ICP Progress ReportICP Progress ReportWestern Asia RegionWestern Asia Region

ICP Regional Coordinators WorkshopMarch 7-11, 2005

World Bank, Washington D. C.

Main IssuesMain Issues

1. Data Collection

2. Status of consumption groups

3. Expected Comparability

4. Training

5. Management Issues

6. Time Table

Data CollectionData CollectionSeven 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.

Countries started data collectionCountries started data collection

CountryStart of data

collection

Frequencies

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 ArabiaNO OFFICIAL INFORMATION

Syria

Countries not started data collectionCountries not started data collection

Country ReadinessData

Collection start F&B C&F

Jordan Ready, but waiting for funds M&W Q April

LebanonTraining of data collectors is underway to select the successful candidates

M&W Q April

UAE Just a plan on paper Q,M Q April ?

Yemen Ready, but waiting for funds Q,M Q April

SyriaStarted data collection, but need funds

Q,M Q Started?

Saudi A. Started data collection Q,M Q Started?

Survey Magnitude and InclusivenessSurvey Magnitude and Inclusiveness

COUNTRY REGIONS OUTLETS PROD STAFF FRQFRQReadiness& Readiness&

needsneeds

Bahrain 5 70 632 3 QQ C/ TA

Jordan 12 1209 420 4 MM A / funds/ monitoring

Kuwait 6 100! 621 7 QQ B/ TA

Oman 6 157 618 24 MM A/ monitoring

Qatar 3 110 502 12 QQ B/TA

Syria 60 2469 430 53 MM C/ TA

UAE 8 1200 595 23 MM D/ just on paper

Status of Consumption GroupsStatus of Consumption Groups

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

Status of Consumption GroupsStatus of Consumption Groups

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)

Status of Consumption GroupsStatus of Consumption Groups

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)

Status of Consumption GroupsStatus of Consumption Groups

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)

Status of Consumption GroupsStatus of Consumption Groups

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)

How comparable would be the results?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)

0

20

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11 Countries 10 Countries 9 Countries 8 Countries 7 Countries 6 Countries 5 Countries 4 Countries 3 Countries 2 Countries 1 Country 0 Countries

Num

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f PSs

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11Countries

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1 Country 0Countries

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f PS

s

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11 Countries 10 Countries 9 Countries 8 Countries 7 Countries 6 Countries 5 Countries 4 Countries 3 Countries 2 Countries 1 Country 0 Countries

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10Countries

9 Countries 8 Countries 7 Countries 6 Countries 5 Countries 4 Countries 3 Countries 2 Countries 1 Country 0 Countries

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11 Countries 10 Countries 9 Countries 8 Countries 7 Countries 6 Countries 5 Countries 4 Countries 3 Countries 2 Countries 1 Country 0 Countries

Num

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f PSs

Training

Workshops;

Tool Pack;

Data Collection.

Third Workshop on ICPThird Workshop on ICPOctober 2004, BeirutOctober 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.

Third Workshop on ICPThird Workshop on ICPOctober 2004, BeirutOctober 2004, Beirut

Participants: 9 National Coordinators;

22 National Statisticians;

2 consultants;

ICP Deputy Global Manager; and

ICP Team of Western Asia.

Training on ICP Tool PackTraining on ICP Tool PackOctober 2004, BeirutOctober 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 F&C list uploaded, have been supplied to each country to complete their work immediately after the workshop.

Training on Data CollectionTraining 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.

Management IssuesManagement Issues

Targets:

1. Follow up data collection;

2. Ensure quality results;

3. Enhance the conceptual understanding;

4. Maintain perfect relations and team spirit.

Management IssuesManagement Issues

Actions:

1. Frequent visits to the survey field taken by the Regional Office for random check;

2. Better assessment to expected products comparability before approving final lists;

3. Continuous training to data collectors, supervisors, statisticians and every regional and national team members;

4. More conceptual documents and materials;

5. Adequate advocacy.

Management IssuesManagement Issues

Requirements:

1. More training: workshops, seminars and EGMs;

2. Hiring the services of specialized consultants;

3. Recruiting qualified statisticians/economists with regional and national teams;

4. Recruiting qualified data collectors;

5. Producing and disseminating necessary guidelines and instructions;

6. Better media promotion; and

7. MONEY, GRANTS, FUNDRAISING…..what so ever?

ICP TIME-TABLE2005 2006

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

Q1

Q2

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

           

ICP TIME-TABLE

2005 2006

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

Q1

Q2

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

           

ICP TIME-TABLE

2005 2006

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

Q1

Q2

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            

ICP TIME-TABLE

2005 2006

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

Q1

Q2

Regional Data Processing and PPP Aggregation:

           

  Data verification            

  Data processing            

  PPP calculations            

ICP TIME-TABLE2005 2006

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

Q1

Q2

Meetings and Workshops:

Executive Board meetings            

 Regional Coordinators meetings            

  Ring Countries meetings            

ICP TIME-TABLE2005 2006

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

Q1

Q2

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            

ICP TIME-TABLE2005 2006

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

Q1

Q2

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