Description: This course aims to provide a deep understanding of the concepts, data sources and compilation techniques for BOP and IIP statistics. It focusses on their application in addressing complex methodological issues in accordance with the recently updated Integrated Balance of Payments and International Investment Position Manual, Seventh Edition (BPM7). The intermediate level of the course presupposes participants' familiarity with the basic concepts. The course consists of a series of lectures and workshops analyzing country cases with a strong data component and is designed to allow peer learning and sharing of experiences. It acknowledges the challenges in compiling data in emerging areas of user interest, such as the identification of goods traded within global manufacturing arrangements and digital trade. The course examines themes and challenges emerging from developments in the global economy, and participants have the opportunity to discuss how these impact compilation work. Specific exercises are geared to integrate data compilation with Fund surveillance and policy advice; and to demonstrate the analytical uses of ESS.
Target Audience: Officials responsible for the compilation of external sector statistics (ESS) -Balance of Payments (BOP) and/or International Investment Position (IIP) statistics - who possess knowledge and experience in applying internationally accepted standards for these macroeconomic statistics.
High-quality, inclusive, and policy-relevant data from surveys are critical for evidence-based decision-making. In response to evolving data demands and persistent methodological challenges, the United Nations has revamped its 1984 Handbook on Household Surveys. The United Nations Handbook on Surveys of Households and Individuals: Foundations and Emerging Approaches, offers a global reference tool aimed at improving the design, implementation, and use of surveys across diverse contexts.
The Handbook is a major breakthrough that has three distinct characteristics. The first is the inclusion of emerging approaches, leveraging advances in survey methodologies in recent decades. The second is inclusion - the handbook includes guidance on surveying individuals living outside of traditional households. The third is an acknowledgment of surveys as integral components of a broader national data ecosystem, implying that they should be designed and implemented in coordination with other data sources to facilitate integration and reduce the respondent’s burden.
Discussions in the panel will introduce the Handbook, including the content, the revision and consultation process, and plans for dissemination and uptake. The panel will also reflect on how the Handbook could support address common implementation challenges, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
This session proposes to provide an update on work to date, with particular emphasis on the current phase of stock-taking and priority setting for future health and demographic data collection, production of key indicators, and dissemination of results. Experts from the Task Force, including representatives from a broad range of organizations (such as the United Nations Statistical Commission, World Bank, Open Data Watch, IPUMS, and National Statistical Offices) will provide insights, updates and recent work of the Task Force.
Presentations by the panel include:
Overview of Task Force goals and objectives
Creating a data access approach
Stocktaking and prioritization for health and demographic data collection
Country flash reports on demographic data collection practices
Organizer(s): IAOS Statistics Lithuania AI Generated
Description: The 2026 IAOS Conference, with the theme 'Navigating the Data Revolution: Innovations and Impact in Modern Statistics', will explore how advances in statistics are reshaping research, industry, and society. It will focus on the crucial role of modern statistical methods in extracting meaningful insights, guiding decisions, and driving innovation across disciplines.
High-quality, inclusive, and policy-relevant data from surveys are critical for evidence-based decision-making. In response to evolving data demands and persistent methodological challenges, the United Nations has revamped its 1984 Handbook on Household Surveys. The United Nations Handbook on Surveys of Households and Individuals: Foundations and Emerging Approaches, offers a global reference tool aimed at improving the design, implementation, and use of surveys across diverse contexts.
The Handbook is a major breakthrough that has three distinct characteristics. The first is the inclusion of emerging approaches, leveraging advances in survey methodologies in recent decades. The second is inclusion - the handbook includes guidance on surveying individuals living outside of traditional households. The third is an acknowledgment of surveys as integral components of a broader national data ecosystem, implying that they should be designed and implemented in coordination with other data sources to facilitate integration and reduce the respondent’s burden.
Discussions in the panel will introduce the Handbook, including the content, the revision and consultation process, and plans for dissemination and uptake. The panel will also reflect on how the Handbook could support address common implementation challenges, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
Source: ESCAP SIAP (Data extracted on: 25 Feb 2026 )
[+] More
Organizer(s): MODS Republic of Korea ESCAP SIAP
Description: In recent yearsthe data landscape has evolved rapidlycreating for National Statistical Offices (NSOs) both significant opportunities for innovation and important challenges in maintaining data quality and reliability. In response to these developmentsthe Statistical Institute for Asia and the Pacific (SIAP) and the Ministry of Data And Statistics (MODS) are organizing a Regional Training on Data Science for Official Statisticsrecognizing both the opportunities and the challenges associated with integrating Data Science methods and tools into NSO processes. The overall objective of the week-long training is to build the capacity of NSOs to integrate Data Science methods into the production of Official Statistics. It seeks to strengthen participants’ skills in handlinganalyzingand visualizing data sourceswith a particular focus on reproducible methods and tools for monitoring and reporting Official Statistics and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) indicators.
Description: The Asia-Pacific Stats Café Series on “Risks and responsibilities in using AI for official statistics” will be held virtually on Monday, 11 May 2026, from 13:00 to 14:30 (Bangkok time, UTC+7). , Stats Café Home: Upcoming events Concluded events
Source: ESCAP SIAP (Data extracted on: 04 May 2026 )
[+] More
Organizer(s): PARIS21 ESCAP SIAP
Description: The training aims to strengthen the capacity of heads of National Statistics Offices to lead their own organisations and position them in the larger data ecosystem. This training session follows similar sessions run successfully by PARIS21 and SIAP in the region.
Organizer(s): STATAFRIC UNCEISC ECA UNSD AI Generated
Description:
The United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD), the Economic Commission for Latin America And The Caribbean (UNECA), and the African Union Institute for Statistics (STATAFRIC) are jointly organizing a regional training workshop on International Statistical Classifications for countries in Africa. This workshop aligns with the second Strategy for the Harmonization of Statistics in Africa (SHaSA 2) and its Specialized Technical Group on Classifications (STG-12). It aims to help participants deepen their understanding of the principles and methodology of international statistical classifications. Furthermore, it will address specific questions that have arisen in implementation efforts across countries, providing conceptual guidance, in particular regarding the recent revisions to the International Standard Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities (ISIC) and the Central Product Classification (CPC).
For further information, please visit the workshop web page.
Description: This workshop is aimed at country officials from national statistics offices (NSOs) and central banks who are seeking to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to leverage Big Data and advanced technologies for generating high-frequency and detailed statistics to enhance macroeconomic monitoring and research in the region. The workshop is delivered by data scientists of the IMF Big Data Center through lectures and hands-on workshops covering various Big Data applications pertinent to macroeconomic statistics, offering insights from both producer and user standpoints. Furthermore, participants have the opportunity to present and discuss their use cases, engage in discussions, and benefit from shared insights and experiences. Travel, accommodation, and per diem costs are to be arranged and funded by the participants' sponsoring agencies.
Target Audience: This course is intended for technical staff and managers from national statistics offices and central banks who are involved in macroeconomic statistics, nowcasting, and data science projects. It is suitable for economists, statisticians, data scientists, and decision-makers overseeing related projects or teams.
