The views expressed herein are those of the author and should not necessarily be attributed to the IMF, its Executive Board, or its management Twentieth Session of the Committee for the Coordination of Statistical Activities (CCSA) Input to the Future Agenda of the CCSA Adelheid Burgi-Schmelz, Director, Statistics Department, IMF In collaboration with Shaida Badiee, Director, Data Group, World Bank September 17–19, 2012

A. What is CCSA? (1/2) In September 2002, the Committee for the Coordination of Statistical Activities (CCSA) was established. The CCSA adopted its terms of reference during its first session on March 3, 2003 in New York. These terms of reference were revised and approved by the twelfth meeting of the CCSA held in Tunis on September 11-12, The new terms of reference can be viewed and downloaded at pdfhttp://unstats.un.org/unsd/accsub/2008docs-12th/TORs pdf An annual report on ongoing Committee activities is made available to the United Nations Statistical Commission and if necessary or desirable the report is referred to the High Level Committee on Programs of the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination (CEB). Members of the Committee comprise international and supranational organizations, whose mandate includes the provision of international official statistics in the context of the Principles Governing International Statistical Activities, and which have a permanent embedded statistical service in their organization and regular contacts with countries. IMF Statistics Department 2

A. What is CCSA? (2/2) Efficient functioning of the statistical system Common standards and platforms Development of methodologies Inter-institutional support Outreach Advocacy for statistics IMF Statistics Department 3 The committee focuses its work on the following six main activities:

B. Efficient Functioning of the Statistical Systems What is working well: The CCSA has been functioning fairly well thanks to the energy of the co-chairs including the past co-chair who was very passionate about the success of the CCSA during his term as co-chair. What is not working: They say if it is working well don’t fix otherwise you may damage! That said, there is always room to improve on efficiency and I am sure there are many ideas among us, hence the need to brainstorm. What can be improved and what are the limitations? IMF Statistics Department 4

C. Collaboration on Vertical vs. Horizontal Subjects The 2011 ICP Round or the 2008 SNA are good examples of vertical collaboration. They usually bring together a subset of CCSA members. Horizontal subjects such as quality or training are relevant to all CCSA members. Could the CCSA Secretariat take a more proactive role on horizontal subjects? IMF Statistics Department 5

D. Examples of Horizontal Collaboration Common Standards and Platforms Career Development and Training Outreach Advocacy IMF Statistics Department 6

E. Common Standards and Platforms What is working well: We have made tremendous effort in developing common standards and platforms for information sharing either individually in our own institutions or jointly. The IMF for instance has developed data standards—SDDS and SDDS Plus, the GDDS, etc. Jointly and especially with the IAG agencies we have developed the Principal Global Indicators website. The CCSA now has new information based for available international methodologies launched at the last UNSC meeting. Can we do more and how? The answer is yes! What is not working: We can do more by standardizing information collection and sharing systems and the promotion of the SDMX is a good example. What can be improved and what are the limitations? We need more collaboration. IMF Statistics Department 7

F. Career Development and Training for Official Statisticians CCSA started a networking project. Maybe job vacancies could be shared systematically. There is not an established academic curriculum to prepare for our profession. ISTAT and the ESSC are working on a master’s program, but what about the global level? And what about statisticians working in international organizations that require more and more versatility across their organizational functions? What about better use of the Virtual Statistical System (VSS)? IMF Statistics Department 8

G. Outreach We saw the success of coordination in launching the World Statistics day. Can we do more through the CCSA? I’m sure there are many ideas in this room, hence the need to brainstorm. What could we do next? IMF Statistics Department 9

H. Advocacy of Statistics What is working well: The Paris21 has done a wonderful job on advocacy. Can this be broadened? What is not working: While a lot has been accomplished by the advanced economies, we have major gaps in key data sets and diminished resources for statistics as a result of the austerity measures. This is the message we get in every conference of the G-20 on data gaps. What can be improved and what are the limitations? We need your ideas! IMF Statistics Department 10

 “Meetings and Related Statistical Materials” Thank you for your attention! IMF Statistics Department 11