Results, experiences and lessons learned from MEDSTAT III Eurostat MGSC, 20-21 March 2014

Overall objectives of MEDSTAT III To promote evidence-based decision-making; To stimulate democratic development by improving the availability and use of statistical data in the ENP -South countries; To consolidate and further expand the progress achieved during MEDSTAT I & II by : Providing users with more and better quality data in the priority thematic sectors Measurable improvement in the statistical capacities of the NSIs and the NSSs Strengthening of the institutional capacities of the NSIs and NSSs, including improved cooperation national inter-institutional cooperation Harmonization of statistical data, in line with European and international standards Promotion of regional exchange of experiences, best practices and cooperation Increasing the use of these data More user-friendly dissemination of statistics Better understanding and an increased awareness of the importance of statistics by the users MGSC, 20-21 March 2014

The Specific objectives of Medstat III • Institutional and inter-institutional strengthening of the NSIs and of the Statistical Systems of the Mediterranean Partners; • Enhancing statistical coordination and cooperation (exchange of expertise and best practices) in the region; • Harmonising methodologies, in line with EU and international standards; • Improving the quality of statistics & facilitating data exchange; • Good visibility and effective dissemination of the activities, results and data produced by the programme; • Promoting evidence-based decision making; • Enhancing relations between data users and producers; • Satisfaction of users’ needs within a more general framework of services to users. MGSC, 20-21 March 2014

Examples of achievements: Promoting evidence based decision making: Reinforced the role of statistics for policy makers (The Governments are using statistics more and more for policy making) Building capacities: Institutional building (priority thematic sectors were reinforced; training of trainers); Improvement of staff professional capabilities (Capacities of Human Resources); Reinforcement of inter-institutional coordination and cooperation through the establishment of national working groups; Transfer of knowledge and of know-how at national and regional was fostered. MGSC, 20-21 March 2014

Examples of achievements (2): Harmonising methods & facilitating data exchange: Increased adoption and use of European and international standards; Harmonisation of methods/tools/concepts. Quality of statistics and relations with users: The quality of statistics improved; The free access (availability of data to users) to all kind of data was encouraged; Better relationship with the users, website content was made more user friendly, increased use of statistics; Better relations with the media; Quality of publications and press releases was improved. MGSC, 20-21 March 2014

Methods Technical assistance provided in the countries by key and short-term experts (actions: emerging statistical topics, new surveys/data collection, adaptation of international standards, data processing and analysis, dissemination, etc.) Thematic sector training courses; training of trainers Workshops, Study visits, Forum Working groups Newsletters, guidelines and manuals MGSC, 20-21 March 2014

The 6 priority thematic sectors of MEDSTAT III Agriculture: preparing national plans for developing agriculture statistics and censuses Energy: Energy balances, efficiency, consumption Migration: use of administrative data, MED-HIMS Social: Harmonising indicators, transition from school to work, measuring the informal sector, etc. Trade & Balance of payments statistics: asymmetry studies and new IMTS Transport: intermodal transport, maritime freight transport, performance indicators The horizontal activities included training and data dissemination MGSC, 20-21 March 2014

1. Agriculture statistics sector outcomes National strategies for the development of agriculture statistics Training and development of agriculture statistics questionnaires Methodology for collecting data on agriculture prices and salaries Training on GIS and area frame surveys MGSC, 20-21 March 2014

2. Energy statistics sector outcomes Creation/reinforcement of national working groups to: Update & improve the national energy balances Reinforce technical capacities Identify and calculate energy efficiency indicators Unify terminology, definitions, concepts and classifications MGSC, 20-21 March 2014

3. Migration statistics sector outcomes Developing MED-HIMS (Preparing harmonized manuals, questionnaires and methodologies for the MED-HIMS) Assistance in implementing the MED-HIMS Survey in a few countries Testing the feasibility of estimating migration based on a new methodology using individual border crossing data Sharing the challenges & lessons learned with the other countries from the region MGSC, 20-21 March 2014

4. Social statistics sector outcomes Harmonisation: Identifying a common list of harmonized social indicators (including health, education , poverty, employment/unemployment) Strengthening relations: With local partners such as ministries, public administrations; positive impact on the exchange of data; Guidelines for improving the dialogue between Users and Producers of social statistics; Methodological contribution: Training/workshops and sharing experience on a wide range of topics: poverty, health, transition from school to work, gender issues MGSC, 20-21 March 2014

5. Trade & Balance of payments statistics outcomes Mirror exercises: reduced the discrepancies between what one country announces as imports compared to what its partner declares as exports Introduction to the new UN manual for trade in goods Introduction to the new IMF manual on Balance of payments Clarification on how to treat 'Free zones' MGSC, 20-21 March 2014

