Subprogrammes
(UNESCAP Programme of Work, 2006-2007)

Subprogramme 2 - Statistics

Objective of the Organization: To improve the capacity of national statistical systems for monitoring progress towards achieving internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the Millennium Declaration and in the outcomes of major United Nations conferences and international agreements since 1992.

Expected accomplishments of the Secretariat

(a) Increased national capacity in Asia and the Pacific, and particularly the least developed countries, to provide data required for measuring progress towards achieving internationally agreed development goals
(b) Increased access for all stakeholders in society to statistical data in Asia and the Pacific that accord with internationally recognized statistical standards and reflect gender concerns, especially data required for measuring progress towards achieving internationally agreed development goals

Strategy

The substantive responsibility for this subprogramme lies with the Statistics Division. The subprogramme will contribute to improving the capacity of national statistical systems, at the request of members and associate members, particularly in priority areas determined by the ESCAP membership for the purpose of measuring progress towards the achievement of internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration and in the outcomes of the major international conferences and international agreements since 1992. It will also promote the generation, free accessibility and wider use of data on the ESCAP membership that accord with internationally accepted statistical standards and principles.

The subprogramme will achieve its objective through a combination of normative and operational activities. A variety of modalities, including forums, seminars, workshops and training courses at the regional, subregional and national levels, will be employed to build national capacities to produce and utilize data. Emphasis will be placed on the development of harmonized methodologies and approaches for inter-country comparison of poverty-related phenomena. The collection and dissemination of statistical data and information on the ESCAP membership will continue, focusing on comparable data relating to internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration and in the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and international agreements since 1992. The activities of the Statistical Institute for Asia and the Pacific will be supportive of the subprogramme activities.

The subprogramme will work closely with members of the Committee for the Coordination of Statistical Activities, especially the Statistics Division of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, the secretariat of the Association of South-East Asian Nations, the Economic Cooperation Organization, the Secretariat of the Pacific Community and other relevant organizations, to ensure coherence, synergies and a clear division of work at the global, regional and national levels.