Third Meeting of the Generations and Gender Programme Informal Working Group Spetses, Greece, May 2004

Suggestions for cross-sectional report wave 1 Alphonse L. MacDonald

Characteristics of the GGP innovative and flexible regional multidisciplinary longitudinal study, consisting of 3 waves at 3 years interval; information collected permits two types of analyses: cross-sectional at each wave, and retrospective or longitudinal; and The CB decided that there would be no standard country reports.

Characteristics of cross-sectional data Covers a wide range of subjects related to generations and gender characteristics; Complements national official statistics, and Provide detailed information on topics not (yet) covered by official statistics, and topics that are normally NOT covered by official statistics (values, and subjective characteristics).

Primacy of country interest The CB is is strongly recommending that issues of national interest are presented in the analysis of the first way data. However, countries should consider to provide information on areas which have been part of international agreements, the Programme of Actions or Platforms of UN sponsored conferences and the Millennium Development Goals.

Contribution to international agreements Countries have agreed or approved a number of objectives or goals at international conference; Child Summit, ICPD, Women’s conference, and recently the Millennium Development Goals agreed upon at the Millennium Summit in 2000 at the United Nations in New York.

MDGs The MDGs consist of 8 goals, 18 targets which are measured by 48 indicators. See: als.asp The MDGs are endorsed by all nations and all international and inter-governmental orgnaisations, notably the UN, the EU, the OECD, the World Bank, and regional development banks

The MDG 1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger 2. Achieve universal primary education 3. Promote gender equality and empower women 4. Reduce child mortality 5. Improve maternal health 6. Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases 7. Ensure environmental sustainability 8. Develop a global partnership for development.

National MDG Reports All countries have been encouraged to prepare MDG report. At present reports for 54 countries have been prepared by UNDP and development partners. UNDP also prepared a special study on Poverty reduction and social exclusion for Hungary, Slovenia, the Czech Republic and Solvakia.

UNECE region Country reports have been prepared for the following 13 countries: Albania, Armenia, Bosnia Herzogovina, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia and Ukraine. The World Bank also published a regional study: The Millennium Development Goals in Europe and Central Asia.

Complying with criteria of participation in GGP As part of the GGP national data should be available for international comparative studies; Hence the report of the first wave (and subsequent waves) should provide all the necessary information for the data to be used by international analysts.

Objectives of the Report Provide: –Background information on the country; –Information on national GGP set-up; –Information on methodological, organiszational and technical aspects of the survey programme, –Country relevant results of national policy interest, and –Country relevant results related to international programmes and agreements.

Suggested outline Introduction Description of country study Country profile: basic demographic and social-economic data Country profile for special programmes (MDGs) Main findings of relevant issues in each block of questions Annex A. Staff involved in survey.

Details of Introduction a. Basic information on country, b. National Committee, c. Funding arrangements,and d. Technical arrangements (survey coordination, survey staff, institutions responsible for sampling, field work and analysis).

Details of Description of country study a. Study population (definition, exclusions, coverage) b.Sample frame, sampling procedures, sample outcome, sampling errors, and arrangements for maintenance of sample. c.Survey instruments: questionnaire (including modules), coding instructions, variable list, format standard data tape, etc.

Details for other chapters Details for other chapter could be suggested if deemed useful by countries.

Practical tips The first wave reports should also be used to elicit support from the public administration and the public at large. Hence prepare short, attractively presented and easy to understand but scientifically sound summaries of the main findings. Issue findings at regular interval, before the full report is issued on topics of interest.

Learn from others Consult the website of other well-known national statistical offices and research institutes to see how they do it. Among the participating institutions: the practices of Statistics Canada and INSEE are recommended. The National Statistical Office of the UK and several US research institutions also present good examples to emulate.