Description: Background Better data and statistics are a key enabler for building a better world and addressing the development divide, as well as holding governments to account and improving decision and policy making. In particular, data on key development priorities that are produced with greater frequency, timeliness and granularity are in high demand. In response, National Statistical Offices (NSOs) are increasingly exploring innovative data sources, tools and methods to help address these user needs. The ESCAP Committee on Statistics therefore decided at its 7th session to “feature big data for official statistics in its future work, with an emphasis on sharing country research, experiences and good practices and facilitating capacity development” and to “strengthening legislative provisions and institutional mechanisms to enable national statistical systems to take full advantage of new and innovative technologies while respecting the Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics.” The ESCAP secretariat implements several initiatives to implement these decisions, including the capacity development project entitled the ‘2030 Data Decade - Strengthening the institutional capacity of national statistical offices in Asia and the Pacific to use innovative, new and big data sources for official statistics in support of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development’ (the Big Data Project). The project is funded through the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Sub-Fund of the UN Peace and Development Trust Fund. Through this project, ESCAP is providing technical assistance and related support to countries, as well as developing new knowledge products and facilitating the provision of opportunities for the sharing of achievements among countries in the region. Aims and Objectives The virtual workshop aim to bring together learnings and share experiences in the implementation and application of big data, tools and methods for official statistics from across the Asia-Pacific region. Specific areas of focus will include: Knowledge exchange: Sharing information on implementing and applying big data within official statistics, the challenges encountered and how these were overcome. Discussions will be held with audience participation encouraged. Inspiring others: Demonstrating the art of the possible; showcasing and discussing how alternative data sources can be used within official statistics. Signposting resources: Sharing the new products and tools, as well as the new learning materials and resources as outcomes of the Big Data Project. Establishing further needs: Providing ESCAP with a forum to elicit further learning needs from the Asia & Pacific region. By the end of the virtual regional workshop, participants will have a better understanding of how to overcome the technological, methodological, and human challenges that present when considering the application and implementation of big data in official statistics. Virtual Regional Workshop As the ESCAP Big Data Project draws to a close, the outcomes, challenges and lessons learned from the project workstreams will be showcased and shared across the Asia-Pacific region. A key focus will be on how NSOs have overcome the infrastructural and technological challenges to integrate and apply big data for statistical production. Participants The target audience for the virtual regional workshop is statisticians, methodologists, data analysts and managers within NSOs (or wider National Statistical System agencies) from the Asia-Pacific region. Those who participate in the 11 March session, will be interested in the application of geospatial data and small area estimation within the fields of Environment and Agriculture Statistics, Poverty Statistics, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); those who participate in the 12 March session will be interested in the use of alternative data sources for calculating Price Statistics. Participants will be invited from across the region’s Official Statistics community and will include those who attended the various Big Data Project workshop, trainings, and High-Level Seminars so that they may learn from others and continue their learning journey. There are no pre-requisites for attending the workshop and there are no limits on the numbers who may attend.
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Description: Please click here to join on Monday 2 December 2024 at 11:00 - 12:30hrs Bangkok time The United Nations Network of Economic Statisticians recently conducted a sprint to explore the development of a housing statistics framework to assist in monitoring, understanding, and addressing the multifaceted issues associated with housing across various regions and socio-economic contexts. This session will summarise the housing sprint and take a deep dive into Statistics Canada’s framework for housing data. The session will address some examples of challenges encountered by NSOs in producing data on housing and showcase innovative approaches to overcome some of these challenges by using administrative data, web scraping, satellite imaging, AI and other techniques. , Stats Café Home: Upcoming events Concluded events
Description: The ESCAP-ASEAN Workshop on Tracking Progress Against the SDGs Tracker aims to convene technical experts from the ASEAN Secretariat and national statistical agencies and institutions of ASEAN Member States involved in the compilation, reporting, and monitoring of activities related to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The primary objective is to equip WGSDGI members with the skills to effectively utilize statistical indicators and quality data for tracking SDG implementation progress. Participants will have the opportunity to understand how SDG progress is being tracked, identify their countries’ strengths and gaps in SDG tracking, and explore ESCAP’s methodology and the SDG Tracker tool. This workshop will demonstrate how these tools can support and streamline SDG assessments at the national level. Target participants ASEAN Secretariat and members of the ASEAN Working Group on SDG Indicators (WGSDGI) from the national statistical agencies and institutions involved in the compilation, reporting, and monitoring of activities related to the SDGs.
