E/ESCAP/STAT.11/15
2 November 1998
ORIGINAL: ENGLISH

ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMISSION FOR ASIA AND THE PACIFIC

Committee on Statistics
Eleventh session
24-26 November 1998
Bangkok

INTRODUCTION

1. The biennial work programme of ESCAP is usually reviewed and endorsed by the Commission in the year prior to the biennium, after which it is submitted for the General Assembly's approval later in the same year. The preparation of the 2000-2001 programme budget commenced in October 1998; and the secretariat proposal will be considered by the Commission in April 1999. This paper contains the secretariat's indicative proposals for the Statistics subprogramme for 2000-2001. It also contains a synopsis of the medium-term plan, 1998-2001, which the 2000-2001 programme builds on, and the status of implementation of the ongoing biennial work programme.

I. MEDIUM-TERM PLAN, 1998-2001

2. The work programme to be prepared for the next biennium will be guided by the medium-term plan, 1998-2001. A proposed revision of the plan was adopted by the Committee for Programme and Coordination in June 1998 and will be considered by the General Assembly later in 1998. The revision would streamline the programme structure of ESCAP from the existing ten subprogrammes to seven, as follows:

The Commission will continue to focus on three major themes: (a) regional economic cooperation, (b) environment and sustainable development and (c) poverty alleviation. The Commission will also work towards improving intraregional and interregional infrastructure facilities and services and strengthening statistical capacities for informed policy-making, planning and programme implementation. Priority will be given to assisting the least developed, landlocked and island developing countries, and the Central Asian republics. Economic and technical cooperation among developing countries (ECDC/TCDC), as well as among subregional groupings, will be further promoted.

3. By the end of the period covered by the medium-term plan, 1998-2001, it is expected that the Commission will have achieved the following:

1. Gained the active and wider participation of the countries in the region in the development and implementation of regional programmes as mandated by the Commission;
2. Accelerated follow-up to global conferences at the national level supported by the subregional and regional operational activities of ESCAP;
3. Provided the essential regional link between the global and country levels of economic and social development programmes that would build up country-level capacity for development;
4. Facilitated the sharing of experiences among countries at varying levels of development;
5. Maximized the Commission's comparative advantage as a centre for policy research, analysis and information for the benefit of its member governments;
6. Completed analysis of the origins and effects of the current economic and monetary turmoil and formulated recommendations on ways and means for economies to avail themselves of international capital flows, while minimizing the attendant risks.

4. The proposed revised medium-term plan text relating to the Statistics subprogramme is given in annex I. Although the text is, as indicated, already before the General Assembly, the Committee may wish to review it from the perspective of providing preliminary ideas and proposals for the next medium-term plan commencing in 2002.

II. 1998-1999 PROGRAMME OF WORK IN STATISTICS

5. The 1998-1999 programme of work for ESCAP, under which Statistics constitutes subprogramme 15.9, was endorsed by the Commission at its fifty-third session in April 1997, and subsequently by the General Assembly in December 1997. At its fifty-fourth session in April 1998, the Commission reviewed and endorsed the proposed programme changes for 1998-1999. For the Statistics subprogramme, the proposed changes were minimal in substance and in terms of their implications for regular budget (RB) resources. The revised programme of work for the current biennium is given in annex II, together with information on the status of implementation of the activities and outputs as at 30 September 1998.

6. Owing to a high vacancy rate among the Professional posts of the Statistics Division, the secretariat adopted a strategy of redistributing resources as flexibly as possible to address the priority needs. The personnel resource constraints and other factors beyond the control of the Division required frequent review and revision of the schedule of activities. While a high proportion of the major outputs and activities were delivered, the absence of personnel and other resources adversely affected developments in some areas. These include distribution of data through electronic media and the operationalization of the ESCAP Statistical Information System (ESIS).

7. The Committee is requested to give its views on any changes which might be required in the work programme for 1999.

III. 2000-2001 PROGRAMME OF WORK IN STATISTICS

Subprogramme 7: Statistics
Responsible division: Statistics
Allocated staff resources:

8. The 2000-2001 work programme of ESCAP in the field of statistics will clearly be a function of both the regular budget resources available and the extrabudgetary resources that the secretariat may be able to mobilize. In terms of regular budget resources, particularly personnel resources, the Statistics Division has benefited from the reform and redeployment process in ESCAP by gaining a post of Statistician at the P4 level.¹ This additional Professional post, the first resource increase in over 20 years, will help to strengthen the future efforts of the Division. Currently, however, in addition to recruiting for the new post, the Division is still attempting to fill two existing vacancies, one each in the Statistics Development and Statistical Information Services sections.

