June 2017 International Development Cooperation at Statistics Norway A Newsletter from Statistics Norway s Division for Development Cooperation Capacity development in statistics What does it mean? It seems that how to develop capacity in statistics is on everybody s agenda these days. The Agenda 2030 has helped us realise that all countries need improvements of their statistical capacity to improve their national statistical systems so that we are able to produce the required SDG indicators. The Agenda has also made it clear that official statistics will play a key role in providing evidence for the follow up and review of the SDGs. The international statistical community has taken on the challenge to find ways for how we can manage this huge task. What kind of capacity do we need and how do we go about to develop it? The need for national official statistics is explicitly included in the SDGs in that it has specific indicators on improving national official statistics (target 17.18 and 17.19). In Norway, the SDGs will be the platform for our development policy in the years to come. The newly launched white paper on SDGs and Norwegian development policy points out the need for investing in development of better national statistical systems if we are to be able to follow up on the results agenda of the SDGs. Sharing of knowledge is a priority in the Norwegian development policy, and the initiative of establishing a knowledge bank in Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad) is intended to facilitate for more and better knowledge sharing. Since Statistics Norway (SN) has been an active player in statistical capacity development for many years, we are very happy about the increased interest in supporting development of capacity for statistics. The main purpose of SN s international development cooperation is to build capacity in producing official statistics of good quality and to contribute to the development of well-functioning National Statistical Systems that promotes more evidence based planning, public transparency and good governance. In this work, we focus on lasting results through local ownership, building of solid foundations and expertise that stays in the institutions. But what do we mean when we say this? How do we go about contributing to capacity development, and does it give the results that we really want? These are questions up for discussion not least in donor countries and international organisations engaged in capacity building in statistics. Many see that to build capacity we need more than increased funding to statistics and development of technical skills. If we are serious in our ambitious goal of contributing to development of sustainable capacity for production and use of statistics we need to have a broad approach when planning and implementing assistance. Broad approach to capacity development was the overarching topic when SN, together with Statistics Denmark and Statistics Sweden, arranged a side event at this year s United Nations Statistical Commission (UNSC) in March. This event was a follow-up of the seminar at the first World Data Forum in Cape Town where the Nordic national statistical offices together with partners presented the Nordic approach to capacity development and experiences from providing and receiving support. Capacity development was also a main topic at the annual meeting of Paris 21, and SSB has joined a task team on New Approaches to Capacity Development which will take the work further over the next year. How to build capacity for statistics is a hot topic for the Conference of European Statisticians (CES) and United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). In their ongoing work to prepare a Road Map on Irene Tuveng, Head of International Development Cooperation 1
Statistics for the SDGs it is discussed that we need a strategy for development of capacity in the national statistical systems. A task team will develop a concept note on what statistical capacity building means in the context of the SDGs. SN has also talked about our approach to capacity development at a conference on how to make data useful in the context of forced displacement. In April, SN hosted a big expert group meeting on refugee and internally displaced persons (IDP) Statistics. The meeting gathered more than 70 international experts, representing 30 different countries and international institutions/organizations around the world. It was great to see the engagement and hard work that took place during these 3 hectic days. The Recommendations of refugee statistics and Technical Report on IDP statistics which will be the products of this work will hopefully contribute to increased national statistical capacity on this very important topic. In this first half of 2017, SN has had many visits from all around the world. Learning from each other through study visits is one of many tools in our approach to institutional cooperation. Off course, study visits alone are far from enough to develop capacity, but it gives the possibility not only to see how we do things, but to get to know each other. Within the frame of a long term and broad based institutional cooperation, it contributes to better understanding of each other s organisations, builds ownership, trust and commitment. This again lays the foundations for capacity development. In this newsletter, we write about visits coming from Sudan, Kyrgyzstan, Ethiopia, Ghana and Iran. You can read more about all these events and more in this newsletter. All related to the issue of capacity development in one way or another since this is the overall goal of SN s international development cooperation. Expert Meeting on Refugee and internally displaced persons (IDP) Statistics Statistics Norway, in collaboration with UNHCR and Eurostat, hosted the 2nd meeting of the Expert Group on Refugee and IDP Statistics 24-26 April. The meeting was held at the premises of Statistics Norway in Oslo. The objective of the meeting