Item 4 of the Provisional Agenda

1. Item 4 of the Provisional Agenda Activities implemented in the field of Statistics

2. Statistics related activities of ESCWA better data for better evidence-based policymaking GuidelinesHandbooks Capacity Development Publications Database Data collection & publishing Improved data production Training workshops Data Portal E-Learning Knowledge of national data Advisory services Data sharing Increased impact South-South cooperation Coordination & partnership GlobalCCSA RegionalRCM NationalUNCTs

3. A coherent work programme funded from different sources – focused on one goal Work programme Budget sources Capacity Development RB 22 Economic and Social Dvlp. in Western Asia RB 23 Regular Programme of Technical Cooperation Data production RB 36 Development Account XB Extrabudgetary projects(e.g. ICP, …) Coordination

4. Item 4(a) of the Provisional Agenda Activities implemented in the field of Statistics Follow up to recommendations made by the Stat. Committee

5. E/ESCWA/C.1/2019/3(Part I) Recommendations – 12th session of the Stat. Committee Addressed to the member states: 22 Addressed to the Secretariat: 12

6. (a) Provide support to member states in statistics on refugees and IDPs • Contributing to the “International Recommendations on Refugee Statistics” • Working with UNHCR on recommendation for statistics on IDPs • Signing an MoU with UNRWA on assessing the completion of birth and death registration records

7. (b) Build capacity of countries to implement the 2020 World Population and Housing Census Programme • Regional meeting on technology use and on census planning in countries that did not conduct the 2010 round • Two studies on alternative methodologies in censuses and emerging methods to disseminate census results • Updated website on censues in the Arab region • Technical support (advisory missions) • Workshops on planning censuses in countries that face implementation difficulties & transfer of experience among countries

8. (c) Build capacity in 2008 SNA – SUTs, improving GDP estimates, household surveys • Estimating expenditure through the Model Report on Expenditure Statistics (MORES) • Seminar on SUTs • Regional workshop for validating the time series of national accounts data • Twinning projects to develop supply and use tables

9. (d) Continue updating and developing price statistics • CPI – quarterly inflation monitor • Improved dissemination of inflation rates (using Power BI) • Initiative to produce annual PPPs – combination and extrapolation and real data collection for “non ICP years” • Harmonised ICP, harmonising ICP and PPPs data collection – national and sub-regional levels • Implementing national projects on sub-national PPPs

10. (e) Strengthen partnerships • With LAS: meetings and research material on quarterly SNA • Joint workshops with AITRS, UNSD, SESRIC, AMF • Improving SEEA and environment stats. including geospatial data with UNSD, UNEP, EEA, LAS, AITRS, Uni-Malaga • Improving disability statistics with the Washington Group and other partners • Joint meetings/workshops on gender statistics with UNSD, WHO, UN-Women, FAO, ILO • Contributing to the regional WG on employment statistics

11. (f) Support in economic statistics infrastructure, trade in services statistics & use of business registers • National and regional workshops on international trade in services – with WTO, UNCTAD, AMF, UNSD • A study aimed at familiarising experts in NSOs with statistical business registers – aspects of legislation, coordination, linkages, etc.

12. (g) Arab framework of SDG indicators • Preparing the first draft of the Arab framework - assessment of data availability • Preparing a draft framework for disability statistics • Preparing an implementation framework for the environment dimension

13. (h) Regional Action Plan • Developing the Arab Regional Action Plan for Sustainable Development Data with its six strategic areas. E/ESCWA/C.1/2019/5-E/ESCWA/EC.5/2018/6/Rev.1E/ESCWA/C.1/2019/5

14. (i) Official websites of NSOs for obtaining data • Updating ESCWA statistical database from national sources • Publishing gender statistics booklet based on national data • “Arab disability statistics in numbers 2017” from national data • Assessing availability of national data for the SDG indicators framework (Tier I and Tier II) • “Arab Society: A compendium of social statistics 2017” based on national data

15. (j) Support countries in SDG related statistics on environment and natural resources • E-training session on the Central Framework of SEEA • Workshop on contemporary approaches to environment statistics

16. (k) Develop methodologies for statistics production in crisis-affected countries. • Working Group and Workshops on alternative ways of conducting census / surveys of population and housing facilities • - Iraq, Libya, Sudan, Syria, Yemen • A plan of capacity development for the Syrian Arab Republic (with UNFPA) • National workshop for Libya on disability statistics • TC services and a consultative meeting on planning a survey of humanitarian needs - Yemen

17. (l) Transformative agenda for official statistics in the Arab region • Forming a Big Data Team at ESCWA • Survey on the use of geospatial information • UN-GGIM Arab states • ESCWA Online Statistical Information System and ESCWA Data Portal • E-learning plarrform

18. Action by the Statistical Committee • To take note of the report and review measures taken