First Meeting of Beyond GDP Sprint 2023



This first meeting of Beyond GDP 2023 Sprint series will look at initiatives to measure and monitor people wellbeing and quality of life. In particular, the meeting will take stock of the evolution of social and demographic statistics, from measuring living conditions to measuring inclusive and sustainable economic and social development, based on a review of the UN Statistical Commission's decisions since its inception in 1947. This sprint will also be an opportunity to re-address the question of the need for a System of Population and Social Statistics, and discuss the system scope and relevance to the 2025 SNA. Finally, this sprint will review Beyond GDP initiatives and perspectives from WHO, ILO and the UN Regional Commission for Africa.


1 June 2023 | 7:00 am - 9:30 am
Virtual Meeting


7:00 am - 7:10 am
Session 1| Introduction, welcome remarks and scene-setting

Chair: Francesca Grum

Mr. Stefan Schweinfest, Director of United Nations Statistics Division


7:10 am - 8:00 am
Session 2| Evolution of social and demographic statistics and its impact on current and future priorities

Chair: Stefan Schweinfest

This session overviews the evolution of social and demographic statistics over the past 70 years and brings back the question of developing a system of population and social statistics to improve this critical statistical domain.

  • The evolution of social and demographic statistics through the lens of the UN Statistical Commission since 1948
  • Presenter: Francesca Grum, Chief, Demographic and Social Statistics Branch, United Nations Statistics Division
  • Presentation: Social and Demographic Statistics: an overview of discussions and decisions at the UN Statistical Commission, since 1947
  • The potential scope and purpose of the System of Population and Social Statistics
  • Presenter: Ivo Havinga, Independent expert, former staff member United Nations Statistics Division
  • Presentation: Towards a System of Population and Social Statistics
  • Discussion

    • 8:00 am - 8:25 am
    Session 3| Well-being and sustainability in the 2025 SNA

    Chair: Ivo Havinga

    This session overviews the well-being and sustainability component of the work to update the 2008 SNA.

  • The 'SNA' Domains ⁃ what is the proposal for 2025 SNA?
  • Presenter: Catherine van Rompaey, Principal Economist, World Bank and Jorrit Zwijnenburg, Head of Sectoral and National Accounts, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
  • Presentation: Enhancing and broadening the SNA framework for household well-being and sustainability
  • Discussion

    • 8:25 am - 9:25 am
    Session 4| Perspectives on Beyond GDP

    Chair: Francesca Grum

    This session provides an overview of perspectives on the Beyond GDP initiative from the World Health Organization, International Labour Organization, and Economic Commission for Africa.

  • Beyond GDP from the perspective of WHO Statistics
  • Presenter: Steven MacFeely, Director of Data and Analytics, World Health Organization
  • Presentation: Health Statistics and Accounts
  • Beyond GDP from the perspective of ILO Statistics
  • Presenter: Rafael Diez de Medina, Chief Statistician and Director of the Department of Statistics, International Labour Organization
  • Presentation: Beyond GDP, ILO’s perspective
  • Beyond GDP in the African region from the perspective of UN ECA Statistics
  • Presenter: Oliver Chinganya, Director, African Centre for Statistics, Economic Commission for Africa
  • Presentation: Development and Evolution of Demographic and Social Statistics in Africa
  • Discussion


    • 9:25 am - 9:30 am
    Session 5| Summary by Stefan Schweinfest

    9:30 am
    Meeting Adjourn
    Related Documentations
  • Our Common Agenda
  • Our Common Agenda Policy Brief 4: Valuing What Counts: Framework to Progress Beyond Gross Domestic Product
  • System of Social and Demographic Statistics (SSDS): Draft Guidelines on Social Indicators
  • Towards A System of Social and Demographic Statistics
  • Wellbeing and Sustainability Task Team (WSTT)
  • A Research Prospectus for an Integrated Statistical Framework for Inclusive and Sustainable Wellbeing
  • Summary of First Beyond GDP Sprint 2023 Meeting
  • All presentations
  • Meeting video


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