was to consolidate the ongoing work on developing international recommendations for refugee statistics and continue the work on IDP statistics. The meeting gathered more than 70 international experts, representing 30 different countries Some of the participants at the conference gathered outside Oslo City Hall. and international institutions/organizations. During the three days of the meeting, a first draft of the recommendations was discussed and a plan was agreed upon. It is envisaged that a consolidated draft will be circulated in a global consultation in the autumn of 2017, and that the recommendations will be discussed at the UNSC in March 2018. Background The United Nations Statistical Commission (UNSC) decided at its 47th session in 2016 to establish an international Expert Group on Refugee and Internally Displaced Persons Statistics (EGRIS). The group would consist of participants from national authorities and international statistical organizations as well as other technical experts. This decision was based on a joint proposal by Statistics Norway, Eurostat, the Turkish Statistical Institute (TURKSTAT) and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). UNSC decided that Norway and UNHCR should continue to develop international recommendations on refugee statistics. Norway was, together with UNHCR and Eurostat, asked to lead an expert group tasked with developing the recommendations, and the group had its first meeting in Copenhagen 7-8 November 2016. The absence of an international framework for developing statistics 2
on refugees created uncertainties around national and international figures. The main purpose of the recommendations will be to establish a better cooperation between UNHCR, national immigration authorities and national statistical offices. The expert group will also develop a technical report on developing better statistics on internally displaced persons (IDPs). Why is this area important? The number of displaced persons worldwide has increased significantly over the last years, at the same time there is a growing concern about the quality and availability of statistics on refugees. This was the background for the UN Statistical Commission s decision on building a better and more efficient systems for statistics on refugees, IDPs and asylum seekers. Statistics in this area is the basis for Sound and better policies, programs and decisions; Effective measurement and evaluation for decisions makers; Increased accountability, policy debate and stronger advocacy based on evidence. Refugee statistics should form an integral part of national population or migration statistics, but there is often a limited connection between national statistics on refugees and national figures on migration and population. A lack of comparability between national and international refugee figures is also identified as a key challenge. The expert group will develop recommendations that will address these and similar challenges. The recommendations, and especially the compilers manual will provide useful information and guidance on capacity building and ownership creation in the area of refugee and IDP statistics with national authorities. SN researcher Lars Østby presenting Norwegian refugee statistics. What will the refugee recommendations address? Legal framework & refugee definitions; Defining refugees and asylum seekers for statistical purposes; Measuring the number of refugees; Measuring the characteristics and integration of refugees; Coordination and systems at international, regional and national level; Constraints and future developments. The Technical Report on IDP statistics will have approximately the same set up. Mandate of the group is to develop: International Recommendations on Refugee Statistics the publication will be a reference guide for national and international work concerning statistics on refugees and asylum seekers. Conduct global consultation on the draft Recommendations and submit them at the 49th session. Refugee Statistics Compilers Manual, with operational instructions on how to collect statistics on refugees and asylum seekers (submit at the 50th session in March 2019). Countries represented at the conference. Technical Report outlining a way forward for developing comparable international standards for statistics on internally displaced persons (submit in March 2018 at the 49th session). 3
External review of the PCBS program 2015 2017, 20 30 March 2017 SN s Bjørn K. Getz Wold and Mr. Hallgrímur Snorrason carried out an external review of the Palestine Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) achievements over the last 3 years, i.e. their 2015 2017 program. Despite a high level of core funding from the Palestinian government of 72 75 percent during this period, PCBS depends on and have been able to secure program funding from a Core Funding Group. The review was an independent review of the PCBS program and overall achievements during this period. institutional capacity based upon a program of long and short term missions, training and study visits coordinated. Statistics Norway has been promoting institutional cooperation between sisterorganizations for capacity building since the establishment of the division for development cooperation 25 years ago. In 1996 to 2003 SN built a close cooperation with PCBS on national accounts, survey statistics and Over these 14 years, two previous presidents of PCBS have moved on to other high level positions, and several employees had retired. Could PCBS still be able to serve their society with the same high level of quality, cooperation and independence? The old city in Nablus 4 SN has followed the achievements of PCBS in a tough context of an occupied Palestine since the cooperation ended in 2003. We have been very happy to see how they continued to build capacity on their own, not only to serve their own population and administration, but also to assist neighbour countries with building an increased capacity.
