Statistical Newsletter Published: 18 April 2011
First Quarter, 2011
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Voice from the Region:
 

Mr Brian Pink, Australian Statistician, Australian Bureau of Statistics

Interviews with the Chair of the Bureau of the ESCAP Committee on Statistics, Mr Brian Pink

1. As the newly elected Chair (and previous vice-chair) of the Bureau of the ESCAP Committee on Statistics, what do you consider the top successes of the Bureau thus far?

I believe the Bureau has very successfully guided the work of the Committee through the period between formal Committee meetings. Much was achieved in that first two year period with the work of the Technical Advisory Group on the Development of Economic Statistics being considered and endorsed at our last Committee meeting in December 2010 including a core set of economic indicators for the region. Great progress was also made in the focus of the Committee, in partnership with some other regional and international bodies, to improve the Vital Statistics and Civil Registrations systems across the region, and most recently, agreement at our December 2010 meeting to establish a Technical Advisory Group on Social Statistics. The Committee is also facilitating the progress of 3 resolutions being sponsored by member countries relating to statistics covering statistical capacity development; vital statistics and civil registration; and the core set of economic indicators.

2. What do you hope to see as accomplishments during your current term?

I would like to see the Committee take a strong leadership role in ensuring international efforts to build capability of NSO's in the region to improve the breadth, comparability and quality of statistics produced, are properly coordinated, prioritized, and most important of all, implemented in a sustainable way. Too often, this has not been the experience in the region in the past and with the re-establishment of the Statistics Committee within ESCAP we have the opportunity to do much better going forward.

3. What do you see as the top priorities for the statistical development in the Asia Pacific region and what role do you see the Bureau play in addressing these priorities?

First and foremost, gaining recognition by all key stakeholders in each country (ie politicians, government officials, media, business and community groups and the general public) of the key role official statistics can, and should, play in assisting and encouraging informed decision making, research and discussion at all levels of society. The situation currently varies markedly across the member countries.

Secondly, ensuring adequate resources, particularly skilled people, are available to each NSO to develop and sustain a core program of official statistics to inform the nation and its leaders in the four key pillars of national statistics: economic, social, population and environment.

Thirdly, recognition by politicians and government officials of the potential strategic importance of administrative records as sources of official statistics (eg births and deaths registrations, taxation records, health and education records to name a few) and collaboration between NSO's and other government agencies to maximize the use of these sources for official statistical purposes.

Fourthly, better coordinating the disparate technical assistance initiatives in the region to ensure that it meets the real priority needs of countries themselves.

In terms of the Bureau, I see a key role being to work with the Statistics Division Secretariat within ESCAP to develop strategies to shape and influence the thinking of all of the key stakeholders regarding these priorities.

4. In terms of statistical development, where would you like to see the Asia and the Pacific region in 10 years time?

I would particularly like to see the region develop a strong, well coordinated voice in international statistical standard setting forums. A voice that is not only heard but one that influences and shapes the development of new or revised statistical frameworks, classifications and standards such as those developed under the auspices of the UN and other international bodies thereby ensuring the particular needs of our region are accommodated and the work of these bodies is meaningful to the countries of our region.

This region will be an economic powerhouse of the global economy through this century and it will be important to both recognize and respect the differences among the many nations of the region in terms of their economic, social, political and cultural identities and the scale of their societies, while at the same time seeking to collaborate in developing common ways of measuring the economic, social and environmental phenomena in our societies. A good starting point will be to work within the ESCAP Statistics Committee to ensure all countries in the region are able in 10 years time to provide the basic range of population, economic, social and environment statistics essential for any society to operate effectively in the 21 st century.

