1. Governance
of the
Pacific Vital Statistics
Action Plan 2011-2014
Karen Carter, Vital Statistics & Civil Registration Specialist &
Dr Gerald Haberkorn, Manager
Statistics for Development Division, Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC)
Audrey Aumua
University of Queensland Health Information Systems Hub (UQ HIS Hub) and
World Health Organization (WHO)
on behalf of the Brisbane Accord Group

2. Development of the Pacific Vital Statistics
Action Plan
• In 2010 the HIS Hub at UQ convened a meeting in Brisbane of a number of
agencies concerned with improving vital statistics in the Pacific region.
• From this meeting the Brisbane Accord Group (BAG) was established with
the aim of
– providing strategic and technical support to countries around vital
statistics improvements,
– providing a more coordinated response from partner agencies, and
– to ensure partner agencies’ support to SPC, where forthcoming, is
compatible with SPC implementation of the Ten Year Pacific
Statistics Strategy.
• The Pacific Vital Statistics Action Plan was subsequently developed by this
group at their second meeting

3. The Brisbane Accord Group (BAG)
• Partners include University of Queensland HIS Hub, SPC, UNFPA, WHO,
UNICEF, PHIN, ABS and the Queensland University of Technology.

4. The Pacific Vital Statistics Action Plan
2011-2014
• The overarching aim of the plan is to assist Pacific countries
to improve their statistics on birth, deaths, and cause-of-
death through routine collections and thereby provide
decision-makers with the evidence needed for effective
planning.
• The plan sits under the framework of the Ten Year Pacific
Statistics Strategy (TYPSS) 2011-2020.

5. The Ten Year Pacific Statistics Strategy
(TYPSS)
• The TYPSS has been endorsed by all PICT statistical agencies as well as
both SPC’s 40th CRGA meeting and subsequent Ministerial conference,
and Pacific Islands Forum Secretariats’ Finance and Economic Ministers
Meeting (FEMM) in October 2010.
• Coordination and oversight of the implementation of the Strategy is the
responsibility of SPC and the Pacific Statistics Steering Committee (PSSC)
• PSSC is comprised of six Pacific Island government statisticians and four
representatives from financial and technical partners (AusAID, ADB,
UNFPA and University of the South Pacific (USP)).

6. Governance Structure International
Bodies
(simplified)
Pacific Island Countries (and Territories)
Committee of Representatives of
Governments and Administrations Finance and Health
(CRGA) Economic Ministers Ministers
Ten Year Pacific Statistics
Strategy
Overseen / Coordinated by
Pacific Statistics Steering
Committee
Pacific Vital Statistics Action Plan
Implemented by Country HIS
Brisbane Accord Group professionals
SPC UQ HISHUB ABS QUT FNU UNSW PHIN UNICEF WHO UNFPA

7. The Pacific Vital Statistics Action Plan
2011-2014
• The plan is:
– IMPLEMENTED by both COUNTRIES and BAG AGENCIES
– SUPPORTED (with financial and Technical assistance) by
ALL BAG agencies
– SPC and UQ HIS Hub act as the focal point
• The process:
– Support countries to develop plans based on a systematic
assessment
– Provide TA and support to assist countries to meet the
goals and targets in their plans

8. Governance Strengths
• A clear structure that links the plan directly back to countries
(and a broader range of interested agencies through the
PSCC)
• Mandate for engagement and relationships at multi levels of
country systems
• Regular mechanisms for review (within BAG and with
countries)
• All partners bring both technical skills and regional knowledge
to the table
• Commitment by partner agencies to a set of guiding principles
in the implementation of the plan.

9. Principles of the BAG Group
The following principles have been established by the BAG partners in
relation to the operation of the plan and BAG activities under this
arrangement.
• The scope of BAG activities is limited to births, deaths and cause-of-
death.
• Technical assistance by partner agencies related to improving vital
statistics in the Pacific will be coordinated through BAG.
• Technical assistance to countries should be requested by the countries
themselves through country planning processes
• A coordinated approach to Technical assistance is essential to make the
most out of the available resources, and assistance provided in one area
should not be to the detriment of others – a coordinated approach is
essential.

10. Principles of the BAG Group
• Progress with the initiative needs to be reported regularly to regional
governance structures, such as the six monthly Pacific Statistics Steering
Committee which oversights the implementation of the Ten Year Pacific
Statistics strategy, as well as the biannual Pacific Health Ministers’ meeting.
• The mandate for working in-country comes through the partnership with
agencies such as WHO, UNFPA, UNICEF and SPC which are expected to do
so. More broadly, the initiative has been embedded, with partners
agreement, within the Ten Year Pacific Statistics Strategy in order to
ensure political support at the highest level in all Pacific countries and
provide a formal governance structure.

11. CENTRAL COORDINATION
Technical assistance by partner agencies related to improving vital statistics
in the Pacific will be coordinated through BAG.
• All agencies are equal partners that bring resources and expertise
• Focal point is SPC and UQ HIS Hub
• Coordination does not limit partner activities
– Some activities multi-agencies
– Some activities run by one partner
• Improves return on investment for countries by building on each others
programs
• Reduces duplication (thereby freeing resources for needs that have not
been addressed)
• Improves consistency of message
• Countries also encouraged to coordinate through a national committee

12. Mechanisms for coordination
• Partner Meetings (approx 2 per year)
• BAG meetings provide an opportunity for partners to talk about
strategic issues and to update the plan based on new intelligence;
table technical and financial commitments to the plan; and ensure
active engagement and commitment to the process.
• Update meetings at shared events
• Regular teleconferences and email discussion
• Decisions on division of TA requests/ identified priorities are driven by
organisational roles and consensus.
• It works because of mutual respect and recognition of partner strengths
• Planning and response is an open, collaborative process.

13. COUNTRY OWNERSHIP
Technical assistance to countries should be requested by the countries
themselves
• Entry points to country systems are strategic – part of a bigger process
within countries towards developing and supporting national approaches
• Technical assistance is focussed on
– Initially assisting countries to assess their own systems and determine
priorities and needs
– Working with countries to look at solutions for identified priorities and
needs
– Providing training and support in areas identified by countries as
required. E.g.: cause of death certification & attachments
• Ongoing contact and support is a major part of the plan
• Reporting back through country mechanisms
• PHIN plays a central role in providing country leadership, facilitation and
planning intelligence.

14. Conclusion - Success factors of the
governance structure
• Collaborative process
• Relationships are central
• Commitment from partners - in terms of inputs (technical
expertise, time, $$ ) and approach
• We are accountable to countries and to each other
– Through reporting structures
– Principles of the BAG group