Our hosts in PCBS, Sufian Abu-Harb and Mustafa Khawaja and the review team. Before arriving at the PCBS headquarter in Ramallah, we had been able to review their ambitious program. Hence, we already knew that their ambitions had remained at the same high level. As before, the team was very well received and our hosts offered a comprehensive program. PCBS was not only building the capacity of their own staff and institution, but used the National Statistical System to improve coordination and build statistical capacity in the overall system by a program of training and joint work. It was very nice to learn that PCBS was actively using the request for SDG data to extend the NSS cooperation. The team was especially impressed by how PCBS utilized the new development of the global statistical community in a systematic manner. They had used the experience from developing a statistical databank with assistance from other agencies, including Statistics Norway, when establishing their own joint meta-database and statistical databank on the Web. PCBS is now well ahead of Statistics Norway in this area. As Statistics Norway, they introduced the Generic Statistical Business Process Model a couple of years ago, and are now implementing it across the old stovepipe-organization and documenting each step in the process. This already allowed them to generalize the statistical process and re-using elements across the organization. Of course, this does not mean that PCBS did not face several challenges. The move from traditional data collection on paper questionnaires to electronic collection methods was done well without external assistance, but the move to Web-based datacollection is still a challenge. Despite this and other challenges ahead, the review team could still introduce the executive summary with the following paragraph: The PCBS is a professional, efficient, and vibrant national statistical institute. For the programme period under review, 2015-2017, it set itself four priorities; improve the use of statistics in decision making, establish better partnerships with users and producers of the NSS, enhance the quality of statistics, and enhance utilisation of administrative records and central registers for statistics. During the two years 2015-2016, the activities of the PCBS have been geared towards these goals and largely followed the planned programme of work. Most of the statistical projects planned were completed. Practically all statistical outputs were achieved. Capacity building was maintained at a high level. PCBS also responded actively to the recommendations made by the external reviews of 2014. Furthermore, significant progress has been made in all the priority areas. As always PCBS staff turned out to be very kind and generous hosts. During the weekend PCBS took advantage of the reduced security control by the Israelis and invited the team on a nice visit to Nablus, they met the local PCBS office staff and visited the old city and the surroundings. 5
Providing input to handbook on Management of Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) Systems, New York The UN Statistics Division (UNSD) is currently updating its material on CRVS. The Principles and Recommendations for a Vital Statistics System have recently been updated (2014), and many of the related handbooks are currently being revised. As SN has been actively involved in the international work on CRVS in later years, we were asked to be part of an expert group and provide input on the proposed revisions of the Handbook on Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) Systems Management, Operation and Maintenance. A one-week meeting took place in New York in February 2017. UNSD is now incorporating suggestions and country examples, and will share a revised draft with the group in late June. The handbook is expected to be officially published in the second half of 2017. As the current version is from 1998 and much has happened since then, there were quite a few substantial changes. One important new addition is a chapter and a separate guideline on evaluating quality measurement. This is a very welcome and needed addition as many countries who now start publishing vital statistics based on civil registration have incomplete systems and need support in how to process and present their data. More and more countries are also moving towards more advanced systems such as population registers (which include migration in addition to vital events) and ID management. Guidance on how to handle the systems and ensure that they are integrated with the registration of vital events is therefore key. An additional goal is to make the handbook practically oriented. The chapters are written in a way which makes it possible to read them independently of other chapters, and boxes and country examples will be included. UNSD is also considering options for how to further improve accessibility. Making data useful conference on internally displaced persons (IDPs) and data In June, the Joint IDP Profiling Service (JIPS) organized a conference