Description: This course covers theoretical and practical aspects in the compilation of national accounts statistics based on the conceptual framework of the System of National Accounts 2008 (2008 SNA). The course consists of lectures covering advanced compilation issues of the 2008 SNA and workshops consisting of practical exercises in compiling the accounts. The main aim of the course is to train participants in developing and using more advanced compilation techniques to cover topics including supply and use tables, input-output tables, and price and volume measures. The course will start with a review of the SNA framework and will discuss how the accounts can be extended to address specific user needs. The course will also address key topics in the update of the 2008 SNA (2025 SNA). Emphasis is placed on sharing country experiences among the participants.
Target Audience: Compilers of national accounts statistics employed by agencies responsible for official national accounts statistics and main users.
Description: This course is intended to deepen participants' understanding of the concepts and methods of compiling PPIs. It provides an overview of the steps of index compilation including establishing index weights, sampling establishments, selecting and specifying transactions to be priced, calculating indexes, and disseminating the results. The role of price indexes as deflators in the 2008 SNA is analyzed, as are related principles of scope, coverage, and valuation. The course covers the following topics: calculating elementary aggregate indexes with and without item weights; methods for handling temporarily and permanently missing items; chaining and linking indexes with updated weighting structures; and expanding coverage of the services sectors.
Target Audience: Compilers of producer price indexes (PPIs) who have not previously received in-person training on the topic.
The Capacity Building Workshop on “Data Ethics, Governance, and Quality in a Changing Data Ecosystem” for countries in the Asia-Pacific region will take place from 14 to 16 July 2025, in Greater Noida, Delhi-NCR, India. The workshop targets Chief Statisticians and senior statisticians and is jointly organized by the United Nations Statistical Institute for Asia and the Pacific (SIAP) and the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD), in cooperation with the National Statistical Systems Training Academy (NSSTA), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), Government of India.
This workshop aims to strengthen the capacity of national statistical systems in countries of the Asia-Pacific region to adapt to the rapidly changing data ecosystem. Countries of the Asia region face unique challenges in managing their national data ecosystems, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, which highlighted the need for resilient, adaptive, and high-quality statistical systems that provide timely and disaggregated data.
After the welcome address and opening remarks, followed by a preliminary session to set the context of the event, the workshop will proceed with four key segments.
Throughout the workshop, participants will engage in interactive breakout sessions and group discussions, providing a platform to share experiences, challenges, and solutions related to their own national contexts. The workshop will culminate in two concluding sessions organized as group and panel discussions, which will summarize key insights and recommendations and propose a way forward.
With the combined efforts of UNSD, SIAP, and MoSPI, this workshop will foster collaboration and knowledge-sharing among senior statisticians and experts in the region. The goal is to ensure that countries of the Asia-Pacific region are equipped to modernize their statistical systems and address the emerging challenges posed by an increasingly complex data ecosystem. For more information, see the event website here.
Description: This one-week course, presented by the Statistics Department, prepares participants to compile QNA by providing them with a thorough understanding of the concepts, source data, and compilation techniques used for producing these datasets. The course covers both theoretical and practical compilation issues. It introduces participants to benchmarking, seasonal adjustment techniques, as well as volume estimates; and explains the application of these techniques to time series data. While the course is broadly based on the IMF Quarterly National Accounts Manual (2017 Edition), it expands on techniques required to dealing with alternative data sources, and mixed frequencies. The course covers both theoretical and practical compilation issues. Participants will learn how to identify and assess available data sources for compiling QNA; use related real-time series databases to assess the quality of QNA; and implement a suitable revisions policy.
Target Audience: Officials responsible for compiling quarterly national accounts (QNA) from SARTTAC member Countries.
Description: The in person external sector statistics (ESS) training course program consists of a mix of lectures on the concepts and methods of, and best international practices in collecting and compiling, ESS and workshops with practical exercises. The program includes a pre- and a post-course quiz, lectures and workshops with practical exercises, and sessions where countries will share their experiences in collecting and compiling ESS to facilitate peer to-peer learning.
Description: This workshop, presented by the IMF Statistics Department, is aimed at country officials from NSOs and central banks who are seeking to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to leverage Big Data and Machine Learning for generating high-frequency and detailed statistics to enhance macroeconomic monitoring and research in the region. IMF experts will share real world applications based on cumulative experience of the IMF Big Data Center and the High Frequency Indicators for Economic Activity project. The program will comprise lectures and hands-on workshops covering various Big Data applications and machine learning to enhance macroeconomic statistics and nowcasting, offering insights from both producer and user standpoints. Furthermore, participants will have the opportunity to present and discuss their use cases, engage in discussions, and benefit from shared insights and experiences.
