ICP Progress Report Western Asia Region

1
ICP Progress ReportWestern Asia Region

• ICP Regional Coordinators Workshop
• March 7-11, 2005
• World Bank, Washington D. C.

2
Main Issues

1. Data Collection
2. Status of consumption groups
3. Expected Comparability

1. Training
2. Management Issues
3. Time Table

3
Data Collection

• Seven countries already started the price
  collection for Food Beverages and Clothing
  Footwear
• Financial resources are needed for three
  countries to start and for another two countries
  to continue
• One country needs governmental support to form
  the team and to start
• Iraq joined the program in January 2005 and data
  collection will cover five cities only.

4
Countries started data collection
Country Start of data collection Frequencies Frequencies Frequencies
Country Start of data collection Q M W
Bahrain February X X
Egypt February X X X
Kuwait January X X
Oman January X X X
Qatar January X X
Saudi Arabia NO OFFICIAL INFORMATION NO OFFICIAL INFORMATION NO OFFICIAL INFORMATION NO OFFICIAL INFORMATION
Syria NO OFFICIAL INFORMATION NO OFFICIAL INFORMATION NO OFFICIAL INFORMATION NO OFFICIAL INFORMATION
5
Countries not started data collection
Country Readiness Data Collection Data Collection start
Country Readiness FB CF start
Jordan Ready, but waiting for funds MW Q April
Lebanon Training of data collectors is underway to select the successful candidates MW Q April
UAE Just a plan on paper Q,M Q April ?
Yemen Ready, but waiting for funds Q,M Q April
Syria Started data collection, but need funds Q,M Q Started?
Saudi A. Started data collection Q,M Q Started?
6
Survey Magnitude and Inclusiveness
COUNTRY REGIONS OUTLETS PROD STAFF FRQ Readiness needs
Bahrain 5 70 632 3 Q C/ TA
Jordan 12 1209 420 4 M A / funds/ monitoring
Kuwait 6 100! 621 7 Q B/ TA
Oman 6 157 618 24 M A/ monitoring
Qatar 3 110 502 12 Q B/TA
Syria 60 2469 430 53 M C/ TA
UAE 8 1200 595 23 M D/ just on paper
7
Status of Consumption Groups
Food Beverages and Clothing Footwear Food Beverages and Clothing Footwear
Regional list Finalized in English and Arabic, and uploaded on Tool Pack. However, improvements to the RL is needed.
Data collection Started in 7 ESCWA countries
8
Status of Consumption Groups
Furniture Utilities Furniture Utilities
Regional list Despite the delayed responds on Provisional list, the are weak and lacking comparability Received PSs are under examination to adopt a shorter and easier new Provisional List Then helping the countries in selecting an adequate number of representative and comparable products for each basic heading.
Data collection Biannual (2nd and 4th quarters)
9
Status of Consumption Groups
Transport Communication Transport Communication
Regional list Provisional list sent to countries Responses are underway Analysis of responses in progress. Recommended PSs will be sent to countries for their consideration to adopt the final list.
Data collection Biannual (2nd and 4th quarters)
10
Status of Consumption Groups
Recreation Culture Recreation Culture
Regional list Provisional list sent to countries Country responses are expected before the end of March Recommended PSs added by Regional Team, asking countries to select them if available in the market.
Data collection Biannual (2nd and 4th quarters)
11
Status of Consumption Groups
Restaurants Goods Restaurants Goods
Regional list Regional SPDs sent to countries Responses is expected before the end of March Provisional List is expected by mid April.
Data collection Biannual (2nd and 4th quarters)
12
How comparable would be the results?

• At the expenditure group level
• At the expenditure sub-group level
• At the basic heading level
• At a single product level
• For the whole region
• For country groups in the region and
• Bilaterally (each country with other countries in
  the region)

13
(No Transcript)
14
(No Transcript)
15
(No Transcript)
16
(No Transcript)
17
(No Transcript)
18
(No Transcript)
19
(No Transcript)
20
Training

• Workshops
• Tool Pack
• Data Collection.

21
Third Workshop on ICPOctober 2004, Beirut

• Objectives
• Discuss countries experiences, survey plans and
  readiness for the price survey
• Enhance the statistical capacity of participants
  in the areas of expenditure weights, pricing, and
  survey framework procedures
• Provide training to price statisticians and/or
  survey supervisors on Tool Pack.

22
Third Workshop on ICPOctober 2004, Beirut

• Participants
• 9 National Coordinators
• 22 National Statisticians
• 2 consultants
• ICP Deputy Global Manager and
• ICP Team of Western Asia.