which brought together a wide range of data users and data providers. Representatives from national governments, academia, humanitarian and development agencies participated in the discussions. The topics covered different Vibeke O Nielsen (SN) listens to presentation by perspectives on how data Mr. Ahmed Gangari from the Government of on displaced populations Sudan. can be made more useful for national and international response. Statistics Norway contributed to a session called Sustainability and local capacity together with representatives from the Government of Sudan, the Kurdistan Regional Statistics Office in Iraq and the UN Cluster Management Coordinator in Myanmar. We presented our approach in capacity development; working together with partners over time to build trust and help gain knowledge and skills which are sustainable over time. Since SN staff has been working with JIPS and UNHCR on data on displaced situations through the Norcap agreement, some of the experiences from this work was also presented. One main takeaway was the common understanding that data exists, but that there are several challenges concerning the quality and the extent of sharing of these data. Building trust among stakeholders, broad involvement throughout the data collection process and more focus on methodology were considered important factors for improving IDP data and statistics. This is in line with the approach promoted by JIPS and with the ongoing work of the Expert Group on Refugee and IDP statistics (see main article). 6
Oil and Gas statistics The Norwegian experience Norway discovered oil in the late 1960s, and the petroleum industry changed and influenced many areas of the country and the Norwegian society. New information needs emerged, and developing statistics to cover the sector is important both for monitoring and planning. As a result, the emergence of the petroleum industry led to changes in the Norwegian National Statistics system. In June Statistics Norway published the report Oil and Gas statistics The Norwegian experience. This report is a contribution to new oil nations. By sharing Statistics Norway s experiences with petroleum related statistics, the goal is that other statistics producers will avoid some of the challenges and pitfalls, but also to be an inspiration for producing petroleum related statistics. The purpose of this report is threefold: First, to contribute to a better understanding of the statistics component that is part of the Norwegian Oil for Development (OfD) program. Secondly, to provide a tool for the OfD Secretariat and Statistics Norway when considering support to petroleum related statistics in a potential partner country. Thirdly, to provide input for partner countries when considering whether they would like support in petroleum related statistics development and in deciding which statistical areas. The report provides information on the how and why of petroleum statistics. Hopefully it can contribute to more and better petroleum sector statistics, thus making quality information available to the public and policy makers. In the end, statistics is an important contributor to knowledge based policy discussion and policy making. A new white paper on SDGs and Norwegian development policy In the white paper on the Sustainable Development Goals and Norwegian development policy launched in April 2017, the Government presents their policy for development in the 2030-era. TIn the report specifies, it is written that reporting on results is an important principle in the 2030-agenda. Access to good statistics is a prerequisite to be able to measure progress towards the SDGs, but many countries have huge challenges in providing the necessary statistics necessary. The White paper emphasizes the need to invest more in developingment of National Statistical Systems. One of the interesting initiatives presented in this White paper is the establishment of a Knowledge bank in Norad aiming at strengthening the approach and follow up of technical cooperation, sharing of knowledge and transfer of knowledge. The idea is that this Bank will coordinate and assure quality in capacity development. 7
Mineral Data Analysis Centre (MIDAC) Zambia Statistics Norway has provided technical input to the Mineral Value Chain Monitoring Project (MVCMP) in Zambia since 2014. A key part of our work is to help analyse copper data from different sources, and to develop a more automated method for checking and harmonising data across sources. A key data source are copper production data from the mines which also includes sales and purchases. Other data such as production and export licenses, export and import, tax payment and quality control (weighbridges and laboratories) figures are used to verify the quality of data provided. The new building of the Central Statistics Office in Zambia. Since the project introduces a new approach to processing copper data, it is of vital importance that capacity is developed within the stakeholder organisations. It has, however, been a challenge to sufficiently engage the local staff in the development and analysis work. Luckily, a team of local experts in engineering and statistics has now been established and is working full time with our long-term adviser Hans Kristian Østereng. The new team is located at the new premises of the Central Statistics Office, and is called the Mineral Data Analysis Centre (MIDAC). The team will be working together until the end of 2017 when the MVCMP project ends. Picture 1: MIDAC team discussing statistical business process model in their context. 8
