STAT/WGSE.10/14
5 November 1997
ENGLISH ONLY

ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMISSION FOR ASIA AND THE PACIFIC
Working Group of Statistical Experts
Tenth session
11-14 November 1997
Bangkok

INTRODUCTION

1. This document provides information on the biennial programme of work of ESCAP, 1998-1999 for the statistics subprogramme along with a summary of the implementation of the programme of work for the 1996-1997 biennium. The views and recommendations of the Working Group are sought on any changes that might be needed in the 1998-1999 programme of work, as well as on priorities for the biennium 2000-2001.

I. PROGRAMME OF WORK IN STATISTICS, 1998-1999

2. The ESCAP programme of work, 1998-1999 was approved by the Commission at its fifty-third session in April 1997, and is currently under consideration at the fifty-second session of the General Assembly. It envisages the following subprogrammes in ESCAP:

1. Regional economic cooperation: trade and investment
2. Regional economic cooperation: research and policy analysis
3. Regional economic cooperation: industry and technology
4. Environment and sustainable development
5. Poverty alleviation: social development
6. Poverty alleviation: rural and urban development
7. Poverty alleviation: population and development
8. Transport and communications
9. Statistics
10. Least developed, landlocked and island developing countries.

For the statistics subprogramme, the programme of work 1998-1999 as approved by the Commission is presented in Annex I. Prior to its submission to the Commission, an earlier version of that programme of work was reviewed by the Committee on Statistics at its tenth session, and by the Bureau of the Committee.

In response to the overall United Nations reform efforts, a reduction of 10 per cent in the staffing level of the ESCAP secretariat has been proposed for the 1998-1999 programme budget. Thus far the resulting impact on regular budget staff resources of the Statistics Division of ESCAP has been manageable as shown below:

3. The next Commission session, to be held in April 1998 will provide another opportunity to fine tune the programme of work 1998-1999, by suggesting modification, deletion or addition of outputs. The Working Group is requested to make recommendations on any programme changes that might be necessary. Most of the outputs appearing in Annex I are self explanatory, while some require further elaboration for clarity of understanding. The details concerning the latter group are given in table 1.

II. IMPLEMENTATION OF PROGRAMME OF WORK IN STATISTICS, 1996-1997

4. During 1996-1997, the statistics subprogramme continued its focus on improving national statistical capabilities and providing data on the region and its constituent countries. Close collaboration has been maintained with the Statistical Institute for Asia and the Pacific (SIAP), other United Nations entities, and international organizations which maintain an interest in statistical development in the region. Annex II presents a summary of information on the implementation of programme of work in statistics, 1996-1997. Owing to the continuing vacancy of three Professional posts in the Statistics Division, the delivery of some of the outputs had to be modified. However, the adverse impact on the activities under the subprogramme was kept to a minimum despite the substantial reduction of 38 per cent in Professional staff resources. One issue of Foreign Trade Statistics of Asia and the Pacific will be combined with the next issue, but in such a manner that the time series will not be broken. Similarly, although the production of the Statistical Newsletter was changed from a quarterly to a biannual basis, the secretariat was able to issue it more frequently to meet the demand of users. However, it was not possible to produce a statistical chart and two statistical subregional profiles, and some of the technical meetings due to lack of extrabudgetary funds. Similarly, it was not possible to secure resources for advisory services on public sector computerization activities.

5. The Statistics Division continued to serve as a provider of statistical information within the secretariat. The World-Wide-Web pages were prepared for the Division to be placed on the ESCAP site on the Internet. Cooperation and coordination with other Divisions within ESCAP continued.

III. PROGRAMME OF WORK IN STATISTICS, 2000-2001

6. At its tenth session the Committee on Statistics reviewed the medium-term plan 1998-2001 and programme of work in statistics, 1998-1999. Although no specific suggestions emerged as such for the biennium 2000-2001, the Committee did discuss the future orientation of the work programme of the secretariat and identified a number of priority areas, including implementation of the 1993 System of National Accounts, pilot studies and other work on the statistical implications of the global summit conferences held at Cairo, Copenhagen and Beijing, and services statistics. Among the other priority areas that were identified were the informal sector, price statistics, and environment statistics. A range of views was expressed on the priority to be accorded to information technology, especially as it applied to statistical offices. The Working Group is invited to give its views and suggestions on the approach and priorities that the secretariat might adopt in preparing the first biennial programme of work in statistics for the next millennium.

Annex I

PROGRAMME OF WORK, 1998-1999

Subprogramme 9. Statistics

Overview and summary of activities

This subprogramme comprises activities similar to those that had been carried out in 1996-1997 under subprogramme 5, Statistics. The legislative authority for the activities under this subprogramme derives from subprogramme 15.9, Statistics, of the medium-term plan for the period 1998-2001.

The focus of work under this subprogramme will be to organize group training and provide advisory services in priority areas, including national accounts statistics and other economic statistics, gender statistics, population censuses and surveys, environment statistics and accounting, and management of statistical services. Those activities will be implemented in coordination with relevant global, regional and subregional statistical entities.

The growing competence of the membership in contributing to statistical capability-building will be taken into account in the modalities of regular and extrabudgetary activities. Regional-level coordination will be undertaken for the development, revision, testing and implementation of selected international statistical standards and, where necessary, their adaptation to meet the conditions and needs of the countries of the region.