5. With respect to you experience in Australia, what are a few key developments that ABS is currently undertaking?

The ABS has built a strong reputation as an NSO both in Australia and internationally over many years and I see our major challenge is to sustain this going forward. To do so will require that the statistics we produce and the services we provide remain relevant to our broad range of stakeholders that we strive for excellence in all we do and that we are constantly looking for ways of being more productive and more innovative. This means that we have to have strategies to attract, develop and retain people with the right professional skills, the right values and a desire to ‘make a difference' for our society through the statistical products and services we provide. In a world in which information is increasingly being created, analysed and consumed as a digital by product of so many aspects of daily life in Australia, the ABS would be unwise to assume that the central role that it has played in the 20th century as the principal trusted source of statistical information on our population, economy and society will not be increasingly challenged by other alternative public and private sources of statistics. At the same time there are great opportunities for the ABS to shape and influence the use of this vast and growing array of digital data sources to improve and expand the portfolio of official statistics available in Australia.

6. Looking back over your tenure in the field of official statistics, describe the way that the field has changed and is continuing to change?

There are many things that have changed in the world of official statistics over my career so I will only refer to a few that I think have been particularly significant. The use of sampling methods rather than complete enumeration in both economic and social statistics, the progressive impact of technologies in the collection, processing, analysis and dissemination of official statistics, the changes in the skills and capability of statistical staff over this period, the general growth in user demand for statistics available more quickly, with greater detail and stronger coherence and the growing importance of administrative data as a strategic resource for official statistical purposes.

7. What is your advice for young statisticians considering entering the field of official statistics?

I believe we are living in a particularly exciting era for statisticians as we witness the exponential growth of data through the rapid evolution of the application of computing and communication technologies in so many aspects of our daily lives. For aspiring young official statisticians, I believe the most significant advice I can give is firstly to observe and seek to understand all that is happening around you in your own society and in the wider world and think what this might mean for the statistical programs of today. Then reflect on the opportunities this digital age provides to you as a statistician to do different things as well as doing things differently. Secondly, meet and discuss your ideas with your colleagues both domestically and internationally and seek areas on which to collaborate to reduce costs and maximize the benefits for your society of the investments they make in official statistics.

8. How did you enter the field of official statistics?

I joined the ABS by chance. I was studying at university and applied for a job with the Australian Public Service. After doing the entrance examination, I was called in for an interview at the Public service Commission and my interviewer noticed I was doing statistics as part of my university course so he offered me a job at the Statistics Bureau and now many years later, I find myself leading that same institution.

Brian Pink
Australian Statistician
 
Highlights from the Forty-Second Session of the United Nations Statistical Commission, New York, 22-25 February 2011
 

The forty-second session of the United Nations Statistical Commission (UNSC) was convened in New York on 22-25 February 2011. The UNSC is the highest authority of the global statistical system. It brings together Chief Statisticians around the world to make strategic decisions related to the setting of statistical standards, the development of concepts and methods and the implementation of standards and methods at the national and international level.

During the meeting, ESCAP members, Brian Pink of Australia and Alexander Surinov of the Russian Federation, were elected as vice-chairs of the UNSC. Additionally, Armenia, China, Japan, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and the United States of America of ESCAP membership, participated as Commission members; and Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, France, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Repbulic of), Kazakhstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Samoa, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Turkey, and Turkmenistan attended as observers. In summary, 29 ESCAP member states with 130 representatives attended the forty-second UNSC. United Nations ESCAP was represented by Ms Haishan Fu, Director of Statistics Division; Ms Davaasuren Chultemjamts, Director of SIAP; and Mr Jan Smit, Chief, Statistical Development and Analysis Section of Statistics Division. The Asian Development Bank and the Pacific Community were also attended the meeting.

The ESCAP Secretariat informed the Commission of the recent decisions of the ESCAP Committee on Statistics, including decisions on the strategic goals, the regional programme on economic statistics, and the core set of economic statistics.

Key Decisions and Recommendations related to the ESCAP region of the United Nations Statistical Commission at its Forty-Second Session

Gender Statistics

  • The Commission expressed its appreciation for the work on gender statistics done by the Regional Commissions and other entities such as the World Bank and the United Nations Population Fund and requested them to further strengthen their work in this area.
  • The Commission requested the United Nations Statistics Division, the Regional Commissions, the World Bank and UNFPA to work intensively with countries to develop appropriate in-country support and to assist countries in establishing a sound national programme on gender statistics.

