International Engagement Program of the Australian Bureau of Statistics

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International Engagement Programof the
Australian Bureau of Statistics
PARIS21/UNESCAP Forum on Strategic Planning for
Statistics in South-East Asian Countries
Bangkok, June 2006 Geoff NeideckDirector,
Corporate PlanningAustralian Bureau of
Statistics
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ABS and International Engagement

• ABS' international activities include
• participation in international statistical
  meetings, conferences, seminars and working
  groups
• bilateral exchange and cooperation with
  statistical agencies of developed countries
• provision of data to international agencies
• assistance to build statistical capacity in
  developing countries in our region

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Why ABS Participates in the International Arena

• ABS participates internationally
• to assist in developing the capacity of national
  statistical offices in developing countries that
  will result in long term benefits to the
  statisticians in the recipient countries
• to develop international statistical standards
  and approaches
• to contribute to advancing methodological
  thinking
• to strengthen Australia's statistics while
  improving their international comparability

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ABS Technical Assistance

• ABS technical assistance comprises 4 main
  categories
• ABS staff providing training and support - often
  such engagement forms part of a longer term
  program
• ABS staff contributing to workshops or seminars
  arranged by international organisations
• staff from other countries visiting the ABS for
  study tours or training
• providing documentation on ABS practices

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ABS Technical Assistance Cont'd

• Regions where technical assistance is delivered
• Australia's aid program, sponsored through
  AusAID, is concentrated in South-East Asia, Papua
  New Guinea and the Pacific Island countries, with
  selective engagement in South Africa, Africa and
  the Middle East
• consistent with these priorities, the ABS gives
  priority in its technical assistance effort to
  the South Pacific and South-East Asian countries.
  
• provision of training and support "in country" is
  required to be funded on a cost recovery basis -
  typical sources of funding include AusAID, SIAP,
  UN Agencies, etc

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Examples Timor L'Este

• Population census the first since independence
• Assistance provided, mainly with UNFPA funding,
  on
• a quality advisor to review the preparations and
  the proposed plans and strategies, including
• questionnaire design
• assistance with field and enumeration phase

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Timor L'Este

• Consumer Price Index (CPI)
• Assistance provided, with funding from USAID, on
• an effective collection and compilation system
• a CPI data release model (complying with
  international standards)
• a detailed program overview

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Vanuatu

• Institutional Strengthening Program
• Assistance provided, with funding from AusAID,
  on
• corporate governance
• advice on legislation
• Future assistance will include
• development of a Forward Work Program
• IT governance strategy

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Thailand

• Strengthening of Macro-economic Statistics
• AusAID funded assistance provided, included
• implementation of SNA 1993
• non-profit institutions, new economy, common
  statistical frame, construction and capital
  expenditure surveys
• national balance sheets, supply/use and
  input/output tables
• export, import, new house, and service industries
  price indexes
• government finance statistics