United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Statistical Division

United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Statistical Division Strengthening coordination and partnership in the field of statistics in the SPECA region Sixth SPECA Project Working Group Meeting Geneva, 16 June 2011

General framework SPECA member countries are Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan: SPECA Project Working Group on Statistics (PWG STAT) established in Paris in 2006; Terms of reference for three years, presently 2009 -2012; PWG STAT is a subsidiary body of the governing structure of the UN SPECA; Statistical activities within the SPECA framework are part of the UNECE Statistical programme. UNECE Statistical Division Slide 2 2

Modalities of operation/ participants Heads of the National Statistical Institutes of SPECA member countries; Chief Statisticians of UNECE and UNESCAP; Multilateral agencies and organizations involved in statistical capacity building activities in the SPECA region (CIS-STAT, Eurostat, EFTA, World Bank); Secretariat of the PWG STAT provided by UNECE and UNESCAP; The PWG STAT shall hold annual sessions. UNECE Statistical Division Slide 3 3

Programme of work and funding 3 -year working programme to be developed, presently 2009 -2011; Additional components may be added by the PWG STAT; Participation and operational costs to be funded by the UNECE Capacity Building Programme on New Challenges in Economic Statistics in Central Asia; Costs for activities initiated by the PWG STAT to be covered by other funding agencies (multilateral or bilateral). UNECE Statistical Division Slide 4

Assessment The PWG SPECA on Statistics is an excellent instrument for strengthening regional capacity building programmes But the following could be addressed: Limited involvement of the SPECA countries in the development of the work programme; Rather poor follow-up of the implementation of the work programme; Some important multilateral and bilateral donors (or potential) donors not invited; Lack of resources to finance the implementation of the work programme. UNECE Statistical Division Slide 5 5

Proposals The next terms of reference could better cover the following elements: Share information on capacity building activities conducted in the SPECA countries; Involve SPECA countries in the development of the work programme (demand-driven); Invite major multilateral and bilateral agencies to participate in PWG STAT meetings; organize more often PWG STAT meetings in SPECA countries. UNECE Statistical Division Slide 6

The way forward Questions to participants: Do you agree with the issues identified? Do you have further comments? Do you agree with the measures proposed? Do you have other suggestions? Do you agree to mandate the secretariat (UNECE and UNESCAP) to submit to the next PWG STAT new terms of reference for approval? UNECE Statistical Division Slide 7 7

Thank you for your attention. UNECE Statistical Division Slide 8