility.

Low or insufficient domestic resource allocation to the statistical function in fragile and conflict-affected states.
Poor inter-agency coordination that undermines sustained statistical system improvements.
Frequent or pervasive exogenous shocks that erode prior capacity development gains.
Low absorptive capacity in fragile states that limits the impact of standard interventions.

Maintain continuous capacity development efforts to offset dissipation of progress.
Increase coordination:
- with other capacity development providers, and
- within the IMF,

to help partially overcome low absorptive capacity in fragile states.

Tailor statistical capacity development interventions to countries’ level of fragility to improve effectiveness.

Yasmin Alem, and Jacinta Bernadette Shirakawa. "Building Statistical Capacity in Fragile and Conflict-Affected States", February 25, 2022.