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1. The ESCAP programme of work for 1996-1997
was endorsed by the Commission at its fifty-first
session in April 1995. The programme of work
for the subprogramme on statistics as approved
by the Commission is presented in the annex.
2. Prior to its consideration by the Commission,
the programme was reviewed by the Committee
on Statistics at its ninth session in 1994,
while in 1993 the Working Group of Statistical
Experts at its eighth session had provided recommendations
on its future orientation and priorities.
3. In finalizing the programme of work for
1996-1997, the secretariat took into account
the recommendations and suggestions of the Committee.
In fact, the work programme is very similar
to the one which was presented to the Committee,
under document E/ESCAP/STAT.9/18 dated 9 November
1994, with annotation 1 Copies of document E/ESCAP/STAT.9/18
will be available in the meeting room.. The
only major exception is the Working Group of
Experts on Government Computerization (1997),
which had to be dropped due to funding constraints.
The secretariat will nevertheless be ready to
provide further elaborations orally as requested
by the Working Group. However, as in previous
biennia, a large number of activities, particularly
those which are operational in nature, depend
on the availability of extrabudgetary support.
Thus, where possible outputs have been expressed
in reasonably broad terms. In particular, in
those parts of the work programme concerning
non-recurrent publications and operational activities,
the broad nature of the outputs provides the
needed flexibility to the secretariat in meeting
emerging challenges, in improving its chances
of mobilizing extrabudgetary resources, and
in achieving a respectable delivery rate as
measured by the Organization's norms.
4. The Working Group is requested to review
the programme of work given in the annex and
provide its suggestions and recommendations
for changes which may be submitted to the Commission
for endorsement at its fifty-second session
in 1996.
5. The Working Group may also wish to comment
and provide recommendations on the priority
and focus within each element of the programme
of work to guide the formulation of project
proposals for implementation in 1997.
Annex
PROGRAMME OF WORK, 1996-1997
Subprogramme 5: Statistics
Current situation and
orientation:
1. For the region as a whole, the level of
statistical development and the availability
of statistical information have registered improvements,
while at the same time user requirements for
statistics have increased markedly, especially
in newer fields of interest calling for disaggregation
by gender and other criteria. Moreover, statistical
capabilities and data availability continue
to vary enormously among the countries of the
region. In the field of information technology,
particularly, the gap between the more advanced
and the less developed countries appears to
be widening further.
2. The Statistics subprogramme will continue
to assist member countries and groups of countries
in developing and improving their capability
to identify, collect, process, analyse and utilize
the data needed for the formulation, monitoring
and evaluation of development plans and policies;
improve the availability of data on the region
and its constituent countries, through the gathering
from member countries of demographic, social,
economic and other statistics, and through their
maintenance in a form suitable for retrieval
and their dissemination through various means;
and foster the utilization of modern information
technology in the public sector in order to
strengthen the ability at both central and subnational
levels to plan and manage economic and social
development.
3. In the implementation of the subprogramme,
due consideration will be given to the priority
statistical needs of the work programmes relating
to regional economic cooperation, environment
and sustainable development, and poverty alleviation
through economic growth and social development,
especially as expressed in regional plans of
action in various fields. The statistical implications
of global initiatives and themes such as the
Agenda for Development, Agenda 21 and sustainable
human development will also be taken into account.
4. In the biennium 1996-1997, stress will
be placed on developing the Committee on Statistics
as the focus of regional statistical development,
in line with the recommendations of the United
Nations Statistical Commission. This will entail
greater involvement in the development, implementation
and monitoring of statistical methodologies
and standards, and a higher profile in the coordination
of technical cooperation in statistics in the
region.
5. Subject-matter emphases will include the
implementation of the 1993 System of National
Accounts (SNA) and the development of statistics
on services; intensification of work on gender
statistics and on the development and utilization
of data on poverty; initial preparations for
the 2000 round of population and housing censuses;
and the further improvement of environment statistics
and environmental and natural resource accounting.
6. Statistical information and public-sector
computerization work during the biennium will
increasingly exploit enhanced information technology
infrastructure both within and outside ESCAP.
Effort will be concentrated on fully operationalizing
the ESCAP Statistical Information System (ESIS),
including provision of on-line access, and on
promoting electronic interchange and networking
among national statistical offices of the region.
Activities:
5.1 International cooperation
(e) External relations:
5-1-101 Cooperation with and support to other
intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations
on matters related to the subprogramme
5.2 Parliamentary services
(a) Parliamentary documentation:
5-2-101 Report to the Commission on the progress
of work carried out under the subprogramme (1997)
5-2-102 Five reports to the Committee on Statistics
(1996)
(b) Substantive services:
5-2-201 Substantive servicing of the Committee
on Statistics (1996)
(d) Ad hoc expert groups
and related work:
5-2-301 Working group of statistical experts
(1997)
5.3 Published material
(a) Recurrent publications:
5-3-101 Statistical Newsletter (quarterly)
5-3-102 Government Computerization Newsletter
(biannual)
5-3-103 Statistical Yearbook for Asia and
the Pacific (1996, 1997)
5-3-104 Foreign Trade Statistics of Asia and
the Pacific (1996, 1997)
5-3-105 Statistical Indicators for Asia and
the Pacific (quarterly)
5-3-106 Asia-Pacific in Figures (1996, 1997)
(b) Non-recurrent publications:
5-3-201 Statistical profiles by subregion
(1996, 1997)
5-3-202 Regional compendium of environmental
statistics (1997)
5-3-203 Statistical charts on thematic topics
(1996, 1997)
5-3-204 Technical publications on socio-economic
and environment statistics (1996, 1997)
© Technical material:
5-3-301 Developing and maintaining the ESCAP
Statistical Information System, linked to the
United Nations Economic and Social Information
System (1996, 1997). Ad hoc statistical information
services will be provided through conventional
means and on-line access. It is also planned
to distribute data on diskettes and/or CD-ROM.
5.5 Operational activities
(a) Advisory services:
5-5-101 Organizational and institutional issues
affecting national statistical services
5-5-102 Implementation of the 1993 System
of National Accounts (SNA); various aspects
of economic statistics
5-5-103 Various aspects of social and demographic
statistics
5-5-104 Electronic interchange and networking,
and design and development of government information
systems
(b) Group training, including seminars,
workshops and fellowships:
5-5-201 Improved management and organization
of national statistical services
5-5-202 Various aspects of economic statistics,
including implementation of the revised System
of National Accounts (SNA) and International
Comparison Programme (ICP)
5-5-203 Various aspects of social and demographic
statistics
5-5-204 Environment statistics and environmental
accounting
5-5-205 Design and development of government
information systems
5.6 Coordination, harmonization
and liaison
5-6-001 Coordination with and inputs to the
ACC machinery and other bodies, organizations
and departments within the United Nations system
on various fields of statistical activities
5-6-002 Technical and substantive support
to the Statistical Institute for Asia and the
Pacific (SIAP), a regional institute of ESCAP
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