Terms of Reference of ISWGNA Task Force on FISIM

Scaling up the global initiative onthe implementation of the SNA andsupporting statistics

Meeting on Scaling up thecoordination and resources forthe implementation of the SNA

28 May 2013

Luxembourg

Outline

∙Introduction

∙2008 SNA implementation programme andactivities of ISWGNA members

∙Mechanisms for better global coordination andmanagement

∙Points of discussion

Introduction

∙Increased concerns about data gaps andmajor revisions in national accounts andsupporting statistics of developing countries

NSOs committed to uphold UN FundamentalPrinciples of Official Statistics and 2008 SNAimplementation goals

∙Subscribed to common high-level goals forSNA implementation by improving the scope,timeliness and quality of economic statistics

Introduction

∙Despite some progress many developingcountries are still a long way from actuallyadjusting their supporting institutionalarrangements, statistical operations andinfrastructure for implementing the SNA.

∙The global governance, coordination andeffective management of the global SNAimplementation programme need to bestepped up in response to these heightenedconcerns

Introduction

∙The UNSC also recognised the need for scaling up theSNA implementation at the country level

∙Requested UNSD, in collaboration with the ISWGNA,supporting countries and other regl orgs, to scale upcoordination, advocacy and resources for theimplementation of the SNA at the national level whererequired by promoting stronger commitment bynational governments to advance the workprogramme for national accounts and supportingstatistics.

Introduction

UNSC requested to take into account:

–coordination, political engagement and resources atthe national level,

–lessons learned from other international statisticalinitiatives like the ICP and the Global Strategy toImprove Agricultural and Rural Statistics

–sharing of national experiences,

–engagement of the national statistical system

–data and meta data reporting mechanisms to regionaland international organizations,

–common existing software and other tools for thecompilation of national accounts and the

–broader measures of progress presently consideredby countries.

Introduction

The aim with this session is to:

–Determine proposals for scaling up the globalinitiative on the implementation of the SNA at thecountry level

–Establish a working group to assist the ISWGNA inpreparing the report on this topic as requested by theUNSC for consideration at its meeting in 2014.

SNA implementation programme andactivities of ISWGNA members

Was discussed this morning

Mechanisms to strengthen coordination formore effective management

Despite funding available and broad range of activitiesfor the development of national accounts andsupporting statistics, there seems to be a lack ofprogress in many developing countries.

It is evident that the global initiative for the 2008 SNAimplementation and supporting statistics needs to bestrengthened .

For this purpose, the following mechanisms may needto be taken into consideration: global governance,coherent global programme, communication strategyand common monitoring and reporting mechanisms

Global governance

A global governance structure with a global office would deliver aharmonized and better coordinated technical support for the SNAimplementation programme.

An organisational management model could be developed thatbuilds on ongoing and time bound sub-regional initiatives.

Clusters of multi-year (sub) regional programmes can beenvisaged that are characterised by common but differentiatedactions (CBDAs) by sub-regional programme.

Other major stakeholders need to be consulted and to beagreeable with stronger global coordination arrangements. At thesub-regional level:

–donors (countries, int’l agencies and regional development banks);

–sub-regional agencies mandated for (sub) regional economicintegration; and

–lead pilot countries in the sub-regions and lead supporting countrieswith advanced statistical systems.

UNSC

Global Steeringcommittee

Global ExecutiveBoard

Global Office

Inter-Agency andExpert group

(IAEG)

RegionalGovernanceFramework

NationalGovernanceframework

Agricultural and Rural Statistics

Coherent global programme

Overlap of regional and national technical assistanceinitiatives as well as of normative compilation guidancecan be avoided through a strongly coordinated coherentglobal programme with clear division of responsibilitiesamong the international and regional institutions, thelead pilot and lead supporting countries.

Such a programme would facilitate for statisticalcapacity development activities to:

–be lined up on common sub-regional priorities and policy needs;

–prevent other activities to crowd out limited institutionalcapacities at national level.

Communication strategy

A central web portal should be adopted to ensuresystem coherence.

As a starting point, the current SNA and VSS webportals can be extended to provide updated andcomprehensive information and technical supportmaterial, including:

–A forward looking calendar of events of the members of theISWGNA and regional commissions;

–e-learning modules, wikis and knowledge bases.

More broadly, a common communication strategyshould be developed to address the concerns of andinform the main stakeholders by providing regularupdates/briefings.

Common monitoring and reportingmechanisms

Supplement the current required data setsand data quality assessment tools withcommon tools to evaluate progress with theimplementation of the SNA and supportingstatistics.

Questionnaires received

Minimum Required Data Set

GNI and Gross saving

Points for Discussion

The following questions may facilitate the discussion:

–Are the suggested mechanisms of strengthened globalgovernance, improved coherence of the globalprogramme, enhanced communication strategy andcommon monitoring and reporting mechanismssufficient to accelerate the implementation programmeon the SNA and supporting statistics?

–What other mechanisms could be considered forscaling up the implementation initiative?

–What issues need to be included in the terms ofreference of the Working Group for developingproposals on scaling up the implementation of the SNAand supporting statistics, to be presented to the UNSCat its session in 2014?

Thank you