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CARIBBEAN COMMUNITY SECRETARIAT
TWENTY-EIGHTH MEETING OF THE RESTRICTED
STANDING COMMITTEE OF
CARIBBEAN STATISTICIANS SCCS/2003/28/12
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands
3 - 5 November 2003
29 October 2003
THE
CONFERENCE OF DIRECTORS OF
STATISTICS
OF THE AMERICAS - IMPLICATIONS FOR
STATISTICAL
DEVELOPMENT AMONG CARICOM MEMBER STATES
1. Introduction
This paper reports on the structure and functions of the Conference of Directors of Statistics of the Americas and summarizes the proceedings of the Second Meeting of the conference held at the UNECLAC headquarters in Santiago, Chile, during June 18-20, 2003.
2.
Background Information
4. It is instructive to note that for several years before the Directors of Statistics of the Americas adopted the current structure and functions, and commenced to operate under the auspices of the UNECLAC, there existed an International Statistical Conference (Spanish acronym CIE) for Directors of Statistics of this Region which operated under the auspices of the Organisation of American States (OAS), based in Washington D.C. This forum used to meet at least once annually, but at times convened special meetings in addition to its annual meeting. All Member States of the OAS were automatically members of the CIE and could therefore, attend the meeting as observers, unless they were elected to the governing committee. The CIE had an elected governing committee (Spanish acronym COM/CIE) comprising representation from all the different sub-regions, including the Caribbean. At that time, the UNECLAC was an ex-officio member of the CIE.
5. In July 2000, the United Nations Economic and Social Council adopted a resolution, which established the Statistical Conference as a subsidiary body of the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, which will contribute to policies in the area of statistics and statistical activities among countries of the Region.
6.
The main objectives of
the Conference are: (i) to promote statistical development and harmonization
with international standards; (ii) to promote cooperation and collaboration
between statistical offices, international agencies and regional agencies;
(iii) to draw up a relevant biennial programme of regional and international
cooperation activities to meet the needs and demands of the countries of the
Region, subject to the availability of resources.
7.
All countries which are
members of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean are
automatic members of the Conference which will hold meetings every other year;
8.
The Conference will
elect an Executive Committee in accordance with the regulations of the
Commission. This committee will comprise a representative from each of the
sub-regions of Latin America and the Caribbean, the Caribbean being one such
sub-region;
9.
The Secretariat of the
Commission will serve as Secretariat for the Conference;
3.
The Second Meeting of the Conference of Directors of Statistics
of the
Americas, June
18-20, 2003 - A summary of the main proceedings.
10. The Conference met for the second time in June, at the headquarters of the Commission in Santiago, Chile. The following are some of the highlights of this Meeting:
11. The Meeting was first briefed by a representative of the Commission on the successes and challenges of the previous biennium programme for the period 2001 to 2003. He then introduced the current programme, which is targeted to be completed by the year 2005.
SUB-PROGRAMME I: Adoption
and production of basic statistics within the framework of a regional strategy
for the implementation of the System of National Accounts 1993 (SNA 1993)
12. Sub-programme I addresses the very important strategy for Member States to adopt and produce basic statistics within the framework of a regional strategy to implement the System of National Accounts 1993 (SNA ’93). This sub-programme emphasizes three (3) substantive aspects i.e. implementing the SNA ’93, statistics on Tourism and the harmonization of the various economic statistics in the Region. In connection with the last aspect, special consideration will be given to the work done on the International Comparison Programme. In view of the fact that some countries have made substantive progress in implementing the new SNA ’93 international standards, the work programme will include more activities geared towards harmonization. Even though a major effort has been made in the region to implement the SNA ’93, the completion of the SNA central framework has only partially been realized. ECLAC will, therefore, concentrate efforts in the organisation of seminars and in the exchange of experiences and outputs. Much more emphasis will be placed on the standardisation of methodologies used by countries.
13. ECLAC and the WTO will continue the collaborative efforts in the biennium 2003 to 2005 to develop tourism satellite accounts for the countries of the Region;
14. ECLAC will serve as the regional ICP coordinator, setting regional goals and objectives. ECLAC will liaise with countries to appoint national coordinators to collect the data at the national level, and liaise with the regional coordinator. At the time of the conference, twenty six (26) countries had expressed their desire to take part in the ICP activities in the year 2004.
15. Several rich interventions followed when the floor was opened for discussion. Among these, it is worth noting that Spain reported that she intended to sponsor several workshops on Tourism Satellite Accounts during the biennium 2003-2005. The CARICOM region has already benefited from one such workshop held in Barbados in October 2003.
SUB-PROGRAMME II:
Improvement of the Production and Use of Statistics on Social Variables and
Well-being
16.
This sub-programme
will focus on the improvement of the production and use of social variables and
well-being.
17.