Description: The webinar will be held on 20th August 2024, 11:00-12:00hr Bangkok Time (UTC+7). ESCAP Statistics Division continues to support member states in strengthening their statistical capacity to produce relevant data to monitor the 2030 agenda. Different countries are at various stages of progress in implementing SDGs and face different challenges while adapting all the time. The most critical aspect of monitoring SDG progress is data. Data is produced by different agencies in a country. As part of implementing SDGs as a global development agenda, countries have adopted different approaches to suit their specific national contexts. Others have created national action plans as a way of implementing SDGs and overall national SDG progress across various goals and targets. This webinar will showcase the process of creating a national action plan for implementing and monitoring SDGs by the National Development Planning Agency of Indonesia (Bappenas). The webinar will give insights on how key users of statistics apply data in national development planning in practice. , Stats Café Home: Upcoming events Concluded events
Description: The tenth meeting of the Regional Steering Group (RSG) for Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) in Asia and the Pacific will be organized in hybrid format from 7 to 9 May 2024, at 09:00-17:00 Bangkok time (GMT+7). The purpose of the meeting is to prepare for Third Ministerial Conference on Civil Registration and Vital Statistics in Asia and the Pacific in 2025, formally launch the 2024 Review of the Asia Pacific CRVS Decade (2015-2024), support RSG members in completing the 2024 Review questionnaire, and discuss priority areas for the extension to realize the goals and targets under the Regional Action Framework (RAF) on Civil Registration and Vital Statistics in Asia and the Pacific. Please find agenda, concept note and reference documents in the attachments.
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: (English | Japanese) | 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) .embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 50%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; } 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?
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 - vibeke.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)
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
Description: The first webinar series on "Measuring Adult Mortality Community of Practice (MAM-CoP)" was held on 6 September 2023, from 08.30 to 10.00 a.m. (New York time). The event focused on the use of surveys and censuses to measure the completeness and gaps in death registration and health information systems. Discussion in the event informed further work and guidance to countries on innovative and comprehensive measurement and collection of statistics on adult mortality. Concept note Event page website: https://unstats.un.org/wiki/pages/viewpage.action?pageId=143099385 (Member Only). Objectives: The objective of the webinar series is to facilitate knowledge sharing and innovative methods for measuring adult mortality. The specific objectives of this webinar are as follows: To share experiences and best practices, including the data quality and use, of select countries that have successfully incorporated a question on death registration status in their surveys and censuses. To discuss the importance of incorporating death registration status questions in surveys and censuses for improving mortality data accuracy and informing public health policies.
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.
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
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. , National SDG Tracker Homepage Regional Workshop (July 2023) Countries: Indonesia (May 2024) Sri Lanka (May 2024)
Description: Statistical businesses processes are changing over time and various national statistical systems are adopting different technologies to produce economic statistics. Some of the innovations involve use of big data tools to compile critical statistical data in a timely manner. To be able to undertake such compilations, statistical systems must adopt new business processes that integrate use of big data technology to process huge volumes of data. These processes must be integrated in the normal statistical operations across various domains with a strong emphasis on application of advanced information technology tools. Similarly, trading systems are involving and there has been a growth in digital trade during the covid-19 pandemic This webinar was designed to highlight some of the strides some of the countries had made in the setting up of innovative processes to produce economic statistics. Specifically, the objectives of the webinar were: To showcase processes required in a national statistical system in setting up big data use; To demonstrate methods to estimate domestic tourism.
Description: The event will take place virtually on on 27 June 2023: (New York: 6:00-7:30), (Santiago: 6:00-7:30), (Bangkok: 17:00-18:30), (Addis Ababa: 13:00-14:30), (Beirut: 13:00-14:30), (Geneva: 12:00-13:30), (Vienna: 12:00-13:30). The webinar is co-organized by ESCAP, ECA, ECLAC, ESCWA, UNODC and UNCTAD. Please register here Link to the Regional webinar once it's time: here Concept note It will showcase success stories in the measurement of IFFs and share key lessons that are critical to regularizing the production of data on SDG 16.4.1 and how they can be applied and used in national policies. It will also provide a forum that will raise awareness on the upcoming activities of the DA15 project on illicit financial flows that will officially kick off in September 2023 with a seminar in Geneva. The webinar's objectives: Raise awareness on the DA15 project, its expected objectives and impacts; Secure buy-in and collaboration agreement from national statisticians, policy makers and other relevant stakeholders; Share current lessons and experiences in measuring IFFs and how they can feed into the DA15 project; Inform national stakeholders about the upcoming Kick-off workshop in September and their potential representations. Inform national stakeholders about the upcoming Kick-off workshop in September and their potential representations.