Seminar on experiences working with capacity development in Africa. Side-event at the 48th UNSC in March. SN organized a seminar together with IMF at the UNSC meeting in New York in March. The purpose of the seminar was to provide an overview of IMF and Norway s work on statistical capacity development in Africa, and to discuss how we can better coordinate support and cooperate within capacity development work enhance the partner countries benefit even more. Louis Marc Ducharme, Director of the Statistics Department in IMF, and Christine Meyer, Director General in SN, opened the seminar. They welcomed more cooperation and pointed out the importance of avoiding duplication of effort and exhaustion of the scarce resources in the partner country. We also got the views of selected partner countries on their experience at the seminar. Ben Paul Mungyereza, Executive Director Uganda Bureau of Statistics, and Baah Wadieh, Acting Statistician General of the Ghana Statistical Service, presented their experience of receiving support from IMF and SN respectively. Irene Tuveng (SN) and Louis Venter (IMF) presented their approach and experience from capacity development projects in Africa. SN needs to coordinate and align our efforts to other donors, such as IMF, WB, Afdb, UNorganisations and other bilateral partners, to be able to provide the best possible assistance to partner countries. Mapping other support must be a key task in the planning of a potential cooperation; a closer cooperation can provide even better results. Today SN uses material developed by the IMF, for example the guides and manuals and assessments of statistical capacity. It is a very useful add elements from IMF s work on trainings and workshops at a regional level to SN s work at the country level. We may increase the availability of technical expertise in economic statistics by joining forces. Today, several experts from SN contributes in IMFs CD projects. Working as technical advisors for the IMF also builds the capacity of SN staff. Seminar on institutional cooperation for capacity development. The Nordic model - A broad approach Side-event at the 48th UNSC in March. SN organised together with our sister organisations in Sweden and Denmark a seminar on the Nordic model for institutional development cooperation. The emphasis was on our understanding of a broad-based approach to capacity development. Experiences made over the years have demonstrated that cooperation with National Statistical Offices on improving the production of specific statistics is not sufficient to build sustainable National Statistical Systems and capacity for statistics. A broader focus is needed. Christine Meyer (director general in SN) presented the Nordic model for institutional cooperation. She pointed out the Nordic countries emphasis on building and strengthening of National Statistical Systems, focusing on a stable methodological foundation and development of the capacity to produce basic statistics on a regular basis. Meyer pointed out that our efforts to build national capacity depends on a long term and broad based approach to be successful in. In the later years, the Nordic countries have extended our engagement in institutional cooperation from only our sister organization in the partner country to formally including key data owners and key policy makers on the user side. Silja Emmel from DST presented their experience working with data owners to develop and use administrative data for statistical purposes. Irene Tuveng from SN provided some examples on how SN include key users of statistics directly in institutional development cooperation projects beyond the more traditional user involvement of organis- 9
ing user-producer-workshops or engaging with users when planning a survey. Increased capacity for statistics amongst users will increase the demand for statistics. This will increase the willingness to fund statistics that again will increase production and quality of the statistics. Including support for more general institutional capacity development in addition to specific statistical areas is important to achieve a broader approach in institutional cooperation projects. Leadership and management training and IT-infrastructure normally need to be a part of a comprehensive institutional development cooperation. Jean- Pierre Ntezimana from SCB talked about this at the seminar. The presentations from this seminar are available at: https://unstats.un.org/unsd/statcom/48thsession/side-events/20170307-1m-institutional-cooperation-for-capacity-development/ Meetings at OECD/Paris21 SN participated at two meetings in Paris in April. One was the annual board meeting of Paris21, the other an expert panel to provide input to this year s OECD DAC Development Report. Capacity building within statistics was an important part of both meetings as many statistical systems will need support to improve the data and statistics for measuring progress according to the SDGs. OECD DAC has decided that the topic of this year s Development Report is data for development. SN has broad experience in working with countries to improve their statistical capacities, and was asked to join the expert panel and provide input to the writers of the report. Most of the discussions were on how to make it more interesting for donors to support projects on statistical development. Statistics Norway s message was to focus on building holistic, sustainable, national systems and to aim the funding towards that. The Paris21 meeting was split into one thematic day and one day for the annual board meeting of which Norway is a member. At the thematic day, capacity building and the use of big data were key topics. In addition to presentations in plenary, different actors who have developed new tools and approaches to data collection presented these at a market place. At the board meeting, the members approved reporting for 2016 and plans for 2017. Country representatives were especially content with the technical support provided. 10
The UN World Data Forum in South Africa, 15-18 January The first World Data Forum arranged by UN took place in January in South Africa, Cape Town. The forum was initiated by UN, and the purpose was to gather data experts from governments, national statistical offices, the private sector and academia, international organizations and civil society groups to discuss and move forward on the huge challenge of putting systems in place to collect and analyse the data needed to follow up on the SDG s. The Forum s program was organized around 8 topics; 1. New approaches to capacity development for better data 2. Understanding the world through data 3. Innovations and synergies across different data ecosystems 4. Data principles and governance 5. Leaving no one behind 6. Understanding the world through data 7. Data principles and governance 8. The way forward: A Global Action Plan for data One of the main outcome from the WDF was the launching of the Cape Town Global Action Plan for Sustainable Development Data. This plan calls for a commitment by governments, policy leaders and the international community to undertake key actions for better data under six strategic areas, including coordination and leadership, innovation and modernization of national statistical systems, dissemination of data on sustainable development, building partnerships, and mobilizing resources. More information about the WDF is available here: "https://undataforum.org/worlddata- Forum/" SN organized together with Statistics Sweden, Statistics Finland and Statistics Denmark a seminar related to the first topic. The purpose was to share our experience on statistical capacity development cooperation, learn from each other and get feedback from our partners on what we can do better. SN introduced the Nordic general approach to capacity development projects. This was followed by shared presentations with partners from Palestine/Norway, Somalia/Sweden and Armenia/Denmark, discussing experiences from specific projects. Statistics Finland also presented their experiences. The presentations from the seminar are available at: "https://undataforum.org/world- DataForum/sessions/north-south-and-southsouth-approaches-for-capacity-development/" Mission from Sudan to Statistics Norway (SN) on administrative and statistical registers in early 2017 The institutional cooperation between SN and Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) in Sudan formally ended a three-years phase in 2016. However, we received five persons from CBS 30.01-01.02.2017 through a no-cost extension of the program to further work on specifically business registers. We agreed to use this opportunity to also look at the wider context of registers in Norway as food-for-thought and as a possible way forward for our good colleagues in Sudan with or without further Norwegian support. from SN who introduced a solution for a generic business register for statistical purposes. We also looked at Norwegian example of statistics from several sectors derived from using combinations of administrative registers to provide ideas for further development of statistics in Sudan. Finally, a visit to the Norwegian Mapping Authority (SK) gave the delegation an introduction to the core registers of real estate, addresses and buildings. The importance of land registration and an operational cadaster was stressed. During the intensive three-day program in Oslo, the delegation met with technical staff 11
