Enhancing Belize’s National Data Capacity for Effective Governance and Development

The World Bank’s Poverty and Equity Global Practice for Latin America and the Caribbean, in partnership with the Statistical Institute of Belize (SIB), released an incisive report titled Assessing Statistical Needs in Belize for Data-Driven Decision-Making. The authors, Jacobus Joost de Hoop, Alejandro Medina-Giopp, and Gabrielle Michelle Hulse, evaluated the strengths and shortcomings of Belize’s statistical framework, providing a roadmap for future enhancements. The overarching goal was to support Belize in building a resilient statistical system to inform and influence public policy, development planning, and international reporting obligations.

Impressive Progress but Persistent Gaps

Belize has made notable progress in its statistical development, most visibly reflected in the country’s improved Statistical Performance Indicators (SPI) score. Rising from 47.7 in 2016 to 65.1 in 2023, Belize outperformed many of its regional peers. This 36.58% increase positions Belize just below the Latin America and Caribbean regional average and still short of upper-middle-income benchmarks. The SPI evaluates performance across five pillars: data use, data services, data products, data sources, and data infrastructure. Belize has shown the most striking improvements in data services, particularly in data openness, metadata availability, and non-proprietary access formats. However, data infrastructure continues to be the weakest area, hampered by regulatory inefficiencies and underdeveloped quality assurance mechanisms.

Inside the Statistical Needs Assessment

To complement the SPI analysis, a detailed Statistical Needs Assessment (SNA) was jointly undertaken by the World Bank and the SIB. Using a self-assessment tool, the SNA covered six critical domains: organizational structure, human resources, data collection, data analysis, IT systems, and methodologies. Scores ranged from 0 (lowest) to 4 (highest), and Belize’s average score of 2.85 was commendable, especially when compared to countries like Suriname (2.32) and Haiti (1.68). The assessment revealed that SIB’s strongest pillar is human resources, thanks to consistent training, favorable compensation, and well-established internal policies. In contrast, the weakest area is data collection and openness, with significant shortcomings in utilizing administrative data, statistical business registers, and health-related statistics.

Challenges in Data Collection and Coordination

Despite its legal authority under the 2006 SIB Act to coordinate Belize’s National Statistical System (NSS), the SIB lacks a structured framework for inter-agency coordination. While bilateral collaborations exist with entities like the Tax Department and the Social Security Board, these are not standardized, leaving critical data sources siloed. Moreover, the absence of an advisory council limits the inclusion of public and private sector insights into national statistical planning. On the data production front, the SIB has innovated by integrating multidimensional and monetary poverty modules into the biannual Labor Force Survey. This shift allows for more regular poverty monitoring, circumventing the infrequency of traditional sources like the Household Budgetary Survey and the Country Poverty Assessment. However, health data remains a concern, the last Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) was conducted in 2015, with the 2020 round postponed first by the census and then by the COVID-19 pandemic. A new round is planned for 2024.

A Vision for Strategic Reform and Investment

The report outlines a robust action plan to address the identified gaps and optimize Belize’s statistical machinery. A top priority is the finalization and implementation of the National Strategy for the Development of Statistics (NSDS). This strategy should encompass governance structures, institutional partnerships, and targeted data development plans. It must also prioritize the integration of administrative data, which remains the weakest link in Belize’s data ecosystem. Harmonizing statistical production with the country’s Medium-Term Development Strategy indicators is essential for coherent national planning.

To achieve these reforms, the SIB must also address staffing shortfalls, particularly for roles that facilitate coordination across NSS agencies. Investing in new human resources and modern technological platforms, such as data visualization tools, online dashboards, and robust knowledge management systems, will enable better data access and public engagement. Updating the Microdata Access Policy to cater to a wider range of users and increasing the availability of machine-readable datasets are also part of the proposed improvements.

Looking Ahead: From Foundation to Leadership

Belize’s SIB has a strong foundation built on human capacity and institutional legitimacy. With strategic planning and targeted investments, the SIB can expand its role as both a producer and coordinator of national data. This involves not just improving data quality and accessibility but also fostering a culture of data use across government and society. The integration of innovative methodologies, technological tools, and inclusive stakeholder engagement will be key. With these advancements, Belize can emerge not only as a regional leader in statistical performance but also as a model for how data can empower governance, drive development, and uplift communities.