Comparable socio-economic statistics will be disseminated through modern recurrent publications and off-line and on-line electronic media. The use of electronic technology will be increased in the acquisition of data with the aim of improving the timeliness and accuracy of published statistics and of reducing the response burden of reporting statistical offices. The ESCAP Statistical Information System will be improved in line with industry standards and as an integral part of the ESCAP overall information system. Senior-level public decision makers will be trained in effective management of information technology, including strategic policy formulation.

The work will be carried out by the Statistics Division under the guidance of the Committee on Statistics.

Activities:

I. Servicing of intergovernmental and expert bodies (RB)

1. Substantive servicing of meetings:

(a) Commission:

9-1-101 Plenary and committees (1998) (8 meetings: 6 plenary and 2 committee sessions)

9-1-102 Plenary and committees (1999) (8 meetings: 6 plenary and 2 committee sessions)

(b) Committee on Statistics:

9-1-103 Plenary (1998) (6 meetings)

2. Parliamentary documentation:

(a) Commission:

9-1-201 Report on issues related to statistics (1998)

9-1-202 Report of the Committee on Statistics (1999)

(b) Committee on Statistics:

9-1-203 Report of the Working Group of Statistical Experts (1998)

9-1-204 Report on selected issues on statistical development (1998)

9-1-205 Report on issues in computerization in the public sector (1998)

9-1-206 Report on an integrated presentation of work programmes on statistics in the region (1998)

9-1-207 Report on activities of the secretariat since the tenth session of the Committee (1998)

3. Ad hoc expert groups and related preparatory work:

9-1-301 Working Group Meeting of Statistical Experts (1999)

II. Other substantive activities (RB/XB)

1. Mandated recurrent publications:

9-2-101 Statistical Newsletter (4 in 1998, 4 in 1999) (RB)

9-2-102 Government Computerization Newsletter (2 in 1998, 2 in 1999) (RB)

9-2-103 Statistical Yearbook for Asia and the Pacific (1998, 1999) (RB)

9-2-104 Foreign Trade Statistics of Asia and the Pacific (1998, 1999) (RB)

9-2-105 Statistical Indicators for Asia and the Pacific (4 in 1998, 4 in 1999) (RB)

9-2-106 Asia-Pacific in Figures (1998, 1999) (RB)

2. Discretionary recurrent publications:

9-2-201 Newsletter on information technology applications in population statistics (2 in 1998, 1 in 1999) (RB/XB)

4. Discretionary non-recurrent publications:

9-2-401 Methodological guidelines on statistics (2 in 1998, 1 in 1999) (RB/XB)

5. Electronic, audio and video issuances, including films, videotapes, radio broadcasts, tapes of news, documentary and feature programmes:

9-2-501 ESCAP Homepage on Statistics on the World Wide Web (1998, 1999) (RB)

6. Exhibits:

9-2-601 Exhibit for the Committee on Statistics (1998) (RB)

7. Booklets, pamphlets, fact sheets, wall charts, information kits:

9-2-701 Wall chart on general/thematic statistics (1998, 1999) (RB)

8. Technical material for outside users (databases, software etc.):

9-2-801 Data disseminated on electronic media (CD-ROM, diskettes etc.) (1998, 1999) (RB)

9-2-802 Operation and maintenance of the ESCAP Statistical Information System (ESIS) (1998, 1999) (RB)

9-2-803 Responses to ad hoc requests from outside users for statistical information (1998, 1999) (RB)

III. International cooperation and inter-agency coordination and liaison (RB/XB)

9-3-001 Collaboration with intergovernmental organizations outside the United Nations system, including the East-West Center and South Pacific Commission (1 in 1998, 2 in 1999) (RB)

9-3-002 Collaboration with non-governmental organizations, including the International Statistical Institute (1999) (RB)

9-3-003 Collaboration with United Nations bodies and specialized agencies, including the United Nations Statistical Commission and Working Group, regional conferences of statisticians and FAO Asia-Pacific Commission on Agricultural Statistics (2 in 1998, 1 in 1999) (RB/XB)

9-3-004 Collaboration with the ACC Subcommittee on Statistical Activities (1 in 1998, 1 in 1999) (RB)

9-3-005 Technical and substantive support to UNFPA Country Support Teams in the region (3 in 1998, 3 in 1999) (RB/XB)

9-3-006 Technical and substantive support to the Statistical Institute for Asia and the Pacific (1998, 1999) (RB)

IV. Technical cooperation (RB/XB)

1. Advisory services at the request of the governments:

9-4-101 Advisory services on statistics on gender issues and other aspects of socio-economic statistics and indicators (5 in 1998) (RB/XB)

9-4-102 Advisory services on statistical organization and management, and application of information technology, including in the public sector (1998, 1999) (RB/XB)

2. Group training (seminars, workshops, symposia):

9-4-201 Regional/subregional workshops on population and social statistics, including the follow-up to global social conferences (2 in 1998) (RB/XB)

9-4-202 Regional/subregional workshops on economic statistics, including national accounts (2 in 1998, 2 in 1999) (RB/XB)

9-4-203 Regional/subregional workshops on environmental statistics and accounting (2 in 1998, 1 in 1999) (RB/XB)

9-4-204 Regional/subregional workshops on statistical organization and management, and application of information technology, including in the public sector (2 in 1999) (RB/XB)