Poverty and the Millennium Development Goals By David Abbott (Pacific Regional Macro Economic & Poverty Reduction Advisor) Kim Robertson (ADB/SPC Regional Poverty Programme Team Leader) This paper provides a synopsis of the generalised in-country statistical training conducted in Pacific Island countries and territories by the Statistics and Demography Programme during the period 2005 to 2007. Specialised training courses and workshops conducted by other programme staff will be discussed in their papers. In addition, an over-view of sub-regional training activities will be provided by the representative from UNSIAP. The paper presents the purpose and objectives of in-country statistical training, the types of training and topics presented, the numbers of courses conducted and participants trained, and a summary profile of the trainees. The paper summarises the strengths and weaknesses of the training courses delivered in the region, and discusses new opportunities and possible threats to future training activities. The paper proposes three key points for discussion by the representatives of American Samoa and the Federated States of Micronesia.

Presentation Objectives Summary of progress of the ADB/SPC Regional Poverty Programme Summary of activities to support PICTs achieving the MDGs Activities to support PICTs integrate the MDGs into national development frameworks Quality, timely and relevant data are needed to underpin policy development and planning, and monitor and measure development progress, especially for Indicators of the Millennium Development Goals. To produce and interpret such data, it is important that National Statistical Organisations and national and sectoral planning agencies have staff with skills in data collection, processing, analysis and dissemination. It is important that statisticians and planners have adequate skills to analyse and interpret social and economic data, population trends and implications to assist in the formulation of appropriate policies. This will help ensure that the information needs of policy-makers and planners are adequately met. The purpose of generalised statistical training is to improve the quality and availability of information produced by national statistical systems. In particular, the training aims to: build statistical capacity of national statistical & planning offices, enhance the statistical skills across the national statistical system, improve the quality of social and economic statistics released by NSOs, produce outputs that meet the information needs of national policy-makers & planners, reduce the reliance of national agencies on external technical assistance, reinforce international best practice in statistical methods, and develop professional standards and ethical conduct in the collection and dissemination of official statistics. Poverty eradication is central to achieving the MDGs

ADB/SPC Regional Poverty Programme Priority is to provide poverty statistics and indicators through Household Income and Expenditure (HIES) surveys Fiji, Tuvalu, Kiribati, Palau funding / co-funding HIES FSM, Solomon Islands poverty analysis of HIES data ‘Voices of the Poor’ through Participatory Hardship Assessments Kiribati, Solomon Islands Quality, timely and relevant data are needed to underpin policy development and planning, and monitor and measure development progress, especially for Indicators of the Millennium Development Goals. To produce and interpret such data, it is important that National Statistical Organisations and national and sectoral planning agencies have staff with skills in data collection, processing, analysis and dissemination. It is important that statisticians and planners have adequate skills to analyse and interpret social and economic data, population trends and implications to assist in the formulation of appropriate policies. This will help ensure that the information needs of policy-makers and planners are adequately met. The purpose of generalised statistical training is to improve the quality and availability of information produced by national statistical systems. In particular, the training aims to: build statistical capacity of national statistical & planning offices, enhance the statistical skills across the national statistical system, improve the quality of social and economic statistics released by NSOs, produce outputs that meet the information needs of national policy-makers & planners, reduce the reliance of national agencies on external technical assistance, reinforce international best practice in statistical methods, and develop professional standards and ethical conduct in the collection and dissemination of official statistics.

What’s been done well Wide support in PICTs for information about poverty Strengthened capacity for HIES data processing editing and tabulation In country technical assistance for editing etc Training attachments at SPC for HIES tabulation Improved datasets for poverty analysis Specific edits for poverty data (no food expenditure etc) Quality, timely and relevant data are needed to underpin policy development and planning, and monitor and measure development progress, especially for Indicators of the Millennium Development Goals. To produce and interpret such data, it is important that National Statistical Organisations and national and sectoral planning agencies have staff with skills in data collection, processing, analysis and dissemination. It is important that statisticians and planners have adequate skills to analyse and interpret social and economic data, population trends and implications to assist in the formulation of appropriate policies. This will help ensure that the information needs of policy-makers and planners are adequately met. The purpose of generalised statistical training is to improve the quality and availability of information produced by national statistical systems. In particular, the training aims to: build statistical capacity of national statistical & planning offices, enhance the statistical skills across the national statistical system, improve the quality of social and economic statistics released by NSOs, produce outputs that meet the information needs of national policy-makers & planners, reduce the reliance of national agencies on external technical assistance, reinforce international best practice in statistical methods, and develop professional standards and ethical conduct in the collection and dissemination of official statistics.