National Accounts

  • The Commission requested the Intersecretariat Working Group to consider guidance on incorporating the contribution of the informal sector for an exhaustive measure of GDP; on household sector issues; on issues of wellbeing; on the measurement of research and development; on the measurement of financial services; on preparation of quarterly national accounts; and on the compilation of expenditure components of GDP.
  • The Commission took note of the experiences of Member States and their difficulties to implement the 2008 SNA, and recognised the need for capacity building through technical assistance and training and reaffirmed a three-stage approach for the change over to the 2008 SNA, but expressed the need for flexibility in the time horizon for the implementation of the 2008 SNA by Member States, taking into account the needs of countries at different stages of development.
  • The Commission expressed appreciation for the activities of the international and regional organisations to facilitate the implementation of the 2008 SNA, especially the regional implementation strategies, and urged these institutions and other donors to devote greater resources for this purpose, including the appointment of experts/advisors on national accounts.

Short-term economic statistics

  • The Commission noted the work done by international and regional institutions in providing guidance on the compilation of short-term economic indicators and urged UNSD to work in close collaboration with these institutions in the preparation of the programme on short-term economic statistics for the purpose of harmonisation of practices.

International Comparison Programme (ICP)

  • The Commission welcomed the report of the World Bank on the International Comparison Programme (ICP) and noted with satisfaction the progress made thus far.

Capacity Building

  • The Commission recognized that statistical capacity development involved many national and international partners and encouraged all partners to collaborate in and coordinate these efforts;
  • The Commission recognized the important work done by UNSIAP and by other national and regional training centres, expressed its appreciation to the respective governments for their support.

Other decisions

  • The Commission also made decisions related to World Statistics Day; environmental-economic accounting; energy statistics; integrated economic statistics; development indicators, statistics of human development, and the Implementation of the Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics.
 
Statistical capacity development activities
 
ESCAP in-country needs assessment of the capacity of Bangladesh Statistical System to produce basic economic statistics, Dhaka, 7 – 11 January 2011
 

The ESCAP in-country needs assessment of the capacity of Bangladesh Statistical System to produce basic economic statistics was conducted as part of the development of an implementation plan for the Regional programme for the improvement of economic statistics in Asia and the Pacific. This multi-year programme has been endorsed by the ESCAP Committee on Statistics in December 2010 and will serve as a roadmap for the region, aiming to enable countries to produce a core set of economic statistics by 2020. The needs assessment was conducted jointly by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) and ESCAP represented by Ms Margarita Guerrero and Mr Artur Andrysiak, during January 2011.

Over the course of four days the ESCAP staff conducted a number of interviews with representatives of sections of the BBS and other organizations (including Bangladesh Bank (BB) and Ministry of Finance (MOF)) involved in the production of the core set, from data providers to those responsible for compilation and dissemination of the economic statistics within the core set. Main data users were also interviewed. The assessment documented current constraints preventing Bangladesh from producing the core set of economic statistics and priority areas for improvement.

The assessment was followed by a national consultative meeting on the status of core economic statistics. The meeting was held on 11 January 2011 and was attended by around 50 participants including representatives of government departments and agencies (BBS, BB, MOF, Agriculture, Resources & Environment Department, Bangladesh Bureau of Educational Information and Statistics, Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority, Bangladesh House Building Finance Corporation, Forest Department, Ministry of Planning, National Board of Revenue, and Rural Development Training Institute) and semi-private/private stakeholders (main economic think tanks and data providers such as the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry). The meeting was chaired by the Director General of BBS with the Secretary of the Statistics Division, Ministry of Planning also participating. During the meeting the participants discussed the constrains limiting the capacity of BSS to produce the core set and identified priorities for the improvement of economic statistics in Bangladesh, agreeing that quarterly GDP and more timely prices and structural statistics are of the highest priority for policy-making.
 