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
Description: The Global Webinar on Strengthening Climate Change and Disaster-Related Statistics: Needs, Priorities, and Action is part of a series of online webinars being held under the 14th tranche of the United Nations Development Account (DA14) Project “Resilient and agile National Statistical Systems to meet post-COVID-19 data needs to recover better”. The DA14 Project aims to help enhance the resilience and agility of the national statistical systems (NSS) of the 50 beneficiary countries to respond to emerging economic, social and environmental data needs in times of crises and disasters, through the use of innovative data sources, advanced data acquisition methods and modern technologies, while ensuring a path towards the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This webinar is organized under Workstream 2.1 of the DA14 project, which aims to strengthen national capacities, and increase the availability and policy use of statistics and indicators on climate change and disaster-related statistics. The Workstream is co-facilitated by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in collaboration with the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), the Economic Commission for Europe (ECE), the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) and the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD). The objectives of this webinar are to: Enhance awareness and understanding in the beneficiary countries of relevant international statistical frameworks and guidelines on climate change and disaster-related statistics; Share experiences, including good practices as well as technical and institutional challenges, on the production and use of climate change and disaster-related statistics between beneficiary countries; Discuss national priorities and plans for improving climate change and disaster-related statistics, and, Share and discuss how countries may further engage in the project. Before and after the webinar, each participant will be invited to complete a short survey on their level of awareness and knowledge relating to climate change and disaster-related statistics.
Description: Concept note Data integration approaches are becoming increasingly popular among official statisticians worldwide. This is due to the growing and evolving data requirements for monitoring national development plans and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the face of budget constraints and declining response rates on traditional data collection methods, i.e., censuses and surveys. Furthermore, technological advancements have made new data sources available and enabled official statisticians to produce statistics using more complex approaches. However, implementing data integration approaches requires a wide range of technical and institutional capabilities. Depending on its situation, each country may encounter different challenges needing tailored solutions. In 2022-3, the National Statistics Office of Nepal participated in a project on strengthening the capacity to implement data integration approaches for official statistics. The project involved a practical exercise of integrating multiple data sources and included capacity development activities. This Stats Café provided a brief overview of the project, its challenges and solutions, as well as shared the findings and lessons learned that may benefit other countries looking to develop similar data integration projects. During the session, the project report was also officially launched. Launch of the report: "Strengthening the national statistical capacity to implement data integration approaches: pilot project in Nepal 2022-23" , Stats Café Home: Upcoming events Concluded events
Description: Background In 2022, ESCAP developed a pilot project specifically targeted at supporting NSOs in Asia and the Pacific to address this complexity. The project aims to work with NSOs in the region to pilot the use of big data for producing a sample of the 46 environment-gender indicators. Cambodia and Mongolia submitted their expressions of interest in participating in the pilot to produce one indicator per country. For Cambodia, the indicator is the proportion of population with access to electricity by sex, while Mongolia focuses on measuring the proportion of population in Ulaanbaatar living in Gers by sex. More specifically, the project team utilized Google Earth Engine to derive nighttime light data for all communes in Cambodia and combined the results with average household size and female ratio to estimate the indicator. In the case of Mongolia, the team designed an object-based image analysis model on QGIS using the Orfeo Toolbox and a random forest classifier to detect Gers. In both cases, the team conducted sensitivity analyses and compared the results against indicators produced from censuses and/or surveys. The two pilots produced promising results and lessons learned. The project team recently conducted an Expert Group Meeting to present findings, lessons learned and challenges from implementing the pilots to experts in the field and seek their feedback on how the models can be improved. Insights from the meeting has been integrated into the guidance documents which record processes throughout the entire pilot and recommend next steps for the two NSOs to improve their usage of big data in official statistics production. This Stats Cafe session , Stats Café Home: Upcoming events Concluded events in 2022 2021 events 2020 events
