Eurostat/UNSD Conference on International Outreach and Coordination in National Accounts for Sustainable Development and Growth 6-8 May, Luxembourg These Luxembourg Recommendations have been prepared for consideration by the Intersecretariat Working Group on National Accounts (ISWGNA) as an input into the process of drafting the strategy for implementation of the SNA following the consensus reached by the participants in the Eurostat/UNSD Conference on International Outreach and Coordination in National Accounts for Sustainable Development and Growth held in Luxembourg from 6 to 8 May Luxembourg Recommendations On Global Implementation and Outreach for the System of National Accounts

Outline Background Objectives Stakeholders Main Elements Statistical system improvement principle SNA Knowledge Platform Expected Outcomes Way forward

Background  At the time of adopting Volume 1 of the 2008 SNA the UNSC expressed the need to strengthen statistical capacity in developing countries for national accounts and related economic statistics.  Conference on International Outreach and Coordination in National Accounts for Sustainable Growth and Development

Objectives Promoting international coordination among development partners Implementing regional programmes, guidelines, procedures for implementation Strengthening national statistical capacity in National Accounts and related basic statistics Advocating use of national accounts and statistics in general, for policy purposes

Stakeholders  National governments  National Statistical Offices and other providers of official statistics  National and Regional Central Banks  UN Regional Commissions Regional development banks National and Regional Statistical Training Institutions Other regional agencies and institutions  International Agencies  International Community of Donors  Users of national accounts data for policy purposes

Main Elements for Luxembourg Recommendations  Approach - Managing for results  Principles –Strategic planning –Coordination, monitoring and reporting –Improving statistical systems  Possible governance structure

Strategic Planning Principle Strategic planning frameworks for statistical capacity building in national accounts and related economic statistics to guide statistical capacity building –Common information set with national and regional objectives and programmed actions based on analysis of strengths and weaknesses of existing statistical systems. –Best practices exist like National Strategy for the Development of Statistics (NSDS), United Nations development Assistance Frameworks (UNDAF), General Data Dissemination System (GDDS) and regional frameworks like Reference Regional Strategic Framework (RRSF), etc. –Alignment with other international standards frameworks and international classifications such as BPM, SEEA, ISIC, CPC

Coordination, monitoring and reporting principle International level –Develop compilation guidance –Organize procedures and assessments of process –Align with other international standards frameworks and international classifications such as BPM, SEEA, ISIC, CPC Regional level –Maintain relationship with global governance structure –Develop and maintain regional programmes, guidelines, procedures including South- South cooperation in particular –Organize timely, appropriate technical assistance –Monitor – financial and technical aspects National level –Collaborate with development partners –Establish governance structures for implementation (including national coordinator for national statistical system) –Establish donor coordination group for statistics (example Mali) –Ensure effective use of resources –Harmonize with government budgeting for maximum effect –Guarantee accountability –Dialogue between users and producers

Global governance Relating to: National implementation programme: –Inputs of development partners –Staffing and financing –Deliverables and outcomes Country and regional progress against agreed benchmarks: –Compliance –Quality –Scope

Statistical System Improvement Principle On implementation of business registers and frames, surveys and use of administrative data, integration frameworks, dissemination, ICT and management, through: –Meetings, seminars, workshops –Technical cooperation –Manuals and handbooks, software tools –Academic and statistical training (including distance learning) in national accounts –Statistical research on new concepts in SNA –Advocacy in use of national accounts for evidence based policy making –SNA knowledge platform

SNA Knowledge platform: statistics, information technology and management  Institute “SNA Centres of Competence”  Address and reinforce statistical infrastructure – Institutional: management and internal policy on data collection, compilation, dissemination, user consultation and advisory committees, etc – Registers, frames for administrative sources and statistical surveys – Collections through administrative sources and statistical surveys – SNA as integration framework – Dissemination of statistics and metadata to users

Expected Outcomes Improved national statistical capacity –Improved capability for all developing countries taking into account different levels development Enhanced quality of statistics –Better conceptual compliance –Harmonization, improved comparability Strengthened coordination, monitoring and reporting –Donor to recipient country –Within region –Among international agencies, regional bodies, NSOs More intensive, appropriate use of National Accounts in policy making and related research

Way forward  Regional Commissions in collaboration with regional and national partners formulating regional implementation and outreach programmes for SNA  ISWGNA in collaboration with regional and national partners to draft Global Implementation and Outreach Programme for SNA  ISWGNA to submit SNA programme to Statistical Commission (February 2009)

Thank You