Heads of Planning and Statistics (HOPS)

The Heads of Planning and Statistics (HOPS) convene every two years (depending on availability of resources) bringing together the most senior officials responsible for the production and use of statistics at national levels around the Pacific region. The role of HOPS is to provide senior-level strategic oversight, guidance, recommendations and decisions on statistical matters of importance to the region. These recommendations are then, through active cooperation and collaboration between SPC and the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS), incorporated into a standing agenda item paper on statistical governance and financing which is presented each year at the annual Forum Economic Ministers Meeting (FEMM). 

HOPS provides a regular institutional interface between National Statistics Offices (NSOs), senior national planning and policy analysts, development partners and SPC to build and sustain collaborative relationships which are crucial to the successful implementation of the Ten-Year Pacific Statistics Strategy 2011–2020 (TYPSS), the Strategic Framework for Pacific Statistics, 2022–2030 and other statistics initiatives in the Pacific. 

The emphasis is on strengthening the regional statistical governance structure, coordination of the five-year core statistics collection programme across the region, statistics dissemination and building knowledge products to assist PICTs in developing evidence-based policymaking.

Board members

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John Igitoi

Chair – National Statistician, PNG NSO

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Samuel Grundler

Vice Chair – Deputy Secretary, Nauru Planning and Aid Division

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Sione Lolohea

Vice Chair – Government Statistician, Tonga NSO