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
Description: The United Nations World Data Forum aims to spur data innovation, nurture partnerships, mobilize high-level political and financial support for data, and build a pathway to better data for sustainable development. The 2023 Forum (WDF2023) will be taking place in the ESCAP region for the first time, from 24 to 27 April 2023 in Hangzhou, China. WDF2023 is taking place as a hybrid event, meaning that although in-person registration closes on 8 March 2023, it is still possible to actively participate in the forum remotely. The Forum welcomes participants interested in data from a diverse range of backgrounds: governments, civil society, the private sector, donor and philanthropic bodies, international and regional agencies, the geospatial community, the media, academia, and professional bodies. The Forum will create a space for exchanging ideas, identifying solutions and providing mutual learning opportunities across a wide variety of topics, set out in the Programme. Online participants will have the opportunity to view and interact in around 80 different sessions across the three main days of the Forum. This Stats Café shared with you further information on this year’s Forum from a range of speakers representing the host country, the Programme Committee, the Forum secretariat and allow you to ask them questions. The following topics were covered: Highlights from the programme, including high-level events Experiences from previous UNWDFs Logistics for virtual participation in the Forum
Description: About This Session Everyone, everywhere must have a say in data design, collection and use. When people have their needs, priorities, and experiences captured in data, this creates equal power dynamics, establishes people’s agency and improves participation and inclusion in data processes. On March 14, 2023, join the Data Values movement for a thought-provoking and engaging virtual discussion that will delve into the pressing issues of data and its impact on power dynamics and agency. Using a Data Values lens, this session will explore the concept of agency–the ability of individuals and communities to shape the design, production, governance, and use of data–and how it can influence and support data systems. At the same time, this session will examine how lack of agency in data can perpetuate existing inequalities and further marginalize certain groups, including youth, women, and persons with disabilities. This insightful discussion will engage Data Values advocates, statisticians and national statistical offices within Asia and the Pacific to unpack critical questions such as: How can we create open, trustworthy, and inclusive data systems that support people's agency? How can we ensure that marginalized groups in Asia and the Pacific are heard and have a say in data collection, use, and management? What roles do National Statistical Offices (NSOs) play in rebalancing power dynamics within data? Agenda Welcome Remarks - Rachael Beaven, Director, Statistics Division, ESCAP Event Moderator and Presenter - Karen Bett, Global Partnership Co-Presenter - Mayuri Dhumal, Data Values Advocate, India Co-Presenter - Joon Baek, Data Values Advocate, South Korea & New York Panelist (Youth Leader) - Bipana Dhakal, Data Values Youth Leader and Activist, Nepal Panelist (NSO) - Keshab Kumar Gautam, Director, Population Section Central Bureau of Statistics Nepal , Stats Café Home: Upcoming events Concluded events in 2022 2021 events 2020 events
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
Description: About the session This Stats Café session provided an update on the Illicit Financial Flows pilot in the Asia-Pacific region. The pilot project “Measuring Illicit Financial Flows in Asia-Pacific” was launched in July 2020, with project partners UNODC, UNCTAD and ESCAP, and is set to finish in December 2022. ESCAP serves as implementing partner for Measuring Illicit Financial Flows from tax and commercial activities and coordinated with pilot countries Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. The session included an overview of the pilot project and provided updates and preliminary results on the methods used to measure illicit financial flows in Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. In both Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, the methods applied are those in the “Methodological guidelines to measure tax and commercial illicit financial flows – Methods for pilot testing” published by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). These