Ninth meeting of the Management Group on Statistical Cooperation Experience of Italy regarding participation in implementing national programmes Point 4.5 of the Agenda Michelle Jouvenal ISTAT – Italian National Institute of Statistics Office for International Relations and Cooperation

Recent EU National Programmes ALBANIA – CARDS 2002 BOSNIA and HERZEGOVINA – CARDS 2005 SERBIA – CARDS 2002 MONTENEGRO – CARDS 2003 KOSOVO – CARDS 2005 and Istat’s involvement in other bilateral or multilateral programmes

ALBANIA ALBANIA - CARDS 2002 Support to the Institute of Statistics for data collection and adoption of the acquis communautaire “Albanian Statistics towards the EU” with Statistics Finland and HCSO IMF and the Italian Government “Technical Assistance to improve National Accounts Statistics at constant prices” with Statistics Finland

ALBANIA Istat’s 12 years in Albania Optimal synergy among the EU and IMF programmes Advanced planning and coordination between Eurostat, Istat and INSTAT Good division of labour among consortium’s partners Appropriated milestones and deliverables, even beyond mandatory results Overall positive environment within and beyond INSTAT

BOSNIA and HERZEGOVINA BOSNIA and HERZEGOVINA – CARDS 2005 “Support to the Statistics Sector of BiH – Phase III” with Statistics Denmark, HCSO and the Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia Twinning, with 7 components: - National Accounts - Business Registers - Business Statistics - External Trade - Strengthening of the institutional capacity - Agriculture - Financial Sector Statistics RTA, 1 Long-term expert, 122 actions in 2 years

BOSNIA and HERZEGOVINA BOSNIA and HERZEGOVINA – CARDS 2005 Support to the Statistics Sector of BiH – Phase III EC PHARE 1998 BH 98/04 “Technical Assistance to Support the Reform of the Statistical System of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Phase I)” HBS 2004 and CPI – Italian Government HBS 2007 and CPI – Italian Government and DFID

BOSNIA and HERZEGOVINA ISTAT’s long lasting presence in BiH Local environment completely changed between the two programmes; involvement in bilateral programme Twinning covers many sectors, and many activities per each sector In the absence of a firm position on the side of the beneficiaries, serious overlap among donors, in terms of both strategies, cooperation procedures and activities Overlap even among programmes of the same donor; EC Delegation should increase support

S&M - SERBIA and MONTENEGRO SERBIA – CARDS 2002 and MONTENEGRO – CARDS 2003 “Support to the Union and Statistical Offices of Serbia and Montenegro” with Statistics Sweden and HCSO Programme with SOSM up to June 2006, SORS and MONSTAT Grant/twinning: National Accounts, Structural Business Statistics, Prices, strengthening of the National Statistical System Common Team Leader (RTA)

S&M - SERBIA and MONTENEGRO Worked separately/together; cross support Project has changed considerably since the beginning (partners, timing, partly objectives, two EARs) Difficult intervention in NA, with severe human resource problems in MONSTAT; HCSO and involvement of INSEE Coordination with SIDA and other donors

KOSOVO KOSOVO – CARDS 2005 “Support to the Statistical Office of Kosovo and preparation for the population census” with University of Rome “CIRPS” and INSTAT Partnership with INSTAT Initial critical areas, change in management, lack of ownership Difficult political environment Coordination of donors, of programmes

Istat’s cooperation characteristics Difficulties in the recruitment of long term experts, and in the timely mobilisation of short term experts Istat’s experts recruited from private companies; recruitment requirements Experience with partners Cooperation strategy and returns for Istat from cooperation activities Many efforts for the improved administrative and financial management of projects

Istat’s cooperation characteristics Consolidated implementation procedures Leverage with other donors, coordination of programmes and objectives, support from the beneficiary

Donors’ coordination Advance planning (NSDS type) Coordination at country level, not bilateral, progressively led by the beneficiary Cooperation strategy of donors and beneficiary, technical coordination Money rules? Experts Basic coordination rules, interruptions, procedures and habits