Target Audience: This course is designed for technical staff of national statistics offices (NSOs) and central banks (economists, statisticians, data analysts, or data scientists) working on macroeconomic statistics, nowcasting, and/or other data science projects.
Description: This two-day CRVS Re-Design Workshop which was co-organized by the Directorate of Economics and Statistics and UNICEF, brought together DES officials, healthcare providers, and other key stakeholders to validate the existing "as-is" processes and collaboratively design innovative solutions for improving birth and death registration processes across Bihar. The sessions combined expert inaugural addresses with dynamic group discussions that yielded actionable recommendations for re-designing CRVS operations at public, private, urban, and rural levels. Notably, the workshop emphasized enhanced data verification, streamlined reporting, and the integration of digital tools to bridge structural barriers in the current system.
Description: This course, presented by the Statistics Department, is intended to broaden participants' understanding of the concepts and methods of compiling CPIs. The course covers the sources and methods for developing weights and sampling areas, items, outlets, and varieties. New and emerging data sources as well as new collection technologies are discussed. Frontier issues including how to better measure the digital economy are included. Linkages to the 2008 SNA are highlighted, including the related principles of scope, coverage, and valuation. The course covers the following topics: calculating elementary and upper-level indexes; methods for handling temporarily and permanently missing prices; introducing new outlets, items, and varieties; quality adjustments; chaining and linking indexes; and meeting data users' needs to ensure relevancy. The course follows the principles and recommendations of the CPI Manual (2020).
Target Audience: Compilers of consumer price indexes (CPIs).
Description: This course shall present theoretical and practical issues related to the compilation of the sequence of accounts of the SNA (current and capital accounts, financial accounts, other changes in volume of assets accounts, and revaluation accounts) and balance sheets according to institutional sectors. The course is based on the conceptual framework of the System of National Accounts, 2008 (2008 SNA). The aim of the course is to provide participants with the necessary skills to compile the sectoral accounts and the balance sheets. The course consists of lectures covering conceptual and methodological issues as well as exercises that require the application of these concepts and that highlight practical compilation issues.
Target Audience: The workshop is intended for officials employed in national statistical agencies and central banks, who are integrally involved in the compilation of national accounts and financial accounts statistics.
Description: This one-week workshop will be presented by experts from the International Monetary Fund's Statistics Department and a representative from India's Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation. The workshop will be based on the System of National Accounts 2008 (2008 SNA) and the Quarterly National Accounts Manual, 2017. The workshop will cover the following topics: (1) national accounts concepts and methods from the perspective of GSDP; (2) data sources and indicators (annual and quarterly), including use of benchmarking techniques; (3) price and volume measures; and (4) fundamental aspects of state/regional economic accounts. The workshop will feature interactive lectures and hands-on exercises that enable participants to operationalize what they learn.
Target Audience: The workshop is intended for Indian subnational government officials who are integrally involved in the compilation of and dissemination of gross state domestic product statistics (GSDP).
Description: This one-week course will cover key aspects of the compilation of Supply and Use Tables (SUT), Input-Output Tables (IOT). The following topics will be covered: Overview of SUT and their Structure; Data sources and practical compilation aspects of SUT; Balancing the SUT; Product allocation of taxes and subsidies on products and margins; Use of margins, taxes and subsidies on products; Derivation of SUTs at basic prices; Transforming SUT into IOTs; IOTs converter. The course will feature interactive lectures and hands-on exercises that will enable participants to operationalize what they learn.
Target Audience: The course is intended for officials who are integrally involved in the compilation of national accounts statistics.
Description: This course deals with identification and assessment of elementary indicators and techniques for combining them into a single index of economic activity (IEA) to track national trends. Indexes of economic activity bring together a range of elementary indicators to give timely general measures of economic activity. These measures give policy makers useful information that complements annual and quarterly GDP estimates, which are more comprehensive but usually only available after substantial lags and provide a more comprehensive picture than individual monthly and quarterly indicators, which reflect just a portion of the total economy. This one-week course will cover the practical issues with the compilation of high frequency indicators (HFIs), and covers the following topics: Scope and role of HFIs of economic activity and their relation with the SNA; Overview of data sources-both traditional and non-traditional; Assessment and selection of component series; Introduction to benchmarking principles; Introduction to seasonal adjustment; and Dissemination, revision analysis, and relations with users.
