1. Regional and Global Initiatives in Statistics Neda JAFAR Statistics Division, UN-ESCWA RWG of the Statistical Committee Cairo, 3 September 2007

2. Follow-Up on The Third Forum to Enhance Arab Statistical Capacity Sana’a- Yemen 17-18 April 2007

3. Background 1 st Forum in Jordan 2003 2 nd Forum in Oman 2005 The CSO Yemen hosted the 3 rd Forum (17-18 April 07) and co-organized it in cooperation with : PARIS21, League of Arab States ESCWA

4. Objective –To identify progress made by the Arab NSOs in implementing the NSDS, the challenges and obstacles encountered.

5. Agenda Themes covered are: NSDS Progress Financing NSDS Mainstreaming sectoral statistics National statistical coordination Training of Arab Statisticians Arab and regional initiatives for data collection

6. Confirmed Muscat Declaration 2005 for launching NSDS in the Arab Region Arab countries committed to continue efforts towards designing and implementing NSDS

7. NSOs –Implement NSDS not later than the end of 2007 –Request countries that did not design yet to accelerate their efforts –Focus their cooperation with donors on the financing the NSDS according to the national needs. –Strengthen relations with stakeholders in implementing the NSDS (private sector & civil society).

8. –Make legislations and laws that ensure good coordination in stat system –Improve administrative records, unify definition and the national level and implement international standards. –Mainstream sectoral statistics.

9. LAS Cooperate with AITRS to organize a meeting for concerned Arab and international organizations to improve statistical curricula in the Arab colleges to be in line with latest developments. Continue the implementation of Arab PAPFAM and call the all partners to provide required financial support to expand the project and improves its methodologies and procedures. Call the Arab funds to support the implementation of the NSDS and put it on its priority list

10. Financing Institutions & Regional Banks Contribute to financing the implementation of the NSDS in the Arab region. Increase their importance to finance statistics as an essential input for development as happens in other regions in the world.

11. ESCWA Prepare an assessment of best practices of national statistical coordination and its mechanisms (national councils, advisory boards, direct coordination with users, etc ie legal requirements) by 2008 Coordinate with the World Bank/PARIS21 to include the Arab region in the ADP and international household survey program in coordination with LAS.

12. PARIS21 –Continue technical support and efforts to mobilize resources to NSOs & assist in preparing and implementing NSDS. –Establish a task team for training in the Arab region (TOR: establish an inventory of training and data analysis institutions in the Arab region and disseminate to Arab states and regional organizations). –Monitor NSDS progress, and establish a website about statistical development in coordination with ESCWA and LAS. –Cooperate with WB to organize a seminar on microdot tool kit in cooperation with ESCWA and LAS. –Organize a seminar on measurement and methods of monitoring democratic governance in the Arab region in coordination with the AITRS

13. Support statistical work and strengthen the role of NSOs administratively and financially to empower their role in comprehensive development. Enhance interaction between NSOs and planning institutions and decision making centers to support planning process. Complete and activate the legislative structure for the statistical systems in support to the role of NSOs. Encourage government institutions to support the NSOs in preparing and implementing the NSDS.

14. Decision Makers Support statistical work and strengthen the role of NSOs administratively and financially Enhance interaction between NSOs and planning institutions and decision making centers to support planning process. Complete and activate the legislative structure for the statistical systems. Encourage government institutions to support the NSOs in preparing and implementing the NSDS.

15. Next Steps Invite: –policy makers –private sector –civil societies 4 th Forum, Egypt, 2009