1. ESA/STAT/AC.161/Co.1
Coordination of social statistics at national and international levels Thoughts for discussion
Rosemary Bender, Statistics Canada
UN Expert Group Meeting on the
Scope and Content of Social Statistics New York Sept 9-12, 2008

2. Session Papers
Social Statistics in China, Liu Wei and Xin Jia, National Bureau of Statistics of China
Improving Social Statistics in the Philippines through Effective Coordination, Lina V. Castro, National Statistical Coordination Board, Philippines
Coordination mechanisms, Good practices, Areas requiring improvement, Jogesware Dash, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, India

3. Components of Social Statistics
Population Groups
e.g., youth, elderly, special groups
Social Concerns
e.g., family, health, education, work, housing, crime, culture
Statistical Data
e.g., concepts, definitions, classifications
Data Collection
e.g., administrative records, censuses, surveys
Dissemination of Information
e.g., informed development and evaluation of social policy, education, specialized research, general public

4. Components of National Statistical Systems
To differing extents, they comprise
National Statistics Organization
National departmental authorities
Regional and local statistical organizations
To differing extents, they collect
Administrative data
Censuses
Surveys
Thus…..

5. … there is a need for coordination
Role of National Statistical Organization
Coordination of national social statistics (e.g. national system of social indicators)
Developing and promoting national standards and classifications for social statistics
Research and training (e.g., conducting surveys, statistical techniques)
Mechanisms
Consultations
Statistical conferences, seminars, workshops
Joint working groups
Training sessions

6. International coordination of social statistics also very much in force…
International collaboration drawn from papers but a sample
UNSD, UNICEF, UNIFEM, UNFPA, UNPD, UNESCAP, WHO, World Bank, bilateral cooperation with other countries …
UNSD Expert Groups include
United Nations Demographic Yearbook System
Principles and Recommendations for Population and Housing Censuses
Measuring International Migration
Census Mapping and Geographic Information Systems
Measuring Economically Active Population in Censuses
Development of Gender Statistics

7. International plan of action on social statistics
What areas are in need of international guidelines
How does one take into account national and local social development plans?
What are the critical components of a successful plan of action?
Possible examples for discussion
Work must be pragmatic, focused and include short term tangible, realizable deliverables
A number of member countries must take an active role
The roles of international organizations and participating member countries must be well defined.
What can be learned from other international task forces and city groups?

8. Discussion