Co-hosting a conference of SDG good governance statistics with UNDP Oslo Governance Centre 9 to 10 May 2017 During the development of the SDGs, the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs pressed with success for an SDG goal on Good Governance. Norway is a member of the UN support groups for SDG 16 on Good Governance, and Statistics Norway welcomed with enthusiasm the chance to co-host a conference with the UNDP Oslo Governance Centre and the Praia city-group on three of the indicators still under development. We already had a good cooperation with both, and we follow the household survey program of the African initiative of Strategy for the Harmonization of Statistics in Africa, SHaSA and the work of the Praia city group under the UN Statistical Commission on governance statistics. On 9 to 10 May Statistics Norway co-hosted an expert group meeting of 40 statisticians and governance experts from around the globe. The aim was to further the methodological development of three tier 3 indicators under Sustainable Development Goal 16 on Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, for which UNDP has assumed interim custodianship: 16.6.2 Proportion of the population satisfied with their last experience of public services 16.7.1 Proportions of positions (by sex, age, persons with disabilities and population groups) in public institutions (national and local legislatures, public service, and judiciary) compared to national distributions 16.7.2 Proportion of population who believe decision-making is inclusive and responsive, by sex, age, disability and population group The Statistics Norway contribution focused on the Norwegian experience of collecting and presenting statistics on the three indicators. The meeting report summarizes the deliberations on definitions, methodology and on which practical issues to be considered in developing the methodology for each indicator. It identified areas of consensus and aspects requiring further research and/or consultation before the next EGM to be held in the fall 2017. A second smaller expert group meeting will be organised in the fall of 2017 (at a date and location still to be determined) to review outcome and progress in the follow-up on the specific areas recommended for further research and exploration identified for each of the indicators. Statistics Norway has also been approached by the UNDP Oslo Governance Centre asking Statistics Norway to second support to the further process under the auspices of the Praia city-group. 12
Study visit from Statistical Centre of Iran in May 2017 Statistics Norway hosted a study visit from the Statistical Centre of Iran 9-10 May. The study visit focused mainly on using administrative registers for production of population and social statistics, with a special focus on register based census. Iran carried out a population and housing census in the autumn of 2016 which allowed respondents to answer via an internet application and the delegation shared Iran s experiences with this approach. SN presented various examples of using register based statistics from labour market and education. The delegation met with the Norwegian Tax Authorities, who presented population registration and the role of the Directorate of Taxes in the total registration system. Mr. Jamal Moghaddam, Head of Information and Communication Technology Centre, Mr. Alireza Zahedian, Deputy Head for Statistical Surveys and Administrative Registers, Dr. Kaveh Kiani, Faculty Member of the Statistical Research and Training Centre(SRTC) and Vebjørn Aalandslid, Statistics Norway Study visit from Kyrgyzstan on dissemination The National Statistical Committee of the Kyrgyz Republic (NSC) has made quite a few changes to its dissemination and communication in later years. Among the changes done, they are running monthly press conferences and have created an app with key data in tables and graphs. The app is also available in English. Several topics related to communication were discussed during the visit, including new approaches for disseminating data (apps, facebook, articles etc), communication strategies, contact with users, informing and training media and internal communication. Due to a delayed flight, the visit only lasted two days from 23 to 24 May. On the roof, from the left: Omurbek Ibraev, Boris Arabaev, Vibeke O. Nielsen, Anne Abelsæth, Chinara Turdubaeva, Elnura Kochkorova og Cholpon Abishova 13
Possible new collaboration with Ethiopia Deputy Director Aberash Tariku from CSA. (Photo: Siv Irene Pedersen) Friday coffee: An informal gathering before the guests were heading to the airport after the visit. From left: Anne Abelsæth (SN), Irene Tuveng (SN), Hailemariam Teklu (CSA), Vibeke O. Nielsen (SN), Aberash Tariku (CSA), Helge Brunborg (SN), Esayas Muleta (CSA) and Ahmed Ebrahim Seid (CSA). (Photo: Ellen Cathrine Kiøsterud) Central Statistical Agency (CSA) in Ethiopia and SN are in the process of mapping the possibilities for a 3-year collaboration that hopefully can start up in 2018 when CSA is over the peak intensity of their upcoming Census. At the end of May, a delegation of four from CSA, led by deputy director Aberash Tariku, came to Oslo to finalise an application