CARICOM
CARICOM
REGIONAL SEMINAR ON DEVELOPING A PROGRAMME for
the IMPLEMENTATION of the
SYSTEM OF NATIONAL ACCOUNTS 2008 (2008 SNA)
and
SUPPORTING STATISTICS in the CARICOM REGION
January 30- February 1, 2013
Kingston, Jamaica
OVERVIEW
CARICOM
Item II
Developing a Programme for the Implementation
of the 2008 SNA and Supporting Statistics
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CARICOM 
OVERVIEW
Background and Context;

Elements of 2008 SNA Implementation Strategy:

Master plan;

Phase A- Aims and Objectives;

Phase B- Organisation;

Phase C- Compilation

Phase D - Dissemination
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Background & Context
CARICOM
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Seminar for Heads of Statistical Offices and
National Accountants in Belize, Oct 31-Nov 4
2011;
Conducted by the CARICOM Secretariat with funds
from the European Union, Ninth EDF;
In collaboration with Eurostat which provided the
facilitator for the workshop;
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Background & Context
CARICOM
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Context was the inability for most of the SIDS/LDCs
to fulfill the requirements of the MRDS;
Basic principles based on strategic planning,
coordination; monitoring and reporting and
statistical system improvements;
Modalities included: training, technical
cooperation, research and advocacy
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Background & Context
CARICOM
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ISWGNA Action Plan contained a focus on the
processes pre-integration of the data into the
national accounts such as collection of the basic
source data and the institutional context;
Handbook produced by Eurostat - Essential SNA –
Building the Basics, follows the strategy proposed
by ISWGNA & is intended to be a significant
contributor to the efforts in developing country;
The implementing strategy derived by CARICOM
countries essentially used this handbook as a tool
in its derivation.
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Objective:
To facilitate the implementation of the 2008 SNA
through the drafting of a national strategy adapted
to suit country specific situations;
SNA is integrated and data dependent throughout
the NSS:
◦ Business Establishment Surveys;
◦ Other areas of Economic Statistics;
◦ Household Surveys;
◦ Other specialised surveys
◦ Updated classification systems;
◦ Administrative Sources within the NSS.
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
Location of SNA 2008 Implementation Strategy
within NSDS/Strategic Planning framework;

Identify Improvements required;

Capacity constraints that exist across statistical
agencies

Establish priorities for addressing data deficiencies
and institutional issues;

It is not the intention for the 2008 SNA
implementation to await the implementation of the
Master plan.
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Elements of Master plan identified were:
Launch – low & decreasing budgets and increasing
demand for statistics require efficiency in
management of NSOs and productivity;
Assessments - data availability, quality, enable
stakeholders’ awareness of data requirements and ,
commitments; user needs, relevance of data;
Identify weaknesses and strengths - impact on
statistics compilation;
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
Elements of Master plan identified were:

Identify weaknesses and strengths - impact on
statistics compilation;

Develop vision, mission – what is feasible in the
short, medium and long term;
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Establish the desired results and Priorities- for
addressing data deficiencies and institutional
issues such as the Legal Framework, capacity.
Finance, M&E - to implement changes required and
monitor the achievement of results.
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Aims and Objectives
CARICOM

Phase A- Implementation of 2008 SNA
◦ Detailed focus on the National Accounts Division in
terms of its capacity;
◦ Review Data Sources such as Household and
Business Surveys and Administrative Sources;
◦ Review Statistical Outputs and the needs of
international and national users;
◦ Determine milestones relative to the
outputs/National Accounts tables.
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Organisation
CARICOM

Phase B:
◦ Strengthening of the Legal Framework – reviewing
the Statistics Act to enable a more integrated
statistical system and to empower the NSO and the
Chief Statistician relative to official statistics;
◦ Institutional Context and the NAD- determine
which organisation will implement the 2008 SNA;
◦ Organise the NAD to implement 2008 SNA:
 Engage in capacity building- staffing, attachments;
 SBR updating & Interdepartmental coordination;
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Compilation
CARICOM
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Phase C:
◦ Data Collection– Establishing formal relationships
with data providers:
 Inter-agency collaboration;
 Develop MOUs;
 Creating networks (IT) to access databases;
◦ Data Sources Meet with data providers to discuss data and
adjustments required;
 Relative to the MOUs determine the actual data to be
delivered, formats, frequency;
 Create data storage and automated systems of
compiling NA.
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
CARICOM
Compilation
Phase C (continued):
◦ Transformation of Admin Data –
 Create of bridge tables- to highlight differences
relative to SNA boundaries and convert to SNA 2008;
 Search for other quantitative and qualitative
information
◦ Data Validation –
 Check coverage, consistency and plausibility;
 Undertake first run of preliminary estimates and apply
balancing and reconciliation;
 Produce preliminary estimates;
◦ Data Revisions:
 Undertake revisions including benchmarking,
methodological etc;
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Dissemination
CARICOM
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Phase D:
◦ Users –Determine users/frequency;
◦ Methods of Dissemination –Electronic, Websites,
Seminars etc;
◦ Advanced Release Calendars: Develop the calendar,
the target groups, details required by users etc.;
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Feedback Obtained
CARICOM
Master-plans
◦
Some countries had already strategic plans for the NSOs, a few countries
took steps to wards looking at the NSS- launching NSDS with the support
of PARIS21;

Phase B - Organisation:
 Developing SBR updating with ISIC Rev 4 classifications and
suggested fields from SBR Manual;
 Coordination/inter-agency meetings with data providers;
 Discussions of adjustments required in the data;
 Attachment was facilitated between two countries to help with
the SBR;

Phase C- Compilation
◦
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One country reported a semi-automated system in MS Access
Other Reports:
◦ 3 countries Unable to implement/staffing issues
.
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
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Grant Agreement has recently been signed by the
CSS with the EU under the Tenth EDF;
Support would be provided to Member States in the
area of National Accounts focusing on improving
the data sources for SNA 2008 implementation –
Statistical and Administrative;
In-country technical assistance, attachments and
regional workshop (s);
Continue to have discussions with other IDPs for
sustainable improvement in the national statistical
systems;
Continue to collaborate with UNSD, CARTAC, ECCB,
ECLAC, Eurostat etc.
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CARICOM
THE END
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