Target Audience: Officials responsible for compiling short-term or monthly economic indicators in central banks and statistical offices.
Description: This course, conducted by the IMF SARTTAC deals with the conceptual framework of public sector debt statistics as presented in the Public Sector Debt Statistics Guide and on the practical aspects of compiling public sector debt data. Basic concepts, accounting principles, and detailed classifications are discussed in the context of methodology harmonized with government finance statistics and the system of national accounts. The course examines coverage and accounting rules for public sector debt, valuation, classification, important methodological issues, and the sources and methods used for compiling the statistics. It also deals with reporting debt data to the IMF and the World Bank. The course is organized around a series of case studies.
Target Audience: Officials whose main responsibility is compiling public sector debt statistics.
Description: This course, presented by the IMF's Statistics Department, aims at providing a thorough understanding of concepts, sources of data, and compilation techniques for producing quarterly national accounts (QNA) statistics. It introduces participants to benchmarking, seasonal adjustment techniques, as well as volume estimates; and explains the application of these techniques to time series data. The course also discussed how to identify and assess available data sources, use real-time series databases to assess the quality, and implement a suitable revisions policy for compiling QNA.
Target Audience: Officials responsible for compiling and using intensely national accounts statistics (NAS).
Description: This course focuses on the conceptual framework of government finance statistics (GFS) as presented in the Government Finance Statistics Manual 2014 (GFSM 2014). The course requires that participants are familiar with the basic GFS framework and classification system. Participants should also have experience in compiling GFS from national source data. Emphasizing the integrated GFS framework, the course addresses some complex cross-cutting GFS issues that we have found to be pertinent to improving data quality. It also examines coverage of the public sector, giving special attention to borderline and complex cases. The format is lectures and exercises. Participants will be requested to propose topics related to methodological concepts that they have found problematic in compiling GFS.
Description: This course examines the conceptual and practical elements of compiling and disseminating fiscal statistics according to international standards, useful to assess the impact of government activities on a country's economy and to facilitate international comparisons. This course, presented by IMF SARTTAC, focuses on both the conceptual framework of government finance statistics (GFS) as presented in the IMF's Government Finance Statistics Manual 2014 (GFSM 2014), and on practical aspects of data compilation. The basic concepts, definitions, accounting rules, classifications and presentation tables of the GFS framework are discussed. The compilation and dissemination of comprehensive and cross country comparable GFS are explained. Finally, the course shows how to use GFS to evaluate the impact of government activities on a country's economy.
Target Audience: The course is aimed at officials working in national statistical institutes, finance ministries or central banks involved in the compilation of fiscal statistics.
Description: This course, presented by the IMF's Statistics Department, aims at providing a thorough understanding of the concepts, as well as practical advice on the data sources and compilation techniques of the international trade in goods and services statistics. The course will be largely based on the BPM6 Compilation Guide - the companion document of the BPM6 - and the Manual on Statistics of International Trade in Services 2010 Compilers Guide (MSITS 2010 CG). The course will consist of a series of lectures, workshops and plenary discussions on country practices covering concepts, sources, and compilation methods associated with international trade in goods and services statistics. Recognizing the challenges in the compilation of certain services categories, such as manufacturing and merchanting, insurance, financial services, construction, and digitalization, the course will emphasize specific aspects related to their treatment and recording in the balance of payments. Participants will have the opportunity to discuss problems encountered in their compilation work and gain insights into the analytical uses of international trade in goods and services statistics.
Description: Classification of the Functions of Government (COFOG) is a classification defined by the United Nations Statistics Division and adapted to the IMF government finance statistics (GFS) reporting framework. COFOG enables trends in government expenditure by function (e.g., defense or education) or policy purposes to be examined over time. The value of this is that expenditure by functions of government of different countries can be compared. Participants will gain an understanding of how the ten functions of government as described in the GFSM 2014 are classified, how to categorize expenditure data to generate a functional split will be explained and how it should reconcile with the economic classification of expenditure data used in the GFS. Participants should feel comfortable to present and discuss relevant data of their own country. Practical exercises with participants working in random groups will feature throughout the course enabling them to be able to appropriately categorize expenditure data to the correct functional categories. Focus will be on the function environmental protection and how this can be used in conjunction with other government data on climate change to see how governments are addressing the issue. In addition, applications of COFOG for reporting select UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) indicators will be discussed.
