FEMM endorses measures to improve FIC statistics
MEDIA RELEASE (70/09)
10th November 2009
MEASURES TO IMPROVE NATIONAL STATISTICS SERVICES
In an attempt to address the problems and constraints in the statistical systems of Forum Island Countries (FICs), certain measures have been endorsed at the 2009 Forum Economic Ministers’ Meeting (FEMM) held in the Cook Islands, 27 – 28 October
Explaining the context of the statistical systems in FICs, Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat Tuiloma Neroni Slade said: “A recent completed Statistics Benchmark Study of the FICs concluded that statistical systems within most of the countries were very limited and poor. Specific challenges identified include:
• national Statistical Offices have limited resources, in particular serious shortage of qualified statisticians;
• statistical outputs are very limited, its dissemination often late, and documentation seriously lacking; and
• co-ordination and cooperation of statistical work within countries is often poor.”
Mr Slade added that in recognition of these issues, Forum Economic Ministers in the FEMM Action Plan 2009 released at the end of the meeting, agreed that the problems and constraints cannot be solved through regional approaches alone. Solutions must be based on appropriate national actions. There must also be support from policy agencies for the national statistics systems including raising awareness for the importance of statistics and coordination and consultation between statistics users and producers.
The Secretary General confirmed that consequently the Ministers endorsed a strategy to improve the national statistics systems of FICs. This will see the expansion of support for statistics systems within the Secretariat of Pacific Community (SPC) and the Pacific Financial Technical Assistance Centre (PFTAC) which will:
• mobilize a team of regional experts to provide technical advice and assistance to National Statistical offices; and
• assist those FICS who choose to do so, to contract some statistical work to third parties.
Mr Slade said a new governance structure will be established to guide the implementation of this strategy.
The Forum Economic Ministers called on development Partners to assist by providing resources needed to deliver the proposed services to be offered by SPC and PFTAC.
ENDS.
For enquiries contact Mr Sanjesh Naidu, the Forum Secretariat’s Economic Adviser on phone 679 331 2600 or email sanjeshn@forumsec.org.fj.
10th November 2009
MEASURES TO IMPROVE NATIONAL STATISTICS SERVICES
In an attempt to address the problems and constraints in the statistical systems of Forum Island Countries (FICs), certain measures have been endorsed at the 2009 Forum Economic Ministers’ Meeting (FEMM) held in the Cook Islands, 27 – 28 October
Explaining the context of the statistical systems in FICs, Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat Tuiloma Neroni Slade said: “A recent completed Statistics Benchmark Study of the FICs concluded that statistical systems within most of the countries were very limited and poor. Specific challenges identified include:
• national Statistical Offices have limited resources, in particular serious shortage of qualified statisticians;
• statistical outputs are very limited, its dissemination often late, and documentation seriously lacking; and
• co-ordination and cooperation of statistical work within countries is often poor.”
Mr Slade added that in recognition of these issues, Forum Economic Ministers in the FEMM Action Plan 2009 released at the end of the meeting, agreed that the problems and constraints cannot be solved through regional approaches alone. Solutions must be based on appropriate national actions. There must also be support from policy agencies for the national statistics systems including raising awareness for the importance of statistics and coordination and consultation between statistics users and producers.
The Secretary General confirmed that consequently the Ministers endorsed a strategy to improve the national statistics systems of FICs. This will see the expansion of support for statistics systems within the Secretariat of Pacific Community (SPC) and the Pacific Financial Technical Assistance Centre (PFTAC) which will:
• mobilize a team of regional experts to provide technical advice and assistance to National Statistical offices; and
• assist those FICS who choose to do so, to contract some statistical work to third parties.
Mr Slade said a new governance structure will be established to guide the implementation of this strategy.
The Forum Economic Ministers called on development Partners to assist by providing resources needed to deliver the proposed services to be offered by SPC and PFTAC.
ENDS.
For enquiries contact Mr Sanjesh Naidu, the Forum Secretariat’s Economic Adviser on phone 679 331 2600 or email sanjeshn@forumsec.org.fj.
