Affiliations: [a] European Union and Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Science, Industry and Technology, Çankaya, Ankara, Turkey | [b] International Project Management Group, International Relations Department, Turkish Statistical Institute, Çankaya, Ankara, Turkey | [c] International Cooperation and EU Coordination Group, International Relations Department, Turkish Statistical Institute, Çankaya, Ankara, Turkey
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Alper Gücümengil, Head of International Project Management Group, International Relations Department, Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat), Devlet mah. Necatibey cad. No: 114 06100 Çankaya, Ankara, Turkey. Tel.: +90 312 417 64 45/ext. 164; Mobile: +90 555 337 57 57; Fax: +90 312 417 74 56; E-mail:alpergucumengil@hotmail.com
Abstract: In the modern world, statistics has been playing an important role in policy and decision making processes and in monitoring the results. It has strengthened its statute and position particularly since the industrialization trends in Europe, and has contributed to the positivist and rationalist understanding of the world. National Statistical Offices (NSOs) of all states are under intense pressures from changing needs and user profiles in addition to the growing demands from traditional users. Thus, they need to build capacity to cope with these new challenges. Interestingly, many NSOs in different countries are aware of this fact and have already begun to do something. Within this context, a general framework of capacity building in statistics is outlined in this article. While the importance of capacity building in statistics and steps in this context are dealt with theoretically, the capacity building efforts of TurkStat are also examined during the period between 2000 and 2014 with reference to international projects and national efforts.
Keywords: Capacity building in statistics, importance of statistics, development of statistical system, advancement of official statistics, international statistical projects
