Training of International Statisticians; Staff

exchange and mobility Committee for the Coordination of Statistical Activities (CCSA)

20th SessionFrankfurt, 18 September 2012

Agenda item 6Presentation by UNSD

Background

• 2010 special session on Human Capital:

i. Identify training opportunities, including e-learning

ii. Document existing models, staff exchange and mobility

iii. Explore how to expand opportunities.

• Task team (ODC, FAO, Eurostat) conducted survey focusing on:

i. Organization’s current training strategy

ii. Supply of training for international statisticians?

iii. Practical experience with staff exchange/mobility

iv.Suggestions on how to expand training opportunities

Main survey findings:

i. Organization’s current training strategy•No training strategies – creative ad-hoc mix of needs and opportunities•Formal training in organizations limited to IT, language, general management – not substantive•On-the-job training/in-house seminars/visiting scholars

ii.Supply of training for international statisticians?•Various training programmes for national statisticians•Increasing development of training materials/e-learning

Main survey findings:

iii. Practical experience with staff exchange/mobility•Very few examples of successful staff exchanges (Eurostat)•Considerable administrative and financial obstacles•Creativity and persistence of individual staff

iv.Suggestions on how to expand training opportunities•Systematic information exchange (internet)•Summer school programme with trusted university•Stronger substantive networking

Remaining Tasks:

• Documenting good practices (staff exchange)• Review and update ‘training website’ (based on 2005

initiative, lead by IMF)

Documenting practices:

• Hard to find (exception Eurostat?)• Research UN / Eurostat example:

i. Memorandum on staff exchange between the European Commission and the United Nations in the context of administrative cooperation

ii. Letter Director UNSD to Director General of Eurostat, including proposed terms of reference for secondment

CCSA Training website:

• Ambitious 2005 effort to establish a CCSA Training Network:

I. CCSA Training Network, Objectives and Action Plan

i. CCSA member training site

ii. Training documents and materials

II. CCSA Task Teams on Coordination of Statistical Capacity Building

Proposed New Web-structure:

•Professional Development (Overview, references to past CCSA discussions and other relevant resources)

i.Training opportunities (relevant CCSA courses, regional training, staff exchange practices)

ii.Training documents and materials (e-learning): OIC, WTO, SIAP, IMF, VSS

iii.Job opportunities

Way forward:

•Task Team mercy killing•UNSD to redesign ‘training website’ – with support/inputs from the network •Targeted outreach – collect material/best practices•A Champion for the ‘big issues’