6. Transport statistics sector outcomes Harmonisation of concepts, definitions for different modes of transport Finalisation of a common list of indicators Improving analytical capacity Developing the Informal Transport Survey Geo-referenced transport statistics Development of a pilot module to be attached to the Economic Series Survey on Goods and Passengers Movement Improved dissemination and publication of transport data MGSC, 20-21 March 2014

Cross-cutting topics/activities Quality Human resource management Training courses Improving dissemination Improving dialogue with users Improving coordination with ministries Improving South-South cooperation MGSC, 20-21 March 2014

Implementation Task Forces Training courses, including training of trainers Study visits MEDSTAT Workshops Joint Eurostat-UN workshops/work sessions Technical assistance missions of Key experts and short-term experts Newsletters and publications Directors' Committee MGSC, 20-21 March 2014

General Outcomes Increased the commitment of countries to making data more easily available Made policy-makers and others more aware of the contribution of high-quality statistics to the decision-making process Enhanced the human and technical capability to produce relevant, timely and high quality statistics in the specific thematic sectors Progress in terms of the transfer of knowledge Improved quality of statistics, data exchange and registered publications Implement international standards in data processing and analysis MGSC, 20-21 March 2014

Harmonised International Migration Survey MED-HIMS To understand the socio-economic and demographic characteristics of migrants Impact on socio-economic behaviour and practices of households Remittances: their utilisation and impact on socio- economic development in the region Impact on unemployment and labour dynamics Impact of migration on the skills of the return migrant MGSC, 20-21 March 2014

MED-HIMS Model Questionnaires MQ-1: The Household Questionnaire MQ-2: Individual Questionnaire for Out-migrant MQ-3: Individual Questionnaire for Return migrant MQ-4: Individual Questionnaire for Non-migrant MQ-5: Individual Questionnaire for Forced Migrant MQ-6: The Household Socio-economic and Environmental conditions Questionnaire MQ-7: The Community Characteristics Questionnaire MGSC, 20-21 March 2014

MED-HIMS technical assistance Implementation in two phases: Phase 1 – Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon (2012 - 2013) Phase 2 – Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria (2013 – 2016) Assistance in preparing the Project Fiches to submit to potential donors to fund the survey Adaptation of model questionnaires Training on sample design Assistance in preparing the survey Developing a common IT structure to process the data MGSC, 20-21 March 2014

MED-HIMS Partners World Bank UNHCR UNFPA IOM ILO Arab League Some bringing financing to help develop manuals, provide training, technical assistance, etc. MGSC, 20-21 March 2014

Post-MEDSTAT: Hopes and plans Strategy for EU-Med cooperation on Statistics Four interrelated objectives Continuous improvement in the quality of official statistics Improved technical and management skills in the NSI through comprehensive training Users empowered with the data they need to address social and economic issues A sustainable framework to design, implement and steer the EU-MED cooperation in Statistics MGSC, 20-21 March 2014

Forum and working groups Working Groups set up/to be set up: Business registers and business statistics Energy Migration Social (Labour: employment/unemployment) Trade Transport Training Quality in statistics MGSC, 20-21 March 2014

Quality Working Group Led by Eurostat Annual meeting to set/follow up on 2 year work program Organising workshops on issues related to quality: – in March 2014 - WS on European Statistics Code of Practice - in June 2014 – possible WS on introducing the EU Quality framework to ENP-South countries Participation in Eurostat's Quality Conferences and training courses Sharing of manuals, guidelines, translations of key material, etc. MGSC, 20-21 March 2014

Other Working Groups Business registers: to be led jointly by Palestine and Tunisia Energy: to be led jointly by Morocco and Tunisia Labour: to be led by Tunisia Migration: to be led by Lebanon Trade: to be led by Morocco (through the Office des Changes) Training: to be led jointly by Egypt and Lebanon Transport: to be led by Morocco MGSC, 20-21 March 2014

Work programmes Most of the WGs have prepared draft work programmes, including outline budget Programmes include programming meetings, workshops, training, technical assistance Countries willing to contribute in kind, with human resources, meeting facilities, translation of documents But cannot contribute financially TAIEX limited in what it can provide MGSC, 20-21 March 2014

Funding? There will be funds from the European Neighbourhood Instrument for a new regional programme: not clear yet when exactly Eurostat own funds enough for a limited programme on Quality, and a few training courses, but cannot cover all the WGs MGSC, 20-21 March 2014

Forum of Euro-Mediterranean Statisticians Management and Steering Committee for the strategy Permanent members: Directors/presidents of the National Statistical Institutes of the ENP- South partner countries, European Commission (Eurostat and possibly EuropeAid) Other participants: EU Member States, EFTA, interested international and regional organisations MGSC, 20-21 March 2014

Forum of Euro-Mediterranean Statisticians (cont) Meets every year Decides on setting up WGs and approves their work programmes Promotes coordination with other donors in the region Discusses emerging issues MGSC, 20-21 March 2014 MGSC, 20-21 March 2014

Thank you for your attention MGSC, 20-21 March 2014