methods are Partner Country Method (PCM), Price Filter Method (PFM), Profit shifting by Multinational Enterprises (MNEs) and (joint foreign flows of offshore financial capital by country. In Kyrgyzstan, the pilot team tested an additional method of measuring illicit financial flows related to “grey re-exports.” “Grey exports” refer to either misreported re-exports or unreported re-exports. Testing these illicit financial flows was suggested by the national working group in Kyrgyzstan, based on the prevalence of grey re-exports in Kyrgyzstan. This method will be presented at the Stats Café session by the Kyrgyz national consultant. The results of testing the methods will contribute towards possible improvements to the UNCTAD methodological guide for future work on measuring illicit financial flows. A plan is proposed to conduct similar projects to measure illicit financial flows in present pilot countries, and additional interested countries in future. The Stats Café session will also discuss progress in measuring Illicit financial flows in other pilots and plans for further work globally and relevant policy implications and decisions. The Session was structured as follows: Overview of “Measuring Illicit Financial Flows in Asia-Pacific” by ESCAP Statistics Division (SD) The ESCAP SD presentation will outline the experience of conducting pilot studies in Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan and estimating illicit financial flows in these countries. The presentation will discuss the occurrences of illicit tax and commercial activity in Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, data available to measure the flows, the experience of assessing data and formulating the pilot testing plan and the challenges and considerations of testing and measuring. Preliminary results are available and will be discussed in this presentation. Presentation from the Kyrgyz consultant on grey re-exports, and the experience of testing and measuring grey re-exports in Kyrgyzstan. Discussion from UNCTAD on the progress in measuring illicit financial flows in other pilot countries and the future of measuring Illicit Financial Flows, the effects of illicit financial flows on the economy and society, and policy implications. , Stats Café Home: Upcoming events Concluded events in 2022 2021 events 2020 events
Description: The Asia-Pacific Stats Café Series on Mainstreaming Gender in Official Statistics: Practical Insights, was held virtually on 7 June 2022, 11:00-12:15 (UTC+7). Attendance summary Flyer About the session This Stats Café attempted to bring experiences from across the region on practical approaches to mainstreaming gender in official statistics. The Stats Café also launched the eLearning course on “Using Gender Data for Analysis, Communications and Policy-making in the context of SDG monitoring and beyond” developed by ESCAP, UN Women and SIAP. Background Gender equality has been increasingly recognized as essential to the process of sustainable development and for the effectiveness of national development policies and plans. Gender statistics and indicators are important tools to promote gender equality and implement a gender mainstreaming approach. The demand for gender statistics has increased over the years owing to international conventions and development goals at various levels. While the Sustainable Development Goals have a stand-alone goal to promote gender equality (Goal 5), gender has also been integrated across several of the other goals and targets to ensure effective outcomes for women and men in various aspects of development. Using data and statistics to adequately reflect differences and inequalities in the situation of women and men in all areas of life requires a strategy of mainstreaming gender in all stages of data planning, production, use and analysis. Agenda for this session Welcome remarks: Rachael Beaven, Director, Statistics Division, ESCAP Mainstreaming gender in official statistics: from concepts to practical approaches: Sara Duerto Valero, Regional Advisor on Gender Statistics, UN Women Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific Mainstreaming gender in the Philippines Statistical System: Wilma A. Guillen, Assistant National Statistician, Head of the Social Sector Statistics Service, Sectoral Statistics Office of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) Identifying and analyzing gender dimensions of Civil Registration and Vital Statistics using death registration data in Fiji: Meli Nadakuca, Statistician, Vital Statistics, Demography & GIS Unit, Fiji Bureau of Statistics Mainstreaming gender in statistical training: Sinovia Moonie, Statistician/ Lecturer, Statistical Institute for Asia and the Pacific (SIAP) Christophe Bontemps, Statistician/ Lecturer, Statistical Institute for Asia and the Pacific (SIAP) Moderator: Sharita Serrao, Statistician, Statistics Division, ESCAP , Stats Café Home: Upcoming events Concluded events in 2021 Concluded events in 2020
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.