Description: This one-week course will be presented by experts from the International Monetary Fund's Statistics Department. The course will be based on the System of National Accounts 2008 (2008 SNA). The course will cover the following topics: national accounts concepts, methods, and framework; estimating Gross Domestic Product using the production, expenditure and income approach; Supply and Use tables and Input and Output tables; price and volume measures and Satellite accounts. The course will feature interactive lectures and hands-on exercises that enable participants to operationalize what they learn. The main lectures and workshops include: (i) Overview of the System of National Accounts, (ii) Gross Domestic Product by Production, Expenditure and Income approach (iii) Supply and use tables and Input and output tables (iv) Price and Volume measures (v) Satellite accounts.
Description: The Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management (UN-GGIM) will be convening the second United Nations World Geospatial Information Congress (UNWGIC) in Hyderabad, India from 10-14 October 2022. Hosted by the Government of India through its Ministry of Science and Technology, the convening of the UNWGIC arises out of the mandate from the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) to the Committee of Experts to convene global forums to promote comprehensive dialogue on global geospatial information management with all relevant governments, international organizations and stakeholders. The congress will be a truly global event bringing together all stakeholders at the highest level to address and ensure that geospatial information has its widest and fullest utility in service of sustainable social, economic and environmental development. With an overarching theme "Geo-Enabling the Global Village: No one should be left behind", the second UNWGIC will reflect the importance of integrated geospatial information to support sustainable development and the wellbeing of society, address environmental and climate challenges, embrace digital transformation and technological development, and catalyze vibrant economy. The congress addresses the development and strengthening of integrated geospatial information management, its capacities and capabilities, and demonstrates the importance of international cooperation and coordination for building a human data and geography community, against the three pillars of sustainable development, for a shared future and a better world, leaving no one behind within an inclusive and equitable global society. The UNWGIC will feature a high-level, plenary, special and parallel sessions. While the actual second UNWGIC program covers three days (11 - 13 October), the overall event will be a week long (10 - 14 October), and will include global and regional meetings, workshops and learning events, expert meetings and side events, including the eleventh plenary meeting of the Regional Committee of United Nations Global Geospatial Information Management for Asia and the Pacific (UN-GGIM-AP), as well as the annual meeting of the UN-GGIM Expanded Bureau.
Description: This one-week course will cover theoretical and practical issues related to the compilation of sectoral accounts (current and capital accounts, financial accounts, other changes in volume of assets accounts, and revaluation accounts) and balance sheets according to institutional sectors. The aim of the course is to provide participants with the necessary skills to compile the sectoral accounts and the balance sheets. The course consists of lectures covering conceptual and methodological issues as well as exercises that require the application of these concepts and that highlight practical compilation issues. The lectures provide a thorough review of the methodological framework, concepts, and definitions relating to sectoral accounts and balance sheets, including accounting rules, valuation, institutional units and sectors, and residency. The course will also outline potential data sources for their compilation and illustrate recommended compilation techniques and procedures.
Description: This will be an in-person training course delivered at the SARTTAC offices in New Delhi. Fiscal analysis continues to evolve, and the changed economic environment requires improvements in data to formulate and evaluate fiscal policies. Additionally, the demand for fiscal data for the purposes of identifying and managing fiscal risks, has grown. Public sector balance sheets (PSBSs) provide the most comprehensive picture of public wealth and account for what the state owns and owes at any point in time, thus offering a broader fiscal picture beyond gross debt and flow measures such as the deficit. PSBS is aligned with the methodology outlined in the Government Finance Statistics Manual 2014 (GFSM 2014). This course will provide the opportunity for participants to understand more about the financial and nonfinancial assets and liabilities of the public sector and the metrics that can be derived from these data (including debt). The course will provide detail on specific topics such as pension liabilities, and measurement of nonfinancial assets including natural resources. Given the relevance for fiscal risk analysis, the course will go beyond balance sheets and explain the concepts of contingent liabilities and what should be reported. The course will consist of presentations, group exercises as well as homework that will ultimately provide the participants with the skills to assist in improving entries for their home country on the Public Sector Balance Sheet database. Participants' questions/concerns will be invited and entertained throughout.
