Implementation of the 2008 SNA & Supporting Statistics Introduction Global initiatives Existing national efforts Programme of work/action

Introduction   Lack of progress in LDCs in preparing national strategies and programmes of implementation for the change over to the 2008 SNA. A global initiative for scaling up of the coordination, advocacy and resources for the implementation by the United Nations Statistics Commission (UNSC), at its 44th session in 2013. The 28-31 May 2013 Luxembourg meeting discussed issues of scaling up coordination, advocacy and resources for the implementation of the SNA and supporting statistics at the national level.

At national level, the global strategy is to be replicated by: Members of the AEG discussed the implementation and compilation issues of the 2008 SNA. The ISWGNA identified the importance of better coordinate the implementation of the SNA.  At national level, the global strategy is to be replicated by: scaling up of the technical working group (TWG) on national accounts and inter-agency working group (IAWG) TWG of compilers of national accounts and compilers of supporting statistics with national accounts experts taking a lead IAWG comprising the suppliers of supporting economic statistics and users of national accounts. Improved coordination of SNA implementation.

Global Perspective vs. Uganda’s Case Critics, such as Morten Jerven (2013) highlight the data gaps in national accounts and supporting statistics of developing countries in terms of their scope, timeliness and quality. M Jerven, Poor Numbers: How We Are Misled by African Development Statistics and What to Do about It, Cornell University Press, http://www.cornellpress.cornell.edu/book    

Uganda has recorded marked progress in support of the collection and dissemination of economic statistics and national accounts: developing the national statistical infrastructure strengthening operations of the national statistical system existence of national strategy (PNSD) supporting programmes of implementation for economic statistics, among others However, gaps in statistical legislation has constrained coordination of national statistical system required to achieve desirable levels a need to scale up the coordination, advocacy and resources for the implementation of the SNA   Required: Stronger commitment from government to advance the work programme for national accounts and supporting statistics

Less than optimal political commitment/appreciation to support statistical production process Inadequate measure of economic activity based on 2008 SNA is a concern agree on the strategic approach to develop a statement of strategy and programme of implementation for the changeover to the 2008 SNA, taking into account the detailed and broad ranging discussion with the MDAs regarding implementation status (NAS/Sam’s paper). Harmonization programmes within the East African Community (EAC) countries and other regional blocks must be put in place.

To do The advocacy message should be directed towards obtaining political commitment and country ownership of the economic statistics programmes. A legislative framework that ensures transparency of governance through a trusted national statistical system spearheaded by an impartial national statistical office (UBOS) is required. Adoption of an integrated economic statistics approach in the national statistical capacity building programmes, covering the national coordination arrangements between relevant institutions in the country and statistical operations and infrastructure of the national statistical systems.

The challenges and opportunities in the country are clear and the discussions should shed more light on the direction for future work. Participants are called upon to appreciate the practical issues on the compilation of GDP in particular and develop action plans to facilitate the implementation.