1. Strengthening Economic Statistics in Lao PDR
COUNTRY
Strengthening Economic Statistics in Lao PDR
Regional Programme on Economic Statistics
Bangkok, Thailand | 30 November 2016

2. Overview of Progress What is the progress of the project?
What issues have you faced?
How have you overcome them?
What plans do you have to maintain the improvement in capacity or functionality?
What is your plan to progress the project (including timelines)?
What have you learnt from the project so far?

3. Project Objective
Provide assistance for the revision of the statistical law, including facilitation of transfer of good practices and guidelines.
Support peer review of the National Statistical System in the context of the NSDS mid-term review and, in particular, review economic statistics production and dissemination.
Support elaboration of an economic statistics development plan as part of the revised NSDS.
Provide technical assistance to LSB and collaborate with LSB and relevant training partners in Lao PDR in strengthening local capacity to develop and deliver statistical training in the area of economic statistics.

4. Progress of the project
Complete country review by mission on May 2016
Finish project concept note with 4 expected outputs
Review statistics law
Review guidance questionnaire of NSS of Maldives
Draft project plan and activities
LSB and ESD complete the 5 years plan from

5. Project expected outputs
Output A: Statistical law is revising and plan to submit to parliament for approval by next year. Consultant assists LSB in revision of the statistical law that takes into consideration existing good practices and guidelines, e.g. Generic Law on Official Statistics
Output B: The Strategy for the Development of National Statistical System is reviewed and the economic statistics development is incorporated /improved (July March 2017)
Conduct an economic statistics review which will complement the NSDS mid-term review coordinated by PARIS21 (July-August 2016)
Develop economic statistics development plan
(September 2016 – March 2017)

6. Project expected outputs
Output C: Capacity to produce economic statistics is strengthened( ) 
Output D: Development of research programme and institutionalize arrangements between LSB and Research Center ( )

7. Issues
Almost of our activities were delay and postpone, which came from different issues:
The project is just started, the project arrangement is not still not clear. (other regal document is not yet complete) including: financial arrangement, and etc,..
Human resources shortage and the internal arrangement is not yet in proper function.
The process of revise statistics Law and NSDSS is still ongoing
and at the same time this year is also the end of LAOSTAT project.
Project activities plan is not yet clearly identify

8. Overcoming the issues
Economic Statistics Department (ESD) play as a key focal point to coordinate and collaborate for this project. Moreover, Department of Administration also assist with collaborate with UNESCAP.
LSB will instantly finalize revise the statistics law. We completed at provincial level and will translate (support by UNESCAP).
ESD will summarize the activities that complete with LAOSTAT and what activities that remain to be continue with other projects.

9. Plan to progress / timelines
LSB will urgently form the focal point and unit to take responsible on this project.
At the same times the all other regal document is needed to be set
The project plan and activities for each output has to be clearly identified by LSB and UNESCAP (Ex: output C and D). (During Jan-Feb 2017) include the budget need for each activities.

10. Plan to progress / timelines
Output A: Statistical law
TA on update statistical law to the most effectiveness and appropriate
Once the new update finish, it should be translated into Laos
Output B: The Strategy for the Development of National Statistical System
Mission on March with working on NSDSS updating, based on result from PARIS 21.

11. Plan to progress / timelines
Output C: Capacity to produce economic statistics is strengthened ( ) 
Once the new update finish, it should be translated into Laos
Output B: The Strategy for the Development of National Statistical System
Mission on March with working on NSDSS updating, based on result from PARIS 21.

12. Lessons learnt

13. Q&A