23
Training on ICP Tool PackOctober 2004, Beirut

• 22 statisticians and 3 national coordinators
  received 2 days training on the ICP Tool-Pack
  (the Arabic version).
• The Food Clothing product list was uploaded on
  20 PCs and the participants were trained to
  design the survey framework and how to export and
  import files between PAM and PCM.
• 2 PCs, with TP installed and FC list uploaded,
  have been supplied to each country to complete
  their work immediately after the workshop.

24
(No Transcript)
25
Training on Data Collection
This training lies under the countries
responsibility. The national statisticians who
participated in regional workshops and received
TP training are acting as trainers of data
collectors and supervise their work. However,
this process should be closely monitored. some
national coordinators and/or supervisors still
not aware of all constraints that characterize
the ICP price survey. Data collectors in most
countries will be hired for this project
specifically and they did not receive proper
education (they hold a high school certificate
at most). Regular data collectors at statistical
offices could be another source of probable data
distortion since they stick to what they have
used to do with CPI.
26
Management Issues

• Targets
• Follow up data collection
• Ensure quality results
• Enhance the conceptual understanding
• Maintain perfect relations and team spirit.

27
Management Issues

• Actions
• Frequent visits to the survey field taken by the
  Regional Office for random check
• Better assessment to expected products
  comparability before approving final lists
• Continuous training to data collectors,
  supervisors, statisticians and every regional and
  national team members
• More conceptual documents and materials
• Adequate advocacy.

28
Management Issues

• Requirements
• More training workshops, seminars and EGMs
• Hiring the services of specialized consultants
• Recruiting qualified statisticians/economists
  with regional and national teams
• Recruiting qualified data collectors
• Producing and disseminating necessary guidelines
  and instructions
• Better media promotion and
• MONEY, GRANTS, FUNDRAISING..what so ever?

29
ICP TIME-TABLE ICP TIME-TABLE 2005 2005 2005 2005 2006 2006
ICP TIME-TABLE ICP TIME-TABLE Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2
Monitoring Price Surveys in member countries Monitoring Price Surveys in member countries
  Country visits            
  Check preliminary data            
  Provide field training in member countries            
  Produce and distribute guidance notes on problematic areas            
30
ICP TIME-TABLE ICP TIME-TABLE 2005 2005 2005 2005 2006 2006
ICP TIME-TABLE ICP TIME-TABLE Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2
Providing Technical Assistance on ICP Software Tool Pack ICPSPD Providing Technical Assistance on ICP Software Tool Pack ICPSPD            
  Country visits            
  Arranging one more seminar (two days workshop)            
  Through e-mail correspondence and tel-conferences            
31
ICP TIME-TABLE ICP TIME-TABLE 2005 2005 2005 2005 2006 2006
ICP TIME-TABLE ICP TIME-TABLE Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2
Finalization and Translation of the ist of Products of the Remaining Groups Finalization and Translation of the ist of Products of the Remaining Groups            
  Preparing and distributing word glossaries            
  Preparing picture catalogues            
  Preparing final lists of product in Arabic            
32
ICP TIME-TABLE ICP TIME-TABLE 2005 2005 2005 2005 2006 2006
ICP TIME-TABLE ICP TIME-TABLE Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2
Regional Data Processing and PPP Aggregation Regional Data Processing and PPP Aggregation            
  Data verification            
  Data processing            
  PPP calculations            
33
ICP TIME-TABLE ICP TIME-TABLE 2005 2005 2005 2005 2006 2006
ICP TIME-TABLE ICP TIME-TABLE Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2
Meetings and Workshops Meetings and Workshops
Executive Board meetings            
  Regional Coordinators meetings            
  Ring Countries meetings            
34
ICP TIME-TABLE ICP TIME-TABLE 2005 2005 2005 2005 2006 2006
ICP TIME-TABLE ICP TIME-TABLE Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2
National Coordinators Meetings National Coordinators Meetings          
  Evaluation of preliminary national results obtained from the first quarter            
  Training on the construction of BH weights, Tool Pack and HHDs            
  Training on the pricing of other non-consumption groups            
  Evaluation of final national results            
  Evaluation of final regional results            
35
ICP TIME-TABLE ICP TIME-TABLE 2005 2005 2005 2005 2006 2006
ICP TIME-TABLE ICP TIME-TABLE Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2
Reporting and Advocacy Reporting and Advocacy  
  Progress Reports            
  Draft and Final Reports of final results            
  Transmission of final results to the ICP Global Office and National Coordinators            
  Preparing and disseminating relevant Leaf-paper            
  Updating the ICP home page on ESCWA web site