Report on the
Implementation
of the SNA 1993
in Africa
UNECA
Workshop on 1993 SNA
14-18 November 2005
7/23/2016
1
Contents
I. Background and Assessment Methodology
II Result of the UNECA Survey
A. Compliance with the 1993 SNA
B. Scope of Accounts and Tables
III. Impeding Factors in the Implementation of the 1993 SNA
A. Data Sources
B. Institutional Issues
IV UNECA Role in the Implementation of the 1993 SNA
V. Points for Discussion
Measuring SNA 1993 Implementation
3 dimensions of SNA 93 implementation:
•
•
•
Scope of accounts compiled: MRDS
Compliance with concepts
Quality
Minimum Requirement Dataset
MRDS:
What is measured?
NA Database records received by UNSD based on UN National Accounts
Questionnaire (NAQ)
Tables required:
+ GDP by type of expenditure in current and constant prices
+ Value added by kind of activity in current and const. prices
= Milestone level 1
--------------------------------------+ Accounts for the Total Economy and the Rest of the World
= Milestone level 2
--------------------------------------+ Components of Value Added by industry
= Minimum requirement dataset (MRDS
Scope: Data Availability in the ECA Region
1980s
Almost 100 % of countries in Africa reported to UN National Accounts
Questionnaire (NAQ) in 1986;
1990s
Africa encounters a Statistical Divide between countries: some stopped
reporting and some extended the scope of national account dissemination to
the UN:
 Significant drop in reporting: only 47 % (25 out of 53) of the African
countries responded to the UN NAQ from 1992 to early 2003;
 10 countries substantially extended their scope of reporting since 1992, of
which 6 countries maintained the extended scope of the series after 1997 (i.e.
Botswana, Lesotho, Mauritius, Namibia, South Africa, Tunisia)
 3 countries are currently reporting a full set of institutional sector accounts
(i.e. Botswana, Tunisia, and since 2003: Mozambique)
Conceptual Compliance
Two ways of 1993 SNA implementation…
… and two groups of countries
•
•
Major changes to 1993 SNA all at once: the majority
of Western European countries and transition
countries opted for this approach
Step by step implementation
Conceptual Questionnaire (CQ)
(=Self Assessment by National Statistical Institutes and
Central Banks)


Idea: Focus on major conceptual differences
between 1968 SNA and 1993 SNA, which affect
GDP and GNI
e.g.:
- Is government defense expenditure on fixed assets that can be used
for civilian purposes included in Gross Capital Formation ?
- Does consumption of fixed capital CFC include CFC on all
government fixed assets (roads, dams, hospitals, bridges, …)
- … etc.

Mode of response: simple Yes / No – Evaluation
Compliance with 1993 Concepts
in the regions of the world
CIS
North America
Eastern Europe
Western Europe
Western Asia
Caribbean & LA
East, SE, S-Asia
Oceania, A & NZ
Africa
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
... of the countries in the region comply with SNA 93
100%
Impeding factors Methodology


An additional questionnaire module was developed
to highlight factors that hindered the 1993 SNA
implementation.
The various impeding factors were:
1.
institutional environment
2.
staff resources
3.
training, and
4.
data sources
Compliance with the 1993 SNA
Year
Of Survey
Number of Number of Percentag
Response Countries e
Implemen
ted the
Concept
2004
28
9
33%
2001
21
6
24%
MRDS and conceptual compliance

So far, seven out of 28 countries both comply with
the 1993 SNA concepts, country milestones and the
MRDS. Moreover, some of the 1993 SNA
implementers also compile the recommended data
set of accounts including quarterly national accounts

These 1993 SNA implementers include Botswana,
Egypt, Morocco, Mozambique, South Africa and
Tunisia.
MRDS and conceptual compliance
Year of
Survey
Number of
Response
1993SNA
Implementer
Percent
age
1996
28
2001
21
6
24%
2004
28
7
25%
1993SNA Implementers


By reconciling survey results and country reports with
database reporting, it is reasonable to state that
around one fifth of African countries are 1993 SNA
implementers
software packages are consistent with the 1993 SNA
concepts, and various stages comprise the
compilation of certain sets of accounts, countries in
advanced stages in the software are expected to be
1993 SNA implementers
Impeding Factors In the 1993 SNA
Implementation
Data sources
A-Availability of sources: in several countries,
some progress in availability of data sources, including
 Household survey
 Informal sector survey
 Agricultural survey
 Industrial survey
 Unemployment surveys
Concern:methodology, scope, definitions, and frequency surveys
consistency with the 1993SNA
Efficient use of administrative records and Surveys
Impeding Factors In the 1993 SNA
Implementation
Data sources




Availability of data sources is not the only concern
processing these data into national accounts poses a
challenge for compilers.
The challenge is of particular concern when national
accounts institutions are understaffed and resources
limited.
more consideration should also be focused on
building capacity to process available data sources,
including : creation of bridge tables and special
interfaces between data sources and 1993SNA
Impeding Factors In the 1993 SNA
Implementation
Institutional Issues



the number of national accountants fluctuates
between three and twelve with the exception of
Morocco, Nigeria, South Africa, Egypt, Tunisia,
Cameroon, and Gabon with respectively 60, 57,38,
25, 20, 19 and 20 staff members in the SNA.
Professional staff number from 3 to 6 in exceptional
cases, ten professionals.
Staff size and level may be related to the profile of
national statistical agencies. From country to country:
department, division or section may be in charge of
compiling national accounts statistics.
1993SNA Implementers: Best
Practices of Selected Countries

Collaboration between the Reserve Bank and the
Statistics on the compilation of financial sector
accounts and GDP by expenditure.

VAT database at the fiscal department is directly
accessible by the Statistic Office

From ten national accountants to almost sixty
National Accountants

Annual compilation of National accounts with the
software application: long term investment
Partners`Initiatives on National
Accounts
Composed by two main activities:


Financial Support : financing of project in
compilation of National Accounts,including
ICP- Africa in 51 countries and .
Technical assistance (TA): Capacity Building
activities including workshop, training and
materials promotion (software and
documents).
Partners`Initiatives on National
Accounts:Conclusion


Despite these joint effort through capacity building
and funding, Implementation rates of 1993SNA
remain low in Africa. Therefore mechanism and
coordination of funding activities and the capacity
building activities require to be reviewed
The NSDS and Statistical Master Plans may be used
as the major framework where donors and partners
supports are channeled and harmonized to attain
common targets
ECA and the Int`l organizations Role
in The Implementation of 1993 SNA






Advise on national statistical offices organization and
management, including development of statistical master
plans
Advise on national statistical offices organization and
management, including development of statistical master
plans
Conduct regular trainings and workshops on national
accounts.
Assist countries in the development of basic data, consistent
with the 1993 SNA
Assist with the processing of these basic data into national
accounts
Assist with various materials including documents and
software
Points for Discussion




Assessment methodology
Recommendations to address the impeding factors in
the implementation of the 1993 SNA
Overall progress in the revision of the 1993 SNA
The opportunity of the 1993 SNA revision to speed
up its implementation in Africa