We are still improving Day to day project management is on a part time basis so limitations as to what can be done Very limited availability of consultants to undertake socio-economic analysis of poverty (particularly relative poverty) Concepts and definitions for poverty analysis Technical workshop on Saturday 22 September to resolve key issues Quality, timely and relevant data are needed to underpin policy development and planning, and monitor and measure development progress, especially for Indicators of the Millennium Development Goals. To produce and interpret such data, it is important that National Statistical Organisations and national and sectoral planning agencies have staff with skills in data collection, processing, analysis and dissemination. It is important that statisticians and planners have adequate skills to analyse and interpret social and economic data, population trends and implications to assist in the formulation of appropriate policies. This will help ensure that the information needs of policy-makers and planners are adequately met. The purpose of generalised statistical training is to improve the quality and availability of information produced by national statistical systems. In particular, the training aims to: build statistical capacity of national statistical & planning offices, enhance the statistical skills across the national statistical system, improve the quality of social and economic statistics released by NSOs, produce outputs that meet the information needs of national policy-makers & planners, reduce the reliance of national agencies on external technical assistance, reinforce international best practice in statistical methods, and develop professional standards and ethical conduct in the collection and dissemination of official statistics.

Remaining activities ADB/SPC RPP ends late 2007 Poverty analysis reports to be completed for Tuvalu and Fiji Mobilise poverty analysis consultants for Solomon Islands, Palau, Kiribati, FSM Quality, timely and relevant data are needed to underpin policy development and planning, and monitor and measure development progress, especially for Indicators of the Millennium Development Goals. To produce and interpret such data, it is important that National Statistical Organisations and national and sectoral planning agencies have staff with skills in data collection, processing, analysis and dissemination. It is important that statisticians and planners have adequate skills to analyse and interpret social and economic data, population trends and implications to assist in the formulation of appropriate policies. This will help ensure that the information needs of policy-makers and planners are adequately met. The purpose of generalised statistical training is to improve the quality and availability of information produced by national statistical systems. In particular, the training aims to: build statistical capacity of national statistical & planning offices, enhance the statistical skills across the national statistical system, improve the quality of social and economic statistics released by NSOs, produce outputs that meet the information needs of national policy-makers & planners, reduce the reliance of national agencies on external technical assistance, reinforce international best practice in statistical methods, and develop professional standards and ethical conduct in the collection and dissemination of official statistics.

Key Discussion points The primary focus of technical support for PICT poverty analysis, MDG reporting and integrating benchmarks and indicators into national sustainable development strategies (NSDS) is, and should be, on country needs; Type of strategies and resources required to enable achievements of RPP objectives: in particular: Are additional resources required, and if so, where may they be sourced from, to replace those ceasing with the completion of the ADB RPP in order to complete national poverty analysis reports for Kiribati, Palau, the Solomon Islands (and possibly other interested countries)? Should alternative modalities to detailed national poverty analysis reports be adopted, such as identifying and reporting on a core set of poverty related indicators (including the MDGs)? The following discussion points will be discussed by the nominated country representatives: 1. Effectiveness of statistical training conducted 2. Relevance of future statistical training activities 3. Need for regional statistical training strategy

Key Discussion points The adequacy of support over the past 3 years for countries to produce national MDG reports, and incorporate MDGs in their national development frameworks, and if this should remain a high priority area for assistance; The most effective means, for PICT NSOs and NPOs, to disseminate official national statistics for use by national, regional and international organisations; The continued desirability to produce a Pacific island territories’ regional MDG report, and on the likelihood of territories disseminating MDG and other development indicators. The following discussion points will be discussed by the nominated country representatives: 1. Effectiveness of statistical training conducted 2. Relevance of future statistical training activities 3. Need for regional statistical training strategy