1. Kingston, Jamaica January 2013 Hernán Epstein - ECLAC -
Regional Seminar on Developing a Programme for the Implementation of the 2008 SNA and Supporting Statistics in the CARICOM region
Elements for the formulation of a Regional Strategy on the Implementation of the 2008 SNA in the Caribbean
Kingston, Jamaica
January 2013
Hernán Epstein
- ECLAC -

2. Background 2008 Luxembourg Recommendations
A Regional Strategy plan for Latin America was developed and approved during the 2009 and 2010 Seminars on National Accounts organized by ECLAC Also, assistance provided with national plans (e.g., Uruguay)
UNSD global 2008 SNA implementation proposals.

3. Luxembourg Recommendations
In 2008, 47% of developing countries had NOT implemented the 1993 SNA. - Resources - Coordination
3 Principles: - Strategic Planning - Coordination, Monitoring & Reporting - Improvement of Statistical System
Resources: Institutional capacity, in terms of System (e.g., Basic Statistcs) / Human (technical staff) / Training (Technical)
Coordination: of Regional Commissions and other organizations to not replicate efforts and use resources efficiently. This includes the transmission of knowledge, as well as act as liaisons between actors.
- Strategic Planning: Formulation of National Statistics Development Strategies (NSDS) as proposed by PARIS21. Synchronize with RSDS.
- Coordination, Monitoring & Reporting: Importance of Regional Commissions to implement the program on a global level. Provide technical assitance and coordinate horizontal cooperation efforts. Coordinate, supervise and report.
- Improvement of Satistical System: in this context, adopting the 2008 SNA would be part of this principle. Development of the national statistical infrastructure: technical assistance, training of staff, use of common technological tools, training of users (policy makers).

4. Implementation in the LAC Region
Actors: National (Central Banks and NSA), Regional (CAIRCOM, ECLAC), International (UNSD, WB), Donors. Coordination is required on all levels to avoid replication and generate a more efficient use of resources.
Themes: Design a general agenda, but also attend the specific needs of each country. For example, some countries may be in a more advanced state than others in terms of their systems of national accounts, so they may have different needs. Also, the economic structure of certain countries may require different topics to be addressed (e.g., informal economy)
Types of action: Given that many countries in the region have issues with the number of techincal staff available and their capacities, an emphasis should be put on capacity-building/training. This could take the form of regional/national seminars or workshops, creation of manuals/guidebooks, horizontal cooperation, technical assistance/missions. The development of the basic statistical data should also be a concern (but again, there are significant differences among countries). Advocacy of the uses of national accounts and statistics in general for policy making should be promoted among users as well. Finally, the coordination efforts on the regional / global level should be greater than in the past for the program to be successful, through monitoring and reporting of progress.

5. Plan for LAC Phase 1 – Diagnostics
Fill out the Questionnaires sent to the countries
Validate answers
Form clusters of countries according to their current state of their basic statistics and the methods used in calculating the nationoal accounts. - Facilitate horizontal cooperation
Identify pilot countries for each cluster if possible.
-Questionnaire: This is an (hopefully) objective way of coming to a diagnostic regarding the situation of each of the country and the region as well. To determine the main needs of the countries in the region.
In order to complete the diagnostics of the region and each of the countries, it is very important that we receive the Questionnaires back. So far, we have only received 5 in the region and only 2 of those countries are here today (the other 7 have not sent it yet).
-Form clusters: Based on the questionnaires.
For example, as general guidelines:
1. Basic Statistics and the Methodological Procedures used in calculating national accounts need to be strengthen.
2. Certain Basic Statistics and some Methodological Procedures used in calculating national accounts need to be adjusted.
3. Basic Statistics are reasonably acceptable and internationally-recommended methodological procedures are applied in the preparation of national accounts.
Another dimension could be added by separating countries depending on which institution compiles the national accounts and the basic statistics.
-Identify pilot countries: this will improve the resource allocation by focusing on one country and then expanding that knowledge and system to similar countries (in the cluster) mainly through horizontal cooperation.
I know this is subjective and could lead to some controversy, but it is the most efficient way to do this when resources are scarce.

6. Plan for LAC Phase 2 – Global / Regional Adaptation
Determine the requirements and conditions necessary for the implementation of a regional plan
Relationship between basic statistics and SNA 2008
Harmonization of the different statistical systems, such as SNA, Balance of Payments, Public Finance, Employment, etc.
Challenges in the implementation of the 2008 SNA (informal economy, quarterly and monthly series, chain volume measures, etc)
Etc.
Design regional programs for training and techincal assistance.
Identify potential donors and financial resources (Development account, etc)
-Determine requirements: Adapt the general international plan to the necessities of the region. This should be done through the regional commissions together with the countries.
-Training and Technical Assistance: In this line, I would like to announce that the Caribbean countries will be invited to the Seminar on National Accounts that will be organized by ECLAC this year.
-Identify donors: ECLAC has applied for a joint project with ESCAP to strengthen statistical capacities of countries in their environmental accounts and will touch in the national accounts as well. Hopefully, it will be approved, but we do not know as of today.

7. Plan for LAC Phase 3 – National Adaptation
Work together with the pilot countries in the design of a strategy and action plan that involves all the statistical actors and implementation requirements:
Clear objective: Milestones to be met, Data sets (MR, Recommended, Desirable)
Human, financial and technological resources
Statistical infrastructure
Inter-institutional agreements and advocacy with users
Work with statistics producers and users
Determine the need for training, horizontal cooperation and technical assistance
Establish who is responsible and deadlines
In the end, all these issues will be worked out between the institutions, with the help of the regional commissions, and all will be documented in a Memorandum of Understanding.

8. Phase 3 - Example Our experience in Uruguay
Technical Mission – need for a change of base year
Meetings with Central Bank and NSO
Establish agenda for improvement of basic statistics
Monitoring Commision: CB – NSO – ECLAC
Expert Groups: report to the Commission
A Memorandum of Understunding was signed and it is in process right now: - Plus: Improved significantly the relationship between CB and NSO
-Change in base year: big difference in the CPI base and the national accounts base.
-Monitoring Commission:
1. Establish a work plan, what needs to be done
2. Form working groups and establish their objectives and deadlines
3. Monitor and supervise the work
4. Report
This is done through monthly meetings and with the technical assistance of ECLAC Santiago.

9. Plan for LAC Phase 4 – Regional Implementation
Design activities and specific tasks, as well as a work calendar
Develop reporting and monitoring mechanisms
Establish international cooperation mechanisms for the dissemination of the experiences in the pilot countries and to facilitate horizontal cooperation among countries of the region/clusters: - Technical Assistance Missions - Seminars, Workshops and Courses (Regional and sub-regional) - Horizontal Cooperation Missions - Documentation and handbooks / IT platform
The activities included in this phase concern not only the pilot countries, but especially in the rest of the region/clusters. Some activities could include technical missions, development of documentation and a platform (e.g., UNSD website), horizontal cooperation missions, regional seminars/workshops/courses (e.g., annual National Accounts Seminar, annual course on National Accounts), seminars across sub-regions, etc.

10. Final remarks
ECLAC and the Regional Commissions can act as an assisting entity by: - Fund raising - Coordination: facilitate horizontal cooperation, seminars and workshops, guidelines. - Use of our staff: Technical assistance, training.
Member States are responsible for developing and implementing a National Action Plan.
Member States responsible:
We can also assist with the development of the Action Plan, but only as a guiding entity.

11. Thank You!