Global Calendar of Statistical Events

Organizer(s): ESCAP

Description: The report launch event was held on Thursday, 15 February 2024, from 11:00 to 12:00 hours (Bangkok time, UTC+7), at the Foreign Correspondent’s Club of Thailand (FCCT), Bangkok and Online via Zoom. Presentation for the launch Opening remarks Attendance summary Report website Full Report | Highlights Blog: Urgent action needed so no one in Asia and the Pacific is left behind UN NEWS: Asia-Pacific off track on path to SDGs, UN data shows (English | Chinese) <!--*/ /*--> Key speakers: Lin Yang, Deputy Executive Secretary for Programme, Office of the Executive Secretary, ESCAP Rachael Beaven, Director, Statistics Division, ESCAP Moderator: Mitch Hsieh, Chief of Communications and Knowledge Management, ESCAP Key messages As of 2024, how has the Asia-Pacific region progressed for each of the 17 SDGs? How does sex, age, and income influence the chances of being left behind? Are there examples of evidence-based actions taken to achieve the SDGs?

Topics: Sustainable development (CSA 501) Data dissemination and communication (CSA 610)

Event URL: Event Page

Organizer(s): UNSD ESCAP Statistics Norway

Description: Background United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD) as the Secretariat for UN-GGIM and the core partner of the Data for Now initiative, together with ESCAP and Statistics Norway, is convening an international high-level seminar that aims to foster this collaboration by bringing together representatives from National Statistical Offices (NSOs), National Geospatial Information Agencies (NGIAs) and other relevant national institutions to learn from globally recognized good practices, increasing awareness of the global frameworks and resources, and discuss current practices and potential ways forward at national level. The seminar also provides an opportunity for countries to utilize a Self Assessment Tool, developed by the United Nations Expert Group on the Integration of Statistical and Geospatial Information, that aims to assist countries to self-assess their geo-statistical capacity (or maturity). By understanding their level of capacity, countries can take concise actions to improve their capacity according to their own ambitions, needs for statistics and at their own pace. Participating countries will be asked to apply the Self Assessment Tool in advance of the high-level event and to share the findings so that international experts can provide input and guidance during the discussions at the seminar. The roadmap and action plan that each country will be encouraged to develop during the seminar can then be used for individual follow up in countries, where feasible also with support from UNSD and other partners. Aim and Objectives The workshop’s primary aim is to equip Member States with the necessary skills to ensure continuous production and disaggregation geospatially enabled statistical data. Specific objectives include: Present the Global Statistical Geospatial Framework (GSGF) and the SDGs Geospatial Roadmap and highlight how it can be implemented; Facilitate discussions on countries’ geo-statistical capacity (maturity) and help identify specific actions that can improve implementation, ideally developing national draft roadmaps, which in turn also can guide needs for further capacity development; In this context, present methodologies for continuously calculating geospatially enabled statistical data, inclusive of relevant SDGs indicators; Highlight the importance of collaboration across the National statistical and geospatial ecosystem; Identify needs for partners to better be able to provide support to countries through follow-up activities Programme Programme for download Report Seminar Report , Contacts Programmatic and Substantive: Ms. Vibeke Nielsen, Inter-Regional Advisor, UNSD - <a href="mailto:vibeke.nielsen@un.orgvibeke.nielsen@un.org Ms. Faryal Ahmed, Statistician, UNSD – faryal.ahmed@un.org Mr. Mark Iliffe, Geographer, UNSD – mark.iliffe@un.org Mr. Richard Tonkin, Statistician, ESCAP – richard.tonkin@un.org Administrative: Mr. Jaspreet Doung, Statistics Assistant, UNSD - doung@un.org (UNSD & Statistics Norway-funded participants) Ms. Anne Kerdlapphon, Statistics Assistant, ESCAP – anne.kerdlapphon@un.org (ESCAP funded participants & questions relating to Thai visas and venue)

Topics: Institutional frameworks, organization of official statistics (CSA 701) Geospatial data (CSA 608)

