Session 2: AFRISTAT – Strategy for the implementation of the 2008 SNA in AFRISTAT Member States

1. Session 2: AFRISTAT – Strategy for the implementation of the 2008 SNA in AFRISTAT Member States AGNA meeting 12-15 May 2015 For the French version of the report please go to: http://ecastats.uneca.org/acsweb/FocusAreas/AGNAAddis.aspx --> AFRISTAT

2. Outline of the presentation • Introduction • AFRISTAT’s strategy to implement the 2008 SNA in Member States • National Plans • Specific guidebooks and handbooks

3. I. Introduction • Progressive approach to consolidate knowledge and correct shortfalls • 3-5 years of transition period: • MSs can work on national accounts in 1993 SNA and on new series in 2008 SNA (retropolation) • MSs developing quarterly accounts can wok on methodology, business cycle indicators, IT tools, retropolation • Aim: adopt the 2008 SNA through the diffusion of new national accounts series

4. II. Strategy • Aim: help MSs to have a national accounts system corresponding to international norms and putting national accounts at the full service of the public • Strategic pillar 1: help Member States to migrate with success from the 1993 SNA to the 2008 SNA • Strategic objective 1.1: define field of application and coverage of the 2008 SNA • Strategic objective 1.2: define transition period to produce national accounts according to the 1993 and 2008 SNA • Strategic objective 1.3: adopt and adapt revised classifications of activities and products of AFRISTAT (NAEMA and NOPEMA rev1.)

5. II. Strategy (Cont’d) • Strategic pillar 2: reinforce institutional and organizational capacity of national accounts sections • Strategic objective 2.1: improve institutional and organizational knowledge of structures in charge of national accounts productions • Strategic objective 2.2: increase human, material and financial resources • Strategic objective 2.3: put in place an efficient system for data collection

6. II. Strategy (Cont’d) • Strategic pillar 3: assist countries to put in place an operational and efficient system to produce and analyse national accounts • Strategic objective 3.1: define and organize the different phases of national accounts production, as well as estimation methods • Strategic objective 3.2: reinforce national accounts capacity in the production and analysis of national accounts in line with the 2008 SNA • Strategic objective 3.3: assist MSs in reproducing time series of national accounts and backcasting • Strategic objective 3.4: reinforce capacity of national accountants in developing/using IT tools in the production of national accounts

7. II. Strategy (Cont’d) • Strategic pillar 4: develop an operational system for the publication of national accounts • Strategic objective 4.1: assist MSs in putting in place a global policy for the publication of national accounts, with a special emphasis on national accounts • Strategic objective 4.2: assist institutions in elaborating a national accounts publication calendar

8. II. Strategy (Cont’d) • Strategic pillar 5: assist and monitor the implementation of the 2008 SNA • Strategic objective 5.1: assistance to develop and put in place national strategies • Strategic objective 5.2: assistance to implement classifications • Strategic objective 5.3: assistance to migrate to the 2008 SNA • Strategic objective 5.4: assistance to develop, analyse, and publish national accounts (yearly, quarterly, satellite accounts, regional accounts, etc.) • Strategic objective 5.5: assistance to reconstitute national accounts time series • Strategic objective 5.6: provide MSs with specific practical guides about national accounts

9. II. Strategy (Cont’d) • Strategic pillar 6: coordinate assistance with other partners • Strategic objective 6.1: exchange action programs with other organizations providing assistance • Strategic objective 6.2: coordinate efforts with other stakeholders for better efficiency

10. III. National Plans of MSs to implement the 2008 SNA • MSs’ strategy to implement the 2008 SNA should be part of the National Strategy for the Development of Statistics (NSDS) • Managers of national accounts departments should seek a better integration of national accounts into next versions of NSDS • National Plans should include: • Information and advocacy to decision makers, managers and users about the importance and challenges in implementing the 2008 SNA • Recognition and inclusion of user’s needs in terms of aggregates • Inventory of necessary data sources (existing and new)

11. III. National Plans of MSs to implement the 2008 SNA (Cont’d) • Put in place collective operational arrangements to reassure data availability (cooperation protocol and data exchange signature) • Human, material, and financial resource mobilization • Adopting and adapting classifications of activities and products in line with international norms • Adaptation of methodologies and definitions of aggregates, in line with the steps and coverage and implementation of the 2008 SNA of the UNSD • Reconstitution of time series (including backcasting) • Adoption of policies to revise national accounts and popularization to users • Adoption of a publication calendar and put in place an effective publication policy

12. IV. Specific guidebooks and handbooks • AFRISTAT has three existing guidebook: • Methodological Guide on the Production of National Accounts in AFRISTAT Member States (according to the 1993 SNA) • Methodological Handbook to Produce Quarterly National Accounts in Sub-Saharan African Countries • AFRISTAT’s Revised Classification of Activities and Products (NAEMA and NOPEMA rev. 1) • Two guidebooks are being developed: • Member States are validating a Methodological Guide on the Production of National Accounts in AFRISTAT Member States (According to the 2008 SNA) • On-going work on a Methodological Guidebook on the Backcasting of National Accounts

13. IV. Specific guidebooks and handbooks • AFRISTAT recommends the compilation of specific guides/documents on the implementation of the 2008 SNA in different subjects: • Calculation and distribution of FISIM • Accounting of military expenses • Accounting of research & development expenses • Harmonized calculation of imputed rents and household services • Impact of changes in quarterly accounts

14. Thank you