9. As regards extrabudgetary and other staff resources, the posts of three advisers funded by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) remain in the Statistics Division in terms of budgetary allocation, but physically they are located with the UNFPA Country Support Teams situated in Bangkok, Kathmandu and Suva. The secretariat has informally learned that two posts in Suva, one on population statistics and the other concerning population policy, will be merged into one post. It is not certain whether the post will remain with ESCAP or not, but in any event the availability of advisory services in demographic statistics to Pacific island countries may well diminish. The Committee is requested to note this likely development and give its views.

10. As an initial step towards drafting the 2000-2001 programme of work in statistics, the secretariat has prepared outlines on the objectives of the subprogramme, the users and anticipated usage of its outputs and services, and the programme areas and various elements within them. These broad proposals are given below for comments by the Committee. They necessarily form a broader range of topics than is likely to be implemented, in order to facilitate the mobilization of extrabudgetary funds. Annex III provides the annotated indicative work programme to assist deliberations by the Committee. In that regard, the Committee may wish to note that several outputs and activities in the statistics programme of work are recurrent in nature, including coordination, the sessions of the Committee and (de facto) the Working Group of Statistical Experts, the statistical /... publications and the newsletters. By contrast, the focus and emphases of the operational activities, that is, technical meetings, training and advisory services, vary according to the priorities determined by the Commission and the Committee. They are also influenced by developments taking place in the international statistical environment.

11. At its last session, the Committee identified a number of high 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. Gender statistics was noted as deserving continued priority attention. The Working Group of Statistical Experts, in looking ahead to the 2000-2001 programme, endorsed additional priority areas identified by the Bureau: poverty statistics; information dissemination, including mode of dissemination, sharing of microdata and confidentiality issues; review of statistical legislation in view of changing circumstances; data achieving; pricing of information; and coordination, in particular in decentralized systems. Despite the forthcoming increase in Professional resources in the Statistics subprogramme, the above represents a long list of priorities and it is doubtful that the secretariat could do justice to all of them. The Committee is therefore requested to give its views on the continued validity of the priority attached to each of these areas and to identify any other topics of emerging importance in the coming biennium. With regard to the programme structure given in tabular format in section 3 below, the secretariat is also seeking the Committee's recommendations on the order of priority to be attached to the programme elements (7.1.1 to 7.2.2), as well as to the area of focus within each element.

1. Subprogramme objectives

12. As currently foreseen by the secretariat, the subprogramme will continue to facilitate the development of sustainable national statistical capabilities in the Asian and Pacific region and to disseminate comparable social, economic and other relevant statistics on the regional members and associate members of the Commission. The role of the Committee on Statistics in directing the subprogramme and in promoting regional statistical development is expected to be central. In implementing the subprogramme, the secretariat will take due account of the different stages of statistical development among countries of the region, paying particular attention to the needs of the least developed countries and the disadvantaged economies in transition. Greater cooperation among countries and coordination of inputs from statistically advanced countries will be utilized in promoting cutting-edge methodological and technological developments and exchange of technical information. Close collaboration and cooperation will be maintained with relevant regional, subregional and international organizations to promote improved coordination of technical assistance in statistics.

13. In addition to improving national statistical capabilities for the purposes of informed policy-making, planning and programme implementation, attention will be paid to the availability and improved quality of data needed for monitoring the achievement of goals of recent major international and regional conferences. The use of proven methodologies for data collection, processing and analysis will be promoted, along with the greater utilization of statistics. Emphasis will continue to be placed on skills development and sharing of experiences and technical information through advisory services and technical meetings. Statistical training will be promoted, especially through support to the statistical training programmes of the Statistical Institute for Asia and the Pacific (SIAP). The secretariat will initiate and coordinate at the regional level the development and revision of statistical standards and their eventual implementation.

14. In the area of statistical information, attention will be paid to widening the scope and improving the accessibility and international comparability of the statistical information being compiled and published by the secretariat. The subprogramme will strive to enhance statistical support for analytical work undertaken within the secretariat, including that for the Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific. Optimal use of information technology in the collection, storage and provision of data will be pursued.

15. Improvement of information technology application in statistics in particular, and the public sector in general, will be pursued by organizing group training activities, conducting studies, issuing guidelines and disseminating technical information.

2. Users and anticipated usage of outputs and services

16. The main users will be the national statistical offices, planning and monitoring agencies and other departments in the government, senior and middle-level statistical officials, and information technology specialists of the countries of the region.

17. The subprogramme's outputs will also be used by intergovernmental organizations; academic and research centres; non-governmental organizations (NGOs); the private sector; and individual researchers.

