Chief, Economic Statistics and National Accounts Section UNECA/ACS National Accounts: Progress, Issues, Challenges, and Way forward in Africa Xiaoning Gong Chief, Economic Statistics and National Accounts Section UNECA/ACS xiaoning.gong@un.org

Outline of Presentation The theme of this ASSD Areas of focus Current status, issues, and challenges Supports of international, regional, sub-regional, and development partners Capacity building programmes on SUTs, EE-SUTs, and GDP rebasing Expected results of this ASSD

Population Census, SNA, etc. Strengthening Population Census and SNA to Support SDGs (Agenda 2030 & 2063) SDGs Econ Stat Env Social Stat Population Census, SNA, etc.

SNA, EconStat, EnvStat, and SDGs EconStat: Economic Statistics for SDGs SNA: GDP Rebasing & Supply-Use Tables (SUTs) EnvStat: Environmentally Extended SUTs (EE-SUTs)

Why GDP Rebasing? GDP Rebasing Need to update the base period to better account for current economic conditions. A key component and indicator for measuring the size and the growth of an economy. International recommendation is to update GDP at least once every five years. GDP is the first and most important indicators in SNA and for the economy. GDP Rebasing

Why SUTs? A framework for checking and reconciling the consistency and completeness of GDP from various sources. A part of the minimum requirement data set and thus the first and core step to be compiled. A powerful analytic tools for the study of the national economy, industrial structures, and the links among various economies at a global level. SUTs are the first and most important account in SNA and for the economy. SUTs

Why EE-SUTs? - Methodology: Adding a few columns/rows in SUTs to include environmental issues, ensuring consistency and coherence between EE-SUTs and SUTs. Taking EE-SUTs approach (i.e. based on SUTs) is more practical, programmatic, effective, and efficient, especially for countries in Africa. - Data sources: Maximizing statistics and data information embedded in the SUTs. EE-SUTs are the flow accounts and thus the first accounts of SEEA. EE-SUTs

GDP Rebasing: Current Status, Issues, and Challenges Many countries have launched GDP rebasing while most countries on the continent have a GDP with a base-year that is more than five years old: 14 countries have a base year between 2010 and 2013. 35 have a base year between 2000 and 2009. Three have a GDP with a base year before 2000. Issues & Challenges Current Status Successful GDP rebasing requires sufficient data sets while data collection is costly. GDP rebasing calls for better coordination in data collection and better use of the data. Countries can request technical assistance from development partners for GDP rebasing when needed.

SUTs: Current Status, Issues, and Challenges 60% of countries in Africa have compiled SUTs Raise the awareness of the importance and usefulness of SUTs. Issues & Challenges 23 countries have supply-use tables at constant prices Strengthen collaboration among producers and users of data. Current Status 38 planned to compile new ones in 2017 and beyond. More technical supports are needed on advanced ICT tools and methodologies.

EE-SUTs: Current Status, Issues, and Challenges 14 countries have compiled at least one System of Environmental-Economic Accounting (SEEA) compliant account. 20 planning to compile SEEA accounts in the near future. Issues & Challenges Identify the account(s) with priority. Obtain support from government for resources. Strengthen the collaboration between NSOs and related line ministries for sharing and making use of data. Adequate technical assistance.

Economic Statistics for SDGs: Current Status, Issues, and Challenges only 20 out of 36 are “real” Tier I indicators and 12 are missing all the time. To build an integrated database of national accounts and economic statistics. Household surveys provide a most useful data source. Only seven indicators in the case of (1, 1). Current Status Issues & Challenges The onus is on countries for the data for SDGs; custodial agencies play an important role for providing metadata and technical capacity building. 16 indicators in the case of (0, 1).

Supports from International, Regional, and Sub-regional Organizations and Development Partners Technical assistance provided to countries; training on ERETES. Afristat & INSEE International Comparison Program for Africa & Training Workshops on Business Registration AfDB Technical assistance missions and training workshops in Africa. IMF MS Supports to the Capacity Building Programs on SUTs, EE-SUTs, and GDP rebasing in Africa. World Bank, UNSD, OECD, WTO Pan-African Statistics Program (PAS) for capacity-building in statistics on the continent. AUC & Eurostat Technical meetings of the heads and technical experts of member countries. RECs

Capacity Building Programmes on SUTs, EE-SUTs, and GDP Rebasing in Africa Dissemination and application B National workshops and TA missions A Phase III-B Face-to-face Seminar for a group Phase III-A E-Training for all the countries Phase II Phase I Phase II Phase III-A Phase III-B Phase I

Capacity Building Programmes on SUTs, EE-SUTs, and GDP Rebasing in Africa 2017-09 2018-02 2018-03 2018-04 2018-07 2018-10 2018-11 CBP on EE-SUTs (I) E-Training on compilation and application of EE-SUTs CBP on SUTs (I) E-Training on compilation and application of SUTs CBP on EE-SUTS (II) Face-to-face regional seminar on EE-SUTs CBP on EE-SUTs (III) National workshops and TA missions on EE-SUTs CBP on SUTs (III) National workshops and TA missions on SUTs CBP on GDP Rebasing (I) E-Training on how to conduct GDP rebasing CBP on SUTs (II) Face-to-face regional seminar on SUTs

Capacity Building Programmes on SUTs, EE-SUTs, and GDP Rebasing in Africa Player Activity ECA and Partners Phase I: e-Training Phase II: Face-to-face seminar Phase III: National workshops & TA missions Country Participants To gain knowledge and skills To prepare to take off Compile accounts and indicators Subject SUTs 311 participants from 41 countries 36 participants from 29 countries EE-SUTs 372 participants from 49 countries 50 participants from 15 countries GDP Rebasing

CBP on SUTs, EE-SUTs, and GDP Rebasing Homepage https://ecastats.uneca.org/acsweb/FocusAreas/eLearning.aspx

Expected Outcome of This Symposium Goal: To advance the development of economic statistics and national accounts in Africa 1 Exchange and sharing of country experience and practice, and DG’s visions 2 Underscore the importance of the implementation of the SNA 3 Review the progress made 4 Identify issues and challenges 5 Formulate strategies for moving forward

Thank you very much for your attention!

Thanks / Merci