Statistical systems in many low- and middle-income countries often face the challenge of producing timely, relevant and accessible data to inform national development planning and monitoring exercises. This arises in part from (and is reflected in) an inability to attract adequate funding. A lack of funding, in turn, exacerbates the difficulties statistical systems face in fulfilling their mandate.

Breaking through this vicious cycle requires a better understanding of what factors have been shown to improve statistical systems and the role that finance plays in this process.

This scoping study takes a first step towards mapping out the building blocks of a robust statistical system by trying to better understand the circular relationship between the availability of finance and the development of statistical systems, and to identify good practices in raising financial support for statistics.