18. Users will be reached through the intergovernmental, technical and expert group meetings organized by ESCAP; the dissemination of information via publications and/or the Internet; the conduct of training activities; and the provision of advisory services. The outputs of the statistics subprogramme will be utilized by the national statistical agencies, and other departments and ministries, in improving their methods and procedures, application of standards, international comparability of statistics, information systems and for upgrading the skills of their personnel. Statistical training centres, research and academic institutions and NGOs will benefit from the technical information and materials emerging from various activities. The internationally comparable data available from the secretariat are in demand by a wide range of data users, from individuals to international agencies. In addition, a large number of libraries around the world have ESCAP statistical publications in their holdings.

3. Programme structure

^a/ Including the Regional Adviser on National Accounts.

4. Coordination

19. Activities under the Statistics subprogramme will be carried out in close cooperation with regional and international organizations having an interest in statistical development in the region and in the collection of data on its constituent countries or areas. The areas of coordination will include technical assistance activities; statistical research and development; statistical training; statistical organization, management and policy; development of statistical standards and classifications, and implementation of standards such as the System of National Accounts; development of economic, social, demographic, environment and other fields of statistics; statistical development in the Pacific, in transition economies, and in least developed and landlocked countries; statistical data collection, processing and dissemination; and management of information technology applications. 5. Results envisaged at the end of the biennium.

20. Through its statistical development activities, the secretariat intends to strengthen the statistical infrastructure in the countries of the region, improve the quality and international comparability of statistics, and promote the application of new techniques. The meetings organized in various fields of statistics will enhance statistical capabilities in the region through improved exchange of information on and experiences in statistical work and methods among the countries of the region. They will also foster increased use of TCDC modalities. The advisory services rendered will strengthen the basic foundation of the national statistical systems by concentrating on specific areas, such as national accounts and information technology applications.

21. The activities of the Statistics subprogramme will provide opportunities for the countries of the region to participate in the development of international statistical standards and classifications, so that provision is made to cater to their conditions and needs, facilitating subsequent implementation of such standards. The subprogramme will also help in promoting the optimal use of statistics collected by countries, including the development of standardized statistical indicators that are relevant to the themes of the Commission and the priorities identified by the recent major regional and international conferences.

22. The information made available to the Committee on Statistics and the Commission, such as that on the statistical activities in the region and the work programmes of different organizations, will contribute to the strengthening of statistical coordination in the region, particularly in the areas of technical assistance and data collection from the members and associate members of ESCAP.

23. The public sector computerization activities are expected to sensitize government officials to the importance of adopting information technology and to provide them with conceptual tools and models in the effective application of that technology.

24. The statistical information made available on the countries of the region will facilitate the analytical, policy formulation and monitoring work carried out in countries, international organizations and the secretariat. The data released will ultimately contribute to a better understanding of regional economic and social issues, and their comparisons across countries.

IV. POINTS FOR DISCUSSION

25. To recapitulate, the Committee is invited:

1. To review the statistics component of the medium-term plan, 1998-2001, and provide its preliminary proposals for the next medium-term plan beginning 2002;
2. To give its views on any changes that may be deemed necessary to the 1998-1999 work programme in statistics for the endorsement of the Commission at its fifty-fifth session in April 1999;
3. To provide guidelines on the orientation, objectives, and priority activities and outputs of the 2000-2001 programme of work in statistics, which will be presented to the fifty-fifth session of the Commission for endorsement.

Annex I

PROPOSED REVISION OF THE MEDIUM-TERM PLAN, 1998-2001

Subprogramme 15.7 Statistics

15.21 The objectives of the subprogramme, which is implemented by the Statistics Division, are:

1. To strengthen the capacity of the countries of the region in achieving or making further progress towards sustained national statistical capabilities for the purposes of informed policy-making, planning, programme implementation and monitoring of progress. Special efforts will be made to improve the statistical capability of the least developed, landlocked and island developing countries, as well as economies in transition, to identify, collect, process, analyse and utilize data needed for their economic and social development, thereby strengthening their information and statistical base. In the implementation of the subprogramme, greater recognition will be given to the growing competencies of the countries themselves in contributing to capability-building activities;
2. To widen the scope and improve the accessibility and international comparability of the statistical information compiled and disseminated by the secretariat, taking into account user demands. To that end, the focus will be on greater use of electronic technology in the acquisition and provision of data and information, and on reducing the response burden of countries;
3. To strengthen the role of the countries of the region in the development of international standards, the use of improved methodology for data collection, processing and analysis, and the greater utilization of statistics. In line with the recommendations of the United Nations Statistical Commission, the secretariat will initiate and coordinate at the regional level 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;
4. To enhance the understanding of the role of information technology and promote the applications of that technology, as well as information resource management in the region, especially in the public sector.