for support to the Norwegian Embassy in Ethiopia. The week was spent meeting subject matter specialist within SN and visiting the Norwegian Tax Authorities, who administer the national population registry in Norway. The organisations have identified six areas of collaboration for which they are now developing a programme. It is divided into one part on cross-cutting issues and one on developing Vital Statistics and Environmental statistics. In the cross-cutting part the organisations will exchange experiences on coordination of the National Statistical System, assessing quality, advocacy for statistics and courses for the training centre in CSA. Vital Statistics Ethiopia is in the process of building up the Vital Events Registration Agency (VERA). VERA has, since 2016, registered births, marriages, divorces and deaths. CSA is working closely with VERA and the discussions with SN cover how to produce Vital Statistics based on the new register and what digitization solution that should be established. Environmental statistics The Ethiopia Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP II) has to build a Climate Resilient Green Economy (CRGE) as a cross-cutting strategic goal. The National Strategy for Development of Statistics (NSDS) is aligned with GTP II and gives CSA responsibility to produce environmental statistics. This is a new area for CSA, and there are many areas where they want to learn from the international statistics community. CSA have collaborated with COMESA on Framework for Development of Environmental Statistics. The proposed CSA-SN project will be working in areas prioritised by CSA when the work on the framework is finalised. 14
Ghana building blocks to sound macroeconomic management The Norwegian Oil for Development Programme offers assistance to developing countries in their effort to manage petroleum resources in a sustainable manner. The programme has been ongoing with Ghanaian authorities on petroleum resources, safety and environmental issues since 2008. More recently a «revenue management» component has been included into the programme and thus into the cooperation project. Statistics Norway plays a significant role within this component which is broadly divided into statistics and macroeconomic analysis. In May-June 2017, a delegation from the Ghana Statistical Service visited Statistics Norway to initiate the work on petroleum investment statistics. This component shall lead to the production and publication of a fairly comprehensive petroleum investment statistics by 2019, and intends to serve the needs of the national accounts. A similar project Statistics Norway have with the Ugandan authorities was presented to put the theme into context. Next, Ghana Statistical Service gave a detailed overview of their petroleum sector and its stakeholders, including the legislative framework, followed by a presentation of how the compilation of petroleum statistics is organised in Norway. After these initial briefings, most of the workshop focused on designing a questionaire that can be used to collect information from the petroleum companies. As one of the important goals of this project is to develop a statistical business register to be used for regular business surveys, SN presented a tool for this purpose which is under development. The response from Ghana Statistical Service was positive, and this is something that will be investigated further for possible implementation and use. As mentioned above, this project also comprise macroeconomic modelling, which eventually will raise demand for statistics. The visiting team were interested to hear about data needs for a macroeconomic model. SN gave a brief overview of what kind of statistics that is needed for macroeconomic modelling with an emphasise on the petroleum sector. 15
Countries where Statistics Norway has Institutional Cooperation Statistics Norway at a glance Statistics Norway has overall responsibility for official statistics in Norway, and carries out extensive research and analysis activities. New statistics and analyses are published on a daily basis on ssb.no. Statistics Norway reports to the Ministry of Finance but is a professionally autonomous organisation with a mandate to determine what it publishes, as well as when and how the publishing takes place. Statistics Norway produces statistics on: The population and its living conditionsresources and the environment The economy and national accounts Municipal, county authority and central government activities A total of 930 employees in Oslo and Kongsvinger play a role in ensuring that public debate and the governing of society are based on the most accurate and up to date information. SN also has around 230 interviewers spread throughout Norway. Statistics Norway was founded in 1876 with 15 employees. More information about the division for Devlopment Cooperation can be found at: www.ssb.no/en/omssb/samarbeid/ internasjonalt-utviklingssamarbeid Contact information Statistics Norway (SN)/ PO Box 8131 Dep. NO-0033 Oslo, Norway Telephone: + 47 2109 0000 16