Making Data Meaningful, Samoa, 17-21 January 2011
 

Jessica Gardner, ESCAP Pacific Office Statistician conducted a two-day workshop on making data meaningful to help participants build skills in dissemination and communication of statistics and discuss emerging methods for presenting data (animation, video, statistical products); and to allow the Samoa Bureau of Statistics (SBS) senior management team to reflect and develop ideas for dissemination and communication of statistics in the future. A total of eleven SBS staff participated in the workshop. The workshop was aligned with an SBS project which initiates the modernization of their statistical information system.
 
Expert Group Meeting on the Analysis of the Second Round of Cognitive Testing on Disability, Bangkok, Thailand, 1-3 February 2011
 

As part of ESCAP's work to strengthen national statistical offices' capacity to collect comparable data on disability, the Statistics Division organized an Expert Group Meeting to review the results of a second round of cognitive testing of the Washington Group (WG)/ESCAP extended question set to measure disability through surveys. The specific objectives of the EGM were to: i) discuss the results of the second round of cognitive testing of a question set on disability, in particular, on the domains of communication, hearing, affect, pain and fatigue; ii) further train senior statisticians from Asia-Pacific on the skills required to undertake the analysis of cognitive interviews; and iii) discuss future areas of work on disability data collection and measurement.

The meeting was attended by representatives from Cambodia, Maldives, Mongolia, the Philippines and Sri Lanka, and resource persons from the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) of the United States. Sessions evolved around the analysis of the cognitive test using the web-based software Q-Notes which has been developed by the NCHS for this purpose. Participants followed a three-step approach while discussing the results: (i) within interview analysis, to address basic response errors; (ii) across interview analysis, to observe patterns of interpretation and processes on what questions capture based on interviewees' responses; and (iii) across sub-group analysis, to address potential bias for different group categories. The meeting concluded with a final recommendation on questions to be used in an extended set for surveys.

As a follow-up to ESCAP and the WG's efforts to develop question sets to measure disability, participants underlined the importance of further in-country advocacy to familiarize government ministries/agencies, disabled persons organizations and policy-makers in the use of the World Health Organization International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) approach to measuring disability. Country representatives also suggested taking a more strategic approach by including the WG short and extended questions sets as separate modules in their household and labor force surveys as well as in censuses, such as Maldives did in their 2009 Demographic and Health Survey, the Philippines in its 2010 Census and Sri Lanka will in its 2011 Census. ESCAP and the WG agreed to support countries in these efforts and to provide them with a framework to analyze and disseminate data obtained through this novel approach.

For more information visit: www.unescap.org/stat/disability
 
Improving the Use of Gender Statistics in Policy, Timor-Leste, 28 February to 8 March 2011
 

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and ESCAP are working closely together to develop the national capacity of Pacific Island countries to compile, produce, analyse and disseminate statistics related to gender equality. As a part of this effort, Jessica Gardner, ESCAP Pacific Office Statistician and Margarita Guerrero, ESCAP Regional Advisor for Statistics, met with government officials, statisticians and data users in Timor-Leste to demonstrate the value of statistics; clarify the demand and use of gender-related data; and provide training in interpreting statistics. The feedback received during the mission will feed into the development of a strategy for the Pacific Islands; the first phase of the strategy will include (1) assessing the current availability of gender statistics; (2) delivering training to improve the use of statistics in policy making; (3) establishing a coordination mechanism for the collation of gender statistics and ongoing improvement of data quality; and (4) developing national gender statistics products, such as a central database and national publication.
 