Under this topic of
the agenda, the representative from CELADE, ECLAC, reported on a Meeting held
the previous day on the 2000 round of population censuses. He informed the main
Meeting that among other issues, the census Meeting discussed new techniques
for processing and disseminating census information, the democratisation of the
access to census data banks, the possibility of marketing census information and
the need to find better ways to maximise the use of census data. The CELADE
representative further informed the Meeting that due to an acute shortage of
finances, the institution could no longer offer long-term training in
Demography. However, in view of the fact that there is a shortage of
Demographers in the Region, it will continue to offer short-term training and
liaise with other institutions which may be able to bridge this critical gap.
18.
Both the IDB and World
Bank representatives reported on the support they had provided to countries
through the MECOVI project, and
reported that due to insufficient participation by the English speaking
countries in the MECOVI project as expressed at the first Meeting of Directors
of Statistics of the Americas, a separate programme has been developed for the
English speaking sub-region. We now
know this programme to be called SPARC.
19.
During the discussion
which followed the formal presentations under this sub-programme, Argentina
reminded the Meeting that in our efforts to develop an integrated system of
social indicators, we should not lose sight of the potential of administrative
sources.
20.
The representative of
the Andean Community informed the Meeting of their efforts to harmonise social
statistics as well as statistical methodologies in their Region. They also
reported on their efforts to produce indicators on ‘Governance’ and on the
‘Informal Sector’ and suggested that financing of surveys and censuses should
be on the Agenda of the next Meeting of Directors;
21.
The representative
from the CARICOM Secretariat expressed some satisfaction with the present work
programme for the biennium 2003-2005 in that it displayed a marked departure
from the previous programme in terms of tangible benefits for the Caribbean
sub-region. It was noted that a few of
the activities of the programme are directly targeted to Caribbean countries
and the CARICOM sub-region in particular.
This is a welcomed change from previous work programmes. The representative also noted with
satisfaction, the fact that the World Bank is taking up the challenge to more
directly assist CARICOM Member States through a project similar to the MECOVI
project. He then briefed the Meeting on
the efforts in the sub-region to assist Member States to develop capacity to
produce reliable and comparable statistical data and indicators on the
environment, gender, social development and other areas.
22.
The representative
from the ECLAC Secretariat informed the Meeting of the main features of the
REDESA project, which is funded by the United Nations Development Account, and
which seeks to set up a network of experts and organisations working in the
areas of social and environmental statistics.
23.
The Secretariat's
representative also recalled the high priority, which the UN system attaches to
the development goals articulated at the Millennium Summit. These goals are significant since they focus
on quantitative targets to be achieved in a specified time frame set by the
countries themselves. This approach to development highlights the importance of
accountability and transparency in public administration.
24.
On this topic, the
representative from Bolivia expressed concern about the gradual reduction in
budgetary allocation to statistical offices of the Region and the consequent need
by some offices to use substitute or indirect indicators. Since governments made commitments to
achieving the Millennium goals, they should also provide the necessary
resources to measure their progress, in so doing.
SUB-PROGRAMME III:
Improvement and Extension of the Production of Statistics on Specific Issues
25.
Under this
sub-programme, one of the substantive issues raised by the representative from
the secretariat is the increased growth in demand for Environmental statistics
in terms of international, regional, governmental as well as civil society
organizations. Evidence of such an increased demand has been made clear in the
deliberations and outputs at forums like the Millennium Summit and recently at
Johannesburg. A major challenge is the fragmentation and dispersion of
environmental data. This highlights the
need to bridge the gap between users and producers of data and to facilitate
training and exchange of experiences.
Three favourable occurrences to date, in this connection, include the report
on the progress made by countries in developing environmental statistics, the
work being done by REDESA and the revision of the UN handbook on environmental
accounting.
26.
In her presentation,
the representative from the Women and Development Unit of ECLAC referred to
some of the activities with which ECLAC is currently involved together with
national women’s offices, including the processing, analysis and use of gender
statistics. The representative stressed the need for countries to move swiftly
to build capacity in the area of ‘Time Use Surveys’. Efforts are being made to
promote the use of these surveys as an important policy-making tool. She
mentioned initiatives being taken to develop indicators on ‘Violence Against
Women’ and the efforts made by ECLAC to measure poverty on a more
gender-differentiated basis. Cuba offered to share her expertise on the subject
of ‘Time Use Surveys’.
27.
The subject matter of
Science and Technology and in particular, Information and Communications
Technology (ICT) was then introduced by the secretariat and there was
considerable discussion on this topic as well. The linkages between ICT and
productivity and economic growth in the Region were strongly emphasized in the
discussion. An interdisciplinary
approach involving the use of common methodologies that would foster
cross-country comparisons is at the basis of the work in this area.
