One of the objectives of the Government of the Republic of Serbia is to create a sound statistical basis for reliable measurement of all dimensions of poverty and social exclusion on an ongoing basis. The basic preconditions for meeting this objective are precisely defined poverty indicators, as well as continuous work toward upgrading the quality of available data. At the point of drafting of PRSP, the indicator set was rather extensive, with more than 100 outcome and more than 160 process indicators

Indicators are necessary in order to enable the monitoring of strategy implementation from the initial input into a particular strategy or activity, to the monitoring of concrete reform trends and monitoring of implementation of specific projects and activities within the PRSP, to the achievement of immediate outputs of activities.

The revised overview of indicators is to indicate which of the identified PRSP indicators can be matched with available data and identifying data gaps and stakeholders involved in data collection. The overview also provides information on whether the data are disposable at the local level and whether they are segregated according to age groups, gender or vulnerable groups recognized by the PRS.

The set of indicators is still very extensive and includes over 120 indicators due to the need to continue with monitoring different poverty dimensions and poverty impact to the status of various vulnerable groups.

It should be taken into account that data are possible to obtain for most indicators. It is estimated that by the existing data sources, or with their slight modification, some 95% of given outcome indicators can be obtained.

The new list of indicators differs from the previous list by having removed a number of process indicators achieved in the period since the PRS was adopted. The recommendation of the Poverty Reduction Strategy Implementation Focal Point to line ministries implementing the PRS is that ministers should define process indicators at the annual level as an integral part of their Yearly Operational Plans (GOP).

At the same time, the process PRS indicators should indicate the level of achievement of the PRS-set objectives, as well as the medium-term objectives of ministries as defined in their respective GOPs.

The list has also been revised in the sense that new indicators have been added. The need for this stems from the fact that a number of new sector strategies have been developed following the adoption of the PRS, which are linked to the PRS and whose monitoring requires an introduction of additional indicators. Their selection has been performed in consultations with relevant ministries and the process should be continued.

Of course, the indicator list is not final. We plan to finalise the list upon receiving feedback from all interested parties, and to prioritize indicators (3-5 indicators per sector) in order to make the monitoring of PRSP implementation as efficient, cost-effective, realistic and purposeful as possible.

We hope that thus revised and updated list of PRS indicators shall contribute to a more efficient monitoring of impact and effects of the implementation of the Poverty Reduction Strategy in Serbia.

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