1. Ninth meeting of the Management Group on Statistical Cooperation
Experience of Italy
regarding participation in implementing
national programmes
Point 4.5 of the Agenda
Michelle Jouvenal
ISTAT – Italian National Institute of Statistics
Office for International Relations and Cooperation

2. Recent EU National Programmes
ALBANIA – CARDS 2002
BOSNIA and HERZEGOVINA – CARDS 2005
SERBIA – CARDS 2002
MONTENEGRO – CARDS 2003
KOSOVO – CARDS 2005
and Istat’s involvement in other bilateral or multilateral programmes

3. ALBANIA ALBANIA - CARDS 2002
Support to the Institute of Statistics for data collection and adoption of the acquis communautaire
“Albanian Statistics towards the EU”
with Statistics Finland and HCSO
IMF and the Italian Government
“Technical Assistance to improve National Accounts Statistics at constant prices”
with Statistics Finland

4. ALBANIA Istat’s 12 years in Albania
Optimal synergy among the EU and IMF programmes
Advanced planning and coordination between Eurostat, Istat and INSTAT
Good division of labour among consortium’s partners
Appropriated milestones and deliverables, even beyond mandatory results
Overall positive environment within and beyond INSTAT

5. BOSNIA and HERZEGOVINA
BOSNIA and HERZEGOVINA – CARDS 2005
“Support to the Statistics Sector of BiH – Phase III”
with Statistics Denmark, HCSO and the Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia
Twinning, with 7 components:
- National Accounts
- Business Registers
- Business Statistics
- External Trade
- Strengthening of the institutional capacity
- Agriculture
- Financial Sector Statistics
RTA, 1 Long-term expert, 122 actions in 2 years

6. BOSNIA and HERZEGOVINA
BOSNIA and HERZEGOVINA – CARDS 2005
Support to the Statistics Sector of BiH – Phase III
EC PHARE 1998 BH 98/04
“Technical Assistance to Support the Reform of the Statistical System of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Phase I)”
HBS 2004 and CPI – Italian Government
HBS 2007 and CPI – Italian Government and DFID

7. BOSNIA and HERZEGOVINA
ISTAT’s long lasting presence in BiH
Local environment completely changed between the two programmes; involvement in bilateral programme
Twinning covers many sectors, and many activities per each sector
In the absence of a firm position on the side of the beneficiaries, serious overlap among donors, in terms of both strategies, cooperation procedures and activities
Overlap even among programmes of the same donor; EC Delegation should increase support

8. S&M - SERBIA and MONTENEGRO
SERBIA – CARDS 2002 and MONTENEGRO – CARDS 2003
“Support to the Union and Statistical Offices of Serbia and Montenegro”
with Statistics Sweden and HCSO
Programme with SOSM up to June 2006, SORS and MONSTAT
Grant/twinning:
National Accounts, Structural Business Statistics, Prices, strengthening of the National Statistical System
Common Team Leader (RTA)

9. S&M - SERBIA and MONTENEGRO
Worked separately/together; cross support
Project has changed considerably since the beginning (partners, timing, partly objectives, two EARs)
Difficult intervention in NA, with severe human resource problems in MONSTAT; HCSO and involvement of INSEE
Coordination with SIDA and other donors

10. KOSOVO
KOSOVO – CARDS 2005
“Support to the Statistical Office of Kosovo and preparation for the population census”
with University of Rome “CIRPS” and INSTAT
Partnership with INSTAT
Initial critical areas, change in management, lack of ownership
Difficult political environment
Coordination of donors, of programmes

11. Istat’s cooperation characteristics
Difficulties in the recruitment of long term experts, and in the timely mobilisation of short term experts
Istat’s experts recruited from private companies; recruitment requirements
Experience with partners
Cooperation strategy and returns for Istat from cooperation activities
Many efforts for the improved administrative and financial management of projects

12. Istat’s cooperation characteristics
Consolidated implementation procedures
Leverage with other donors, coordination of programmes and objectives, support from the beneficiary

13. Donors’ coordination Advance planning (NSDS type)
Coordination at country level, not bilateral, progressively led by the beneficiary
Cooperation strategy of donors and beneficiary, technical coordination
Money rules?
Experts
Basic coordination rules, interruptions, procedures and habits