Description: About the session This Stats Café sought to share experiences of countries in the assessment, analysis, and redesign of their CRVS systems using the CRVS System Improvement Framework, including reflections on how the results of this project have informed improvement policies and ongoing system strengthening efforts. The event began with an overview of the CRVS Systems Improvement Framework, followed by three countries sharing their experiences and lessons learned from applying this methodology. Background A well-functioning civil registration and vital statistics (CRVS) system helps ensure that every person has a legal identity, facilitating access to essential benefits and protections of the State.However, in many countries throughout Asia and the Pacific, many people face significant barriers to register a vital event such as a birth or death, often due to the complexity of the process, the time and number of trips needed, distance to the registration facility and the documentation requirements, to name just a few of these barriers. To support countries in identifying where the bottlenecks are in civil registration processes, some countries in Asia and the Pacific have been utilizing a Business Process Improvement approach to assess, analyse and redesign the underlying processes of their civil registration system, with the end goal of streamlining civil registration processes to alleviate the burden on families reporting vital events. The CRVS Systems Improvement Framework, which was developed under the Bloomberg Philanthropies Data for Health Initiative in collaboration with other development partners, provides detailed guidance for countries to apply an innovative, multi-sectoral, participatory and processcentric approach to examine current CRVS processes, identify gaps and determine areas for improvement. Vital Strategies, ESCAP and WHO-SEARO have been supporting countries in the region to implement Phase 1 of this Framework which includes a detailed process mapping of two selected civil registration processes (usually birth and death registration) and the identification of performance issues and potential improvement policies. Assessment, Analysis and Redesign of Civil Registration and Vital Statistics Processes - Maldives Download the report This report documents the results of the work of the Maldives Core Team in the implementation of the “Assessment, analysis, and redesign” stage of the CRVS System Improvement Framework. Using the methodology and the tools defined by the CRVS System Improvement Framework, the Core Team, supported by a Country Coordinator and a Senior Adviser, organised a range of online and in-person consultations to apply the Framework tools. The consultations enabled the Core Team to provide detailed descriptions of existing birth and death registration business processes, analyse aspects of the processes affecting performance, and design a vision for improving registration business processes, overcoming performance bottlenecks, and increasing overall efficiency. The report is organised into four distinct parts. The first part introduces the key characteristics of the Maldives CRVS system, as well as background information on the CRVS System Improvement Framework and the methodology for implementing the Framework implementation in the context of Maldives CRVS business processes. The second part of the report provides a detailed description of birth and death registration business processes as presently operated in Maldives. The third part of the report documents the analysis conducted by the Core Team to determine existing business processes, performance bottlenecks and their root causes, as well as redesign suggestions and how best to prioritize improvements. Finally, the fourth part of the report envisions the processes that would emerge after improvement policies are implemented. , Stats Café Home: Upcoming events Concluded events in 2021 Concluded events in 2020
Description: This Stats Café aimed to: Shed light on the most current outlook on data on children on the move in ESCAP countries; Identify the critical data gaps and needs that need to be addressed to promote targeted policy and program interventions that can protect and empower migrant and displaced children; Cite relevant country initiatives and good practices that promote the inclusion of data on migrant and displaced children in national data systems; and Introduce to the global statistical community the work being done by the IDAC in trying to close the data gaps on children on the move. Tentative Agenda: Opening remarks by ESCAP: Rachael Beaven, Director, Statistics Division, ESCAP Presentation by the IDAC: Estrella Lajom, Statistics and Monitoring Specialist, International Data Alliance for Children on the Move (IDAC) Minding the Data Gap on Children on the Move Country Perspective: Hataichanok Chinauparwat, Director, Statistical Forecasting Division, National Statistical Office of Thailand Regional Perspective and the Global Compact on Migration: Sabine Henning, Chief, Sustainable Demographic Transition Section, Social Development Division, ESCAP Open Discussion, Q and A: Petra Nahmias, Chief, Population and Social Statistics Section, ESCAP Concluding remarks and wrap up, ESCAP , Stats Café Home: Upcoming events Concluded events in 2021 Concluded events in 2020
Description: About the session This Stats Café will launch the recently completed ESCAP guide on how to map a population’s exposure to flood hazard. The Café is organized in collaboration with APDIM and IDD who will participate as session moderators and discussants. The session will include a presentation from a National Statistics Office on their own disaster statistics work and discuss the functionality of the tool in that regard. This Stats Café will highlight how geospatial data and techniques can be used by National Statistics Offices to produce maps, visualizations and statistical tables in their disaster statistics work. Further, the session will discuss possible uses of the tool for phases of the Disaster Risk Management Cycle and reporting to and monitoring of the Sendai Monitoring Framework and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The Session will highlight the following: ESCAP-SD’s recently completed tool “Mapping Population Exposure to Hazard”. This guide is aimed at getting users familiar with downloading and using geospatial data and programs to produce maps which show the percentage of the population exposed to flood hazard. The ESCAP-SD presentation will underscore how geospatial techniques included in the tool can be applied to generate information that would be helpful to National Statistical Offices (NSOs) in their Disaster Statistics work Discussion from Bangladesh NSO on the usefulness of the tool and how similar GIS work and methodology can be applied to the Disaster Statistics Work the institution is doing Discussion from ESCAP-IDD on the functionality of the tool and geospatial techniques regarding Disaster Risk Management and reporting for SDGs. , Stats Café Home: Upcoming events Concluded events in 2021 Concluded events in 2020