Legislative mandates

• Economic and Social Council resolutions
  • 1993/5 of 12 July 1993:1993 System of National Accounts
  • 1995/7 of 19 July 1995:2000 World Population and Housing Census Programme
• Commission resolution
  • 246 (XLII) of 1 May 1986: Statistical services in Asia and the Pacific

Annex II

SUBPROGRAMME 15.9: STATISTICS PROGRAMME OF WORK, 1998-1999, AND STATUS OF IMP Status of implementation LEMENTATION

Annex III

SUBPROGRAMME 7: STATISTICS

INDICATIVE WORK PROGRAMME, 2000-2001

7.1.1 PROMOTION, COORDINATION AND MANAGEMENT OF STATISTICAL ACTIVITIES

• Reports to and substantive servicing of the annual Commission sessions
• Reports to and substantive servicing of the Committee on Statistics and other intergovernmental committees and bodies subsidiary to the Commission
• Substantive servicing of the Working Group of Statistical Experts
• Annotation: If so designated by the Committee on Statistics, a meeting of the Working Group will be convened to hold in-depth discussions of specific statistical topics.
• Coordination with other United Nations bodies and specialized agencies and liaison with city groups, and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations

7.1.2 DEVELOPMENT OF STATISTICS

Publication of the Statistical Newsletter

Annotation: A quarterly publication containing news of secretariat activities, developments of common interest to the national statistical offices, recent methodological developments in various arenas, technical information from statistical meetings, training opportunities etc.

Promotion and support of regional statistical training facilities

Annotation: Technical and substantive support to the Statistical Institute for Asia and the Pacific and other institutions conducting statistical training.

Promotion of improved management and organization of national statistical services

Annotation: Seminars for senior statistical managers; advisory services on organizational and institutional issues affecting national statistical services.

Assistance with development of national databases on selected themes

Annotation: Review of existing methodologies and availability of data; expert group meetings on collection and dissemination methodologies; methodological guidelines; advisory missions to provide assistance to countries in the utilization of existing data.

Improvement of population statistics

Annotation: Advisory missions on analysis and dissemination of population data; planning, conduct and processing of population censuses and surveys; utilization of census data, technical meetings and methodological publications on civil registration and vital statistics and application of modern information technology.

Assistance to governments in the improvement of social statistics and indicators

Annotation: Meetings on indicators needed for developing social policy and monitoring progress towards achieving goals and targets; training and technical meetings on the development of statistics concerning eradication of poverty; meetings, advisory services and methodological work designed to improve statistics on gender issues; advisory missions to assist in the conduct of surveys; methodological publication on social indicators; compilation and dissemination of data.

Assistance to governments in the improvement of economic statistics

Annotation: Subregional workshops and regional advisory services on various aspects of national accounts. Organization of full-scale survey or reduced information approach to the International Comparison Programme in the ESCAP region; group activities on other aspects of economic statistics, including the informal and service sectors.

Development of national capabilities concerning statistics on environment and sustainable development

Annotation: Training workshops, expert group meetings and regional seminars on environment statistics and environmental accounting; advisory services on environment and energy statistics; development of environment statistics databases for the region.

7.1.3 PUBLIC SECTOR COMPUTERIZATION

Publication of the Government Computerization Newsletter

Annotation: A biannual publication containing news of secretariat and national activities and relevant technological developments distributed through the mail and the Internet.

Public sector computerization Web site

Annotation: Outputs of the secretariat's work on public sector computerization; links to national and international sites on information technology policies and development; coordination; ad hoc news and activities.

Assistance to governments in the improvement of public sector information systems and public sector computerization

Annotation: Advisory services and training workshops on the development of government information systems, including policy formulation; promotion of the use of appropriate information technology in the public sector; studies on computerization strategies in the public sector.

7.2.1 STATISTICAL INFORMATION SERVICES

Provision of ad hoc statistical information services and special data compilations

Annotation: Responses to requests for statistical information from users outside and within the secretariat through conventional means and online access; distribution of data on CD-ROM; statistical charts on thematic topics; dissemination of selected data through the World Wide Web Homepage.

Publication of the Statistical Yearbook for Asia and the Pacific

Annotation: An annual compendium of general statistical time-series on the region; enhancement of coverage and orientation.

Publication of Foreign Trade Statistics of Asia and the Pacific

Annotation: A detailed annual compilation of international trade data on countries of the region, covering a recent five-year period.

Publication of Statistical Indicators for Asia and the Pacific

Annotation: A quarterly compilation of selected "leading" indicators available on a monthly basis, covering the past three years.

Publication of Asia-Pacific in Figures

Annotation: An annual pocketbook of basic statistical information on countries of the region, in one-country-per-page format.

7.2.2 STATISTICAL INFORMATION SYSTEMS

Improvement and management of regional statistical databases

Annotation: Improvement and maintenance of the ESCAP Statistical Information System and coordination of its linkage to the United Nations Economic and Social Information System.

¹ The post became available in July 1998, but probably will not be filled until 1999.