Event URL: Event Page

Organizer(s): ESCAP

Description: Concept Note Innovations remain an integral part of good practices in the production of economic statistics that are timely and meet the needs of users. Overtime, traditional systems of data collection such as surveys have involved to respond to new business practices such as online trading. As a result, some countries have had to change modalities of data collection for measures of aggregates such as inflation. These measures have included tendencies to scrap the internet for prices to produce consumer price indices. Other countries have not yet adopted such innovations. Similarly, for producing macroeconomic and microeconomic statistics such as gross domestic product (GDP), retail statistics, employment amongst others, countries have embraced different data collection techniques. Besides mere data collection, new industries such as e-commerce have emerged, often facilitated by more efficient payment systems and changes in consumer purchasing habits. While this has improved the timeliness of data produced, it is important that statistical standards are maintained in line with fundamental principles of official statistics.  This Stats Café was organized by the Statistics Division of ESCAP and aimed to showcase country level practices and experiences regarding on-line price collection for consumer price indices, purchasing power parities (PPP’s) within the context of the international comparison programme (ICP) and the measurement of e-commerce. By participating in this Stats Café, attendees were expected to: Learn about how some countries are applying new innovations with respect to price data collection for price indices and their associated challenges; Acquaint themselves with some of the approaches and methods for measuring e-commerce. Agenda Moderator: Mr Alick Mjuma Nyasulu, Statistician, Statistics Division, ESCAP Opening remarks: Ms Rikke Munk Hansen, Chief, Economic and Environmental Statistics Section, Statistics Division, ESCAP   Measuring E-commerce using market place site, Mr Viktor Suwiyanto, Junior Expert Computer Administrator, BPS Statistics Indonesia Online price collection for the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and experiences on the 2021 International Comparison Programme , Ms Ruth Lee, Senior Manager, Consumer Price Indices, Department of Statistics, Singapore Online Price Collection for Consumer Price Indices, Ms Chindy Saktias Pratiwi, Statistician, Directorate of Price Statistics, BPS Statistics Indonesia & Ms Irien Kamaratih Kamaratih Arsiani, Statistician at Integration of Statistical Processing and Dissemination - BPS Statistics Indonesia Question and Answer/Discussion , Moderator: Mr Alick Mjuma Nyasulu, Statistician, ESCAP Statistics Division Closing remarks: Mr Alick Mjuma Nyasulu, Statistician, ESCAP Statistics Division , Stats Café Home: Upcoming events Concluded events

Topics: Information society, digitalization (CSA 508) Prices (CSA 205)

Event URL: Event Page

Organizer(s): UNSD ECE ESCAP

Description: Full Report Expert meeting on data governance (master slideshow) Programme Concept note Purpose The Expert meeting was organized to advance the decisions by the ESCAP Committee on Statistics pertaining to data governance and the enhanced use of new technology and data for official statistics. Participants The Head of the national statistics office of Fiji, India, Mongolia, Singapore, Thailand, and Uzbekistan (members of the Bureau of the ESCAP Committee on Statistics). The Head or Deputy Head of the national statistics office of selected other countries in Asia and the Pacific, representing a balanced mix of subregions and types and evolvement of data governance models. Resource persons from international entities such as UN-ECE, UNSD, SPC, ADB, ASEAN, PARIS21 and the World Bank Group will be invited to participate at their own cost. Objectives Review a draft compendium of data governance practices in Asia-Pacific; make recommendations for its finalization or further development. Review a draft information brief on data governance as it pertains to the use of big data for official statistics; make recommendations for its finalization or further development Increase the knowledge of senior statisticians in Asia-Pacific on data governance models pursued by different countries in the region and how such models may facilitate the use of new technology and data for official statistics. Support senior statisticians in Asia and the Pacific in identifying opportunities and possible pathways towards developing the roles and responsibilities of the national statistical office in support of national data stewardship, governance of data and the enhanced use of new technology and data for official statistics. Upskill and empower senior statisticians in Asia and the Pacific to engage with other parts of the National Statistical System to take forward data governance and data stewardship discussions.

Topics: Institutional frameworks, organization of official statistics (CSA 701)

Event URL: Event Page

Organizer(s): ESCAP

Description: The TWG was held its 23rd virtual meeting on Wednesday, 26 July 2023, 14:00 – 15:30 hours, Bangkok time (GMT+7). The objectives of the meeting are: To discuss the rationale as well as data and methodological considerations for DRSF tables (1) tables D2: Disruption of basic services from a disaster by hazard types/geographic region, and F: Summary of material impacts to agriculture by hazards types. To share initial results of the review of DRSF tables D2 and F by Maldives. To provide opportunities for TWG participants to reflect on and discuss the experiences from their national statistical systems. To get volunteers for the next DRSF table review on table G Summary tables of direct environmental impacts. , Home: TWG Confluence Previous TWG Meetings

Topics: Hazardous events and disasters (CSA 304)

Event URL: Event Page

Organizer(s): ESCAP

Description: Context The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is the blueprint for member States to progress towards inclusivity and sustainability. At the midpoint of the 2030 Agenda, countries are urged to better assess the progress towards achieving the sustainable development goals (SDGs). Monitoring SDG implementation at the national level is challenging. Data availability and coordination across the entire statistical system, technical capacity, and access to IT infrastructure are key barriers for member States to measure their progress towards achieving the SDGs. In this regard, under the China-ESCAP Cooperation Programme (CECP), the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and the government of China initiated a project to strengthen the capacity of national governments to follow up and review implementation of the 2030 Agenda. Specifically, the National SDG Tracker tool was introduced to help countries measure current and expected SDG progress achievement by 2030. Results of this assessment are also expected to complement the countries’ Voluntary National Review (VNR) narratives. The regional workshop was an opportunity for countries who implemented the National SDG Tracker to share their results and experiences on applying the SDG progress assessment methodology, emphasizing South-South cooperation, and exchange lessons learned from the use of SDG data. View / Download photos from the Workshop Concept note Objective and expected outcomes The regional workshop gathered statisticians, national planning experts, SDG coordinators and relevant stakeholders to: promote evidence-based assessment of SDG implementation in countries of the Asia-Pacific region; enable other countries of the region to use National SDG Tracker tool to measure current and expected SDG achievement; assess and understand the underlying challenges of monitoring SDG progress. These were expected to strengthen capacity for follow up and review of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The regional workshop took place in person at Amari Watergate Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand on 17-20 July 2023. It was conducted in English only.