Training by the Statistical Institute for Asia and the Pacific
 
First Group Training Course on Production and Development of Official Statistics in Support of National Development Including the Achievement of MDGs, Chiba, Japan, 15 November 2010 to 15 March 2011
 

The Group Training Course on Production and Development of Official Statistics in Support of National Development Including the Achievement of MDGs was conducted on the premises of the Statistical Institute for Asia and the Pacific (SIAP) from 15 November 2010-15 March 2011 for junior and middle-level statisticians from developing countries. The course was organized by jointly by SIAP and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The course covered compilation, analysis and dissemination of official statistics. All together 25 participants from 16 countries participated in the course - 22 participants completed the full course of three modules. Countries included in the training were Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Ethiopia, India, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Mongolia, Pakistan, Philippines, Samoa, Syria, Tanzania, Timor-Leste, Vanuatu, Viet Nam and Zambia.

Although the final week of the training was cancelled due to the large scale earthquake in Japan, the participants and instructors agreed that the course met the objectives and expected accomplishments. All participants departed Tokyo safely with JICA supporting the logistics arrangements.
 
Field trip to Shikoku, Japan to Study the Japanese Family Income and Expenditure Survey, Shikoku, Japan, 26-28 January 2011
 

The Statistical Institute for Asia and the Pacific (SIAP) conducted a field study trip for the participants of the First Group Training Course in Production and Development of Official Statistics in Support for National Development including the Achievement of MDGs from 26 to 28 January 2011 as part of the curriculum of the four month training course. Twenty-two participants/official statisticians from 15 countries visited, in two separate groups, Ehime and Kochi prefectures, both in a south-western island of Shikoku. The field study trip expanded participants' learning through active hands-on experience and knowledge about statistical service in local government, increased participants' knowledge and understanding of both designing and implementing Japanese Family Income and Expenditure Survey (FIES); and advanced technologies and historical/cultural heritage of Japan.

The visit to the Local Government Office was one of the most important activities in this field trip. During the visit, the senior officials of the statistical offices of the local government offices explained the organization, responsibilities, and main statistical activities delivered by their organization.
 
ESCAP/SIAP Country Course on Survey Data Analysis and Interpretation Using STATA software, Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, 14-18 February 2011
 

The country course entitled as “Survey Data Analysis and Interpretation Using STATA software” was conducted in Nay Pyi taw, Mayanmar from 14 to 18 February 2011 in collaboration with the ESCAP Statistics Division (ESCAP SD) and the Central Statistical Organization (CSO) of Myanmar under the outreach programme of the Statistical Institute for Asia and the Pacific (SIAP). A total of 20 participants from the CSO as well as from various line-ministries/departments participated in the training course. The main objective of the course was to provide participants with knowledge on STATA software and its use for descriptive and complex survey data analysis. Based on the course evaluation provided by the participants, the training was an effective and fruitful one towards strengthening analytical capacity of official statisticians working in developing countries.
 
SIAP Distance Training Course on Survey Methodology in Mongolia through JAXA Satellite WINDS, Mongolia/Japan, 23 February 2011
 

SIAP conducted its second satellite-used real-time distance training programme on introduction to survey methodology, focusing on basic concepts of sampling, on 23 February 2011 between Mongolia and Japan. It was a joint project of SIAP and Tokushima University, also supported by Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and National Institute of Information and Communication Technology (NICT), both in Japan, and Health Sciences University of Mongolia (HSUM) and National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), both in Mongolia. Two Japanese IT companies, namely Japan Manned Space Systems Corporation (JAMSS) and Mitsubishi Electric Information Network Corporation, provided technical support to us. The lecture was delivered from Tokushima University, Japan, to HSUM, Mongolia, through Japanese satellite, WINDS, communication network developed and operated by JAXA, a quasi governmental organization of Japan. Twenty participants from the National Statistical Office (NSO) of Mongolia attended the training.
 