28. The representative from Peru informed the Meeting that work on developing indicators in the area of ICT is ongoing jointly by Mexico, Peru and Brazil supported by ECLAC and other partners and stresses the objective of identifying common methodologies, which may be adopted by other countries. These efforts are strongly supported by other relevant international agencies including EUROSTAT who was also able to share some of the European experiences with participants at the Meeting;
29. However, the representative from Peru warned that in light of severe budgetary constraints faced by statistical offices of the Region, there is an urgent need to define priorities. He suggested that ECLAC play a leading role in this endeavour;
30. The OECD representative informed the Meeting of the progress made by his organisation and other entities in the area of Science and Technology and innovation in the field of statistics. He stressed the importance of adopting common international definitions and standards to ensure comparability.
31. The Meeting noted the very successful work carried out by UNSD and CARICOM resulting in two publications on social, gender and environmental statistics and indicators.
32. Finally, of significance under this programme was the announcement by Bolivia of the planned technical meeting to be hosted by his country. This meeting was entitled "Second meeting on the mainstreaming of a gender perspective in the measurement of poverty". The CARICOM Secretariat participated in this forum in the persons of the Programme Manager for Statistics and the Deputy Programme Manager, Caribbean Community Development and Women affairs.
Sub-Programme Iv:
Modernization Of Statistical Systems And Data Dissemination
33. The representative of the Secretariat described this sub-programme as the most political of all and appealed for countries’ full cooperation in carrying out the activities identified. Some of these activities involve the credibility of national statistical offices, advocacy to promote statistics, institution building, as well as governance.
34. In this connection, it is instructive to note the mission and vision of PARIS21, i.e. Partners in Statistics for Development in the Twenty First Century. PARIS21 was launched "to increase political support for statistics, integrate statistics into poverty reduction strategies, promote strategies for strengthening statistics and improve dialogue between producers and users". In partnership with ECLAC, its proposed activities include workshops and meetings to promote a “culture of statistics” in the region. The representative from Canada welcomed the initiatives of PARIS21 and referred to similar initiatives with which Canada had been involved in Central Europe and China. Canada stressed the need to involve political authorities as well as civil society together with statisticians, which had good results in these countries mentioned.
35. Honduras reported that in carrying out the research agenda of its statistical institute, PARIS21, as well as ECLAC would play a very important role. In this connection, the representative made reference to the recent initiative to formulate a Central American Statistical Council, and a proposal to this effect will be put to the next Summit of Central. American Presidents for their endorsement, with Honduras becoming the pro tempore secretariat for this council.
36. Both Mexico and Uruguay argued that the assessment put forward by PARIS21 was not reflective of the real situation in the region and the history of the countries’ national statistical offices should not be ignored. Spain, even though agreeing, noted that the situation varied from one country to the other, but a common feature is the need to strengthen national statistical offices.
37. The Meeting then engaged itself in several discussions on issues relating to institutional strengthening, management and data quality. The representative of Chile was the moderator for this session during which two papers were presented on data quality – one by Canada and the other by Spain. There were several interventions on the issues raised in these papers. The last substantive discussion topic was on the paper presented by Bolivia focusing on public credibility of national statistical offices. Discussion here was also very substantive and was a logical extension to the discussion in the previous session.
38. The Meeting then formulated and adopted its recommendations and elected a new executive for the biennium 2003-2005. Chile was elected to chair the new executive. The representative from Trinidad and Tobago was elected as representative for the Caribbean Region.
4. Conclusion
39. The Conference of Directors of Statistics of the Americas is very important for the CARICOM sub-region since many of the initiatives highlighted at this forum, are very relevant for this sub-region. Attendance at this Meeting by more Member States is, therefore, very crucial, especially since the deliberations at this forum set the pace for the entire region, including the Caribbean sub-region. A considerable amount of funding is channeled via this forum and if we are not present at these meetings to voice our concerns and argue for our fair share, the interpretation is that we are not very interested in the work of the Conference. Further, it is obvious that by attending this Meeting, the Region can also benefit from the rich networking, which occurs at the forum. There can be bilateral as well as regional networking, which can work in the interest of the overall statistical development of the sub-region. Finally, considerable benefits can be accrued not only from the programme of work itself, but from the contacts developed. Member States should take note of the advantages, which are possible via this forum, and to be encouraged to attend the next meeting in 2005.
ACTION REQUIRED
The Meeting is invited
to:
(i) note the report of the the Conference of Directors of Statistics of the
Americas.
*****
Designed and Maintained by
________________________________________________________________________
Statistics Sub-Programme, Caribbean Community Secretariat, Headquarters (Turkeyen) P.O. Box 10827
Georgetown, Guyana
Tel.: (592) 222-0001-75 Fax: (592) 222-0098
© 2009
The Caribbean Community Secretariat All rights reserved.