Strengthening Statistical Capacity in Support of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)
The major interventions included:
The upgrading and populating of the Electronic CARICOM Institute for Statistics Training and Research (e-CISTAR) platform to facilitate and sustain statistical capacity-building, geared towards sustainable production of statistics in the Region. The platform will provide nationals of the Community access to training courses in statistics. The courses are designed in modules to allow learners to access information in small chunks as well as be able to define their individual learning paths. The platform also provide knowledge products (statistical information) and serves as a facility for statistical research.
Establishment of a Central Repository for Statistics at the CARICOM Secretariat. The subproject, which was started in September 2022 and operationalized in July 2024, involved the transformation and integration of existing datasets with the RSP in a central repository.
The central repository, containing statistical data from Member countries, will provide decision makers with core, high quality statistics to facilitate evidence-based decision making and strengthen the CARICOM Statistical System.
The use of a Central repository for statistical data has several advantages. These include, among others,
Standardisation and harmonisation of statistical information and data;
The central repository can serve as a backup for the statistics of the national statistical organisations of Member States; and
In the event of data corruption or loss of data due to natural disasters and other causes, it will be easier to restore data to its original state from the central repository.
Development and Implementation of a Generic Statistical Business Process Model (GSBPM). The GSBPM provides a standardised approach to statistical workflows, ensuring that National Statistical Offices (NSOs) and other relevant agencies within the CARICOM Statistical System (CSS) adopt best practices aligned with global standards. A twelfth-month consultancy (August 2024-June 2025) focused on building capacity and strengthening technical expertise within NSOs across the Member States to maximise its adoption and effectiveness.
Implementation of the CARICOM Quality Assurance Framework for Statistics (CQAF) and a System of Peer Reviews against the CARICOM Code of Good Statistical Practices (CGSP) through a consultancy. Activities connected thereto started in November 2024 and were completed one year later. The consultancy provided relevant guidance on approach(es) to enable the NSOs of The Bahamas, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis and Suriname to commence the process of implementation of the CQAF based on national work plans.
The project also involved the development and piloting of a Peer Review (PR) methodology tailored to the CARICOM context. The CGSP Peer Review was developed in alignment with the general PR methodology. Peer reviewers were trained to carry out the pilot peer reviews in Grenada (April 2025), Belize (May 2025), St. Vincent and the Grenadines (June 2025) and Trinidad and Tobago (July 2025).
Designation of five Centres of Excellence in particular areas of statistics. These are Belize for ICT and Census, Grenada for Census (particularly CAPI applications), St. Kitts and Nevis for Merchandise Trade, Suriname for Gender and Environment and Trinidad and Tobago for Prices.
In addition, there was the usual technical support to the NSOs of Member States in application of methodologies and expanding data sources for economic statistics. Support was also given to the most recent round of the Population and Housing Census in the form of census data cleaning and analysis; training in Census data analysis, interpretation and dissemination using GIS and infographics; and a regional training workshop in GIS in October 2025. The workshop was convened to strengthen the capacity of CARICOM Member States to integrate geospatial information into census processes and statistical dissemination. The focus was on developing practical skills in the use of GIS tools within the broader context of modernising official statistics.