Calendar of forthcoming statistical meetings in the ESCAP region
 

The calendar of all international meetings related to official statistics in Asia and the Pacific is maintained at http://www.unescap.org/stat/meet/events_Asia_Pacific.asp
 
Date Organizer Meeting Venue
2011
9 - 12 May SIAP Regional Training Course/Workshop on Gender-focused Population and Housing Census Data Analysis
http://www.unsiap.or.jp/

Chiba, Japan
16 May - 15 July SIAP SIAP/JICA 2nd Group Training Course in Application of Information Management and Related ICT for Official Statistics
http://www.unsiap.or.jp/

Chiba, Japan
23 - 27 May SIAP Country Course on Industrial Statistics for Bangladesh
http://www.unsiap.or.jp/

Bangladesh
2-3 days in the second quarter ESCAP/SD Expert Group Meeting on the Improvement of Economic Statistics in the Asian and Pacific Region
http://www.unescap.org/stat/

Bangkok
13 - 17 June SIAP Sub-regional Workshop on 2008 SNA
http://www.unsiap.or.jp/

Daejeon, Republic of Korea
20 - 22 June ESCAP/SD Expert Group Meeting: Opportunities and advantages of enhanced collaboration on statistical information management in Asia and the Pacific

Bangkok
July SIAP Sub-regional Training Course on Population and Housing Census Data Dissemination and Its Utilization
http://www.unsiap.or.jp/

Fiji
25 - 29 July SIAP Regional Training Course/Workshop on Dissemination and Use of Population and Housing Census Results with Gender Concern
http://www.unsiap.or.jp/

Chiba, Japan
1 - 19 August SIAP Country Course for Iraq in Production of Official Statistics to Monitor Achievements of MDGs
http://www.unsiap.or.jp/

Chiba, Japan
22 August - 22 December SIAP SIAP/JICA 2nd Group Training Course in Production and Development of Official Statistics in support for National Development including the Achievement of MDGs
http://www.unsiap.or.jp/

Chiba, Japan
2-3 days in the third quarter ESCAP/SD Meeting of the technical advisory group on development of gender statistics in Asia and the Pacific
http://www.unescap.org/stat/

Bangkok
October ESCAP/SD Effective use of statistical data for policy analysis and advocacy in Asia and the Pacific: Building on success
http://www.unescap.org/stat/

Bangkok
29 November - 1 December OECD Fourth High Level Forum: The Path to Effective Development

Busan, Republic of Korea
December SIAP 10th Management Seminar for the Heads of National Statistical Offices in Asia and the Pacific
http://www.unsiap.or.jp/

Chiba, Japan
December SIAP 5th Workshop on Forging Partnerships in Statistical Training in Asia and the Pacific
http://www.unsiap.or.jp/

Chiba, Japan
December SIAP 7th session of SIAP Governing Council
http://www.unsiap.or.jp/

Chiba, Japan
December SIAP Sub-regional Training Course on Gender-focused Population and Housing Census Data Analysis
http://www.unsiap.or.jp/

Bangladesh
 
Other international and regional meeting
 
UNSC Side-Events and other meetings on the side-lines of the UNSC, New York, 16-25 February 2011
 

Ms Haishan Fu, Director Statistics Division and Mr Jan Smit, Chief, Statistical Development and Analysis Section of Statistics Division participated in the 42nd session of the Statistical Commission, in that connection, they also participated in a number of other meetings, including:

  • 1 st meeting of the Bureau of the 2nd session of the ESCAP Committee onStatistics
  • 17 th meeting of the Committee for the Coordination of Statistical Activities (CCSA)
  • High-level Forum on the Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics
  • Interim meeting of the SIAP Governing Council
  • Meeting of the United Nations entities on statistical programmes
  • 5 th Meeting of the Global Project Board
  • Implementation of the Global Strategy for the Improvement of Agricultural and Rural Statistics
  • Inter-Agency and Expert Group (IAEG) on MDG Indicators
  • Executive Committee of Economic and Social Affairs meeting
  • Coordination for Implementation program of the 2008 SNA and supporting statistics meeting
Visitor to ESCAP Statistics Division
 
  • Mr Simon Ellis, Regional Advisor for Asia and the Pacific and Chief of UIS-AIMS Unit, UNESCO on March 4, 2011
 
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