United Nations Network of Economic Statisticians

The fifty-second session of the Statistical Commission approved the recommendation of the Friends of the Chair Group on economic statistics to establish a new United Nations Network of Economic Statisticians (Network) to facilitate networking, coordination and communication on new innovations, experiments and best practices for the purpose of making progress on priorities to keep economic statistics relevant, requested that its mandate be clearly defined and provide a transparent and collaborative horizontal coordination mechanism for all existing groups, and recognized the need for the network of economic statisticians to coordinate with other statistical committees and groups, as appropriate, for the purpose of measuring the multidimensional relationships between the economy, environment and society of the 2030 Agenda.

Specifically, the work program of the Network will build on the endorsed recommendations of the Friends of the Chair Group on Economic Statistics for an agile and more responsive system of economic statistics based on four thematic workstreams: (a) networking: collaboration and user consultation; (b) transforming and challenging the system: statistical infrastructure and operations, and data solutions; (c) enabling: institutional arrangements and governance; and (d) experimenting, integrating and documenting: statistical framework and methods.

The task teams of the Network will work agilely in sprints of short duration to complete a series of a set amount of work and deliverables for the thematic workstreams of its work program. The short and intense life cycle of these sprints ensures that momentum is sustained to meet clear objectives.

2021

• Terms of Reference for the United Nations Network of Economic Statisticians

• The Network started reporting to the Statistical Commission annually starting from its fifty-third session in 2022. The list of Network's reports to the Statistical Commission is available below:
• • Report to the fifty-sixth session of the Statistical Commission
• • Report to the fifty-fifth session of the Statistical Commission
• • Report to the fifty-fourth session of the Statistical Commission
• • Report to the fifty-third session of the Statistical Commission

The decisions on the Network's reports are provided below:

• • Decision 56/1111 in Report on the fifty-sixth session of the Statistical Commission
• • Decision 55/108 in Report on the fifty-fifth session of the Statistical Commission
• • Decision 54/106 in Report on the fifty-fourth session of the Statistical Commission
• • Decision 53/118 in Report on the fifty-third session of the Statistical Commission

• Watch this space for announcements on upcoming sprints.

Network

• First Meeting of Network
• Second Meeting of Network
• Third Meeting of Network
• Fourth Meeting of Network
• Fifth Meeting of Network
• Sixth Meeting of Network
• Seventh Meeting of Network
• Informal Meeting of the United Nations Network of Economic Statisticians - 9 November 2022
• Informal Meeting of the United Nations Network of Economic Statisticians - 6 November 2023

AI and Data Science for Economic Statistics Sprint

• First webinar of AI and Data Science for Economic Statistics Sprint
• Second webinar of AI and Data Science for Economic Statistics Sprint
• International Symposium on AI and Data Science Sprint for Economic Statistics

Housing Sprint

Much like food and clean drinking water, shelter is a basic human need required for people to live. Having access to adequate homes promotes good physical and mental health which, in turn, enables people to be productive members of society. Housing outcomes are a confluence of economic, demographic, environmental and regulatory factors, shaped by the diversity and sustainability of cities and communities. They transcend personal experiences into market impacts and the economic performance of countries around the world.

The Sprint organized by the United Nations Network of Economic Statisticians, in collaboration with the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Statistics Canada, Maldives Bureau of Statistics and United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), will explore the role of developing a comprehensive framework for measuring housing outcomes, provide the opportunity to share on some of the more common housing indicators, data needs and data challenges. Presenters will also showcase some of the more innovative ways of data development (use of artificial intelligence, remote sensing, and administrative data) and data integration techniques.

The Sprint consists of two webinars. The target audience include housing specialists from national statistical offices and other government agencies, domain specific Expert Groups and Committees, and other relevant stakeholders.

• First Webinar of Housing Sprint
• Second Webinar of Housing Sprint
• Asia Pacific Stats Cafe Series: A Housing Framework for the Future

Key output: Primer Making the Case for an International Housing Statistics Framework

Data Strategy Sprint

The Sprint will cover all the essential aspects of developing and maintaining a successful data strategy. The webinar series starts with a primer on why and how to build a strategy for better leveraging data holdings, followed by a roadmap for implementation, taking into account issues to be considered, challenges that need to be overcome and considerations for maintenance work. Concrete national and international examples will illustrate the tactical and operational aspects of the strategy, as well as the key role that collaboration and cooperation play in ensuring success.

• First Webinar of Data Strategy Sprint
• Second Webinar of Data Strategy Sprint
• Third Webinar of Data Strategy Sprint

Key output: Data Strategy Primer: Framework and Best Practices for Developing a Data Strategy below the last bullet.

International Classifications Sprint

• International Classifications Sprint

Beyond GDP Sprint 2023

• First Meeting of Beyond GDP Sprint 2023
• Second Meeting of Beyond GDP Sprint 2023
• Third Meeting of Beyond GDP Sprint 2023
• Fourth Meeting of Beyond GDP Sprint 2023
• Fifth Meeting of Beyond GDP Sprint 2023
• Sixth Meeting of Beyond GDP Sprint 2023
• Seventh Meeting of Beyond GDP Sprint 2023

Key output: Completing the Statistical Architecture: Developing the System of Population and Social Statistics and the Framework for Inclusive and Sustainable Wellbeing - A Roadmap February 2024

Measurement of Inflation of Owner-occupied Housing Sprint

The Sprint on the Measurement of Inflation of Owner-Occupied Housing Services Costs in the CPI will explore the various approaches to the measurement of Inflation of Owner-occupied Housing as well as the Challenges and Opportunities Associated with Each Approach.

• First Meeting of Owner-occupied Housing Sprint
• Second Meeting of Owner-occupied Housing Sprint
• Third Meeting of Owner-occupied Housing Sprint

Beyond GDP Sprint 2022

• First Meeting of Beyond GDP Sprint
• Second Meeting of Beyond GDP Sprint
• Third Meeting of Beyond GDP Sprint
• Fourth Meeting of Beyond GDP Sprint
• Fifth Meeting of Beyond GDP Sprint
• Sixth Meeting of Beyond GDP Sprint

Key output: A research prospectus for an integrated statistical framework for inclusive and sustainable wellbeing

Data Access Sprint

• Sprint on Data Access

Organizational Sprint

• First Organizational Sprint Meeting of the United Nations Network of Economic Statisticians
• Second Organizational Sprint Meeting of the United Nations Network of Economic Statisticians
• Third Organizational Sprint Meeting of the United Nations Network of Economic Statisticians
• Fourth Organizational Sprint Meeting of the United Nations Network of Economic Statisticians

Side Events

• 55^th Session (2024): Informal Meeting of the United Nations Network of Economic Statisticians: Improving the coordination of the updates and research agendas for international statistical standards
• 54^th Session (2023): Informal Meeting of the United Nations Network of Economic Statisticians
• 53^th Session (2022): Introduction to the United Nations Network of Economic Statisticians: Past, Present, and Future Activities