Topics: Sustainable development (CSA 501)

Event URL: Event Page

Organizer(s): ESCAP

Description: The TWG was held its 22nd virtual meeting on Wednesday, 31 May 2023, 14:00 – 15:30 hours, Bangkok time (GMT+7). The objectives of the meeting were: To discuss the rationale as well as data and methodological considerations for DRSF tables (1) tables D1b: Summary table of direct material impacts by hazards types and geographic regions, and E1b: Summary table of direct material impacts by hazards types and geographic regions. To share initial results of the review of DRSF tables D1b and E1b by Bangladesh and Malaysia. To provide opportunities for TWG participants to reflect on and discuss the experiences from their national statistical systems. To get volunteers for the next DRSF table review on table F Summary of material impacts to Agriculture by hazards types. , Home: TWG Confluence Previous TWG Meetings

Topics: Hazardous events and disasters (CSA 304)

Event URL: Event Page

Organizer(s): ESCAP

Description: The TWG held its 21st virtual meeting on Wednesday, 29 March 2023, 13:30 – 15:00 hours, Bangkok time (GMT+7). The objectives of the meeting were: To discuss the rationale as well as data and methodological considerations for DRSF tables (1) tables C2: Summary table of human impacts by hazard type and geographic regions and (2) C3: Summary table of affected population by demographic and social categories. To share initial results of the review of DRSF tables C2 and C3 by Sri Lanka and on Türkiye. To provide opportunities for TWG participants to reflect on and discuss the experiences from their national statistical systems. To get volunteers for the next DRSF table review on tables D: Summary tables of direct material impacts in physical terms. , Home: TWG Confluence Previous TWG Meetings

Topics: Hazardous events and disasters (CSA 304)

Event URL: Event Page

Organizer(s): UNCTAD ESCAP

Description: In 2020, UNODC, ESCAP, UNCTAD, UNODC ROSEAP, inaugurated a new Development Account project called “Statistics and data for measuring illicit financial flows in the Asia-Pacific region”. The project aimed at consolidating existing and testing new methodological guidelines for the measurement of Indicator 16.4.1 “Total value of inward and outward illicit financial flows (IFFs)”, as well as to build and strengthen statistical capacity by providing technical assistance and guidance to pilot countries for the measurement of such indicator. An UNCTAD/UNODC Conceptual Framework for the Statistical Measurement of Illicit Financial Flows was published in October 2020, and in June 2021, UNCTAD published Methodological Guidelines to Measure Tax and Commercial IFFs for pilot testing, while UNODC is measuring crime related IFFs. Pilot testing has been ongoing in 2021-2022 of the UNCTAD Guidelines in two countries, namely, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, and crime related IFFs were tested in Viet Nam, Bangladesh, Maldives, Nepal by UNODC. A hybrid final workshop of the project is being organized to discuss the implementation of activities IFFs in the six Asian countries. The meeting objectives are: * Report on improved statistical capacity to measure illicit financial flows; * Report the estimates of the illicit financial flows; * Share experiences and best practices among the pilot countries within the region; * Facilitate continuation of measurement by national statistical offices and national agencies; * Disseminate testing guidelines (both crime-related and tax and commercial) which were updated as a result of this pilot testing round; * Discuss future work, interregional cooperation, and policy implications for measuring illicit financial flows

Course Language: English, Russian

Topics: Crime and criminal justice (CSA 40801)

Event URL: Event Page

Organizer(s): ESCAP

Description: The 78th session of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) will be held in a hybrid modality from 23 to 27 May 2022 at the United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok and online. Guided by the theme “A common agenda to advance sustainable development in Asia and the Pacific”, the annual session will be an opportunity to discuss and shape the future of regional cooperation centred around a new form of multilateralism and regional cooperation. ESCAP will be commemorating the seventy-fifth anniversary of its establishment in 2022, and the seventy-eighth session will mark the culmination of the commemorations. As the Commission approaches this landmark milestone, it is poised to engage in dialogue on the future of regional cooperation to advance the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and deliver on its promise of leaving no one behind. As countries stand at a crossroads where building back better is within reach, the Commission will also offer a space to identify and discuss the mechanisms and means to build the resilience of people and nations in Asia and the Pacific in the aftermath of COVID-19.

Event URL: Event Page