1. Results, experiences and lessons learned from MEDSTAT III
Eurostat
MGSC, March 2014

2. Overall objectives of MEDSTAT III
To promote evidence-based decision-making;
To stimulate democratic development by improving the availability and use of statistical data in the ENP -South countries;
To consolidate and further expand the progress achieved during MEDSTAT I & II by :
Providing users with more and better quality data in the priority thematic sectors
Measurable improvement in the statistical capacities of the NSIs and the NSSs
Strengthening of the institutional capacities of the NSIs and NSSs, including improved cooperation national inter-institutional
cooperation
Harmonization of statistical data, in line with European and international standards
Promotion of regional exchange of experiences, best practices and cooperation
Increasing the use of these data
More user-friendly dissemination of statistics
Better understanding and an increased awareness of the importance of statistics by the users
MGSC, March 2014

3. The Specific objectives of Medstat III
• Institutional and inter-institutional strengthening of the NSIs and of the Statistical Systems of the Mediterranean Partners;
• Enhancing statistical coordination and cooperation (exchange of expertise and best practices) in the region;
• Harmonising methodologies, in line with EU and international standards;
• Improving the quality of statistics & facilitating data exchange;
• Good visibility and effective dissemination of the activities, results and data produced by the programme;
• Promoting evidence-based decision making;
• Enhancing relations between data users and producers;
• Satisfaction of users’ needs within a more general framework of services to users.
MGSC, March 2014

4. Examples of achievements:
Promoting evidence based decision making:
Reinforced the role of statistics for policy makers (The Governments are using statistics more and more for policy making)
Building capacities:
Institutional building (priority thematic sectors were reinforced; training of trainers);
Improvement of staff professional capabilities (Capacities of Human Resources);
Reinforcement of inter-institutional coordination and cooperation through the establishment of national working groups;
Transfer of knowledge and of know-how at national and regional was fostered.
MGSC, March 2014

5. Examples of achievements (2):
Harmonising methods & facilitating data exchange:
Increased adoption and use of European and international standards;
Harmonisation of methods/tools/concepts.
Quality of statistics and relations with users:
The quality of statistics improved;
The free access (availability of data to users) to all kind of data was encouraged;
Better relationship with the users, website content was made more user friendly, increased use of statistics;
Better relations with the media;
Quality of publications and press releases was improved.
MGSC, March 2014

6. Methods
Technical assistance provided in the countries by key and short-term experts (actions: emerging statistical topics, new surveys/data collection, adaptation of international standards, data processing and analysis, dissemination, etc.)
Thematic sector training courses; training of trainers
Workshops, Study visits, Forum
Working groups
Newsletters, guidelines and manuals
MGSC, March 2014

7. The 6 priority thematic sectors of MEDSTAT III
Agriculture: preparing national plans for developing agriculture statistics and censuses
Energy: Energy balances, efficiency, consumption
Migration: use of administrative data, MED-HIMS
Social: Harmonising indicators, transition from school to work, measuring the informal sector, etc.
Trade & Balance of payments statistics: asymmetry studies and new IMTS
Transport: intermodal transport, maritime freight transport, performance indicators
The horizontal activities included training and data dissemination
MGSC, March 2014

8. 1. Agriculture statistics sector outcomes
National strategies for the development of agriculture statistics
Training and development of agriculture statistics questionnaires
Methodology for collecting data on agriculture prices and salaries
Training on GIS and area frame surveys
MGSC, March 2014

9. 2. Energy statistics sector outcomes
Creation/reinforcement of national working groups to:
Update & improve the national energy balances
Reinforce technical capacities
Identify and calculate energy efficiency indicators
Unify terminology, definitions, concepts and classifications
MGSC, March 2014

10. 3. Migration statistics sector outcomes
Developing MED-HIMS (Preparing harmonized manuals, questionnaires and methodologies for the MED-HIMS)
Assistance in implementing the MED-HIMS Survey in a few countries
Testing the feasibility of estimating migration based on a new methodology using individual border crossing data
Sharing the challenges & lessons learned with the other countries from the region
MGSC, March 2014

11. 4. Social statistics sector outcomes
Harmonisation: Identifying a common list of harmonized social indicators (including health, education , poverty, employment/unemployment)
Strengthening relations: With local partners such as ministries, public administrations; positive impact on the exchange of data;
Guidelines for improving the dialogue between Users and Producers of social statistics;
Methodological contribution: Training/workshops and sharing experience on a wide range of topics: poverty, health, transition from school to work, gender issues
MGSC, March 2014

12. 5. Trade & Balance of payments statistics outcomes
Mirror exercises: reduced the discrepancies between what one country announces as imports compared to what its partner declares as exports
Introduction to the new UN manual for trade in goods
Introduction to the new IMF manual on Balance of payments
Clarification on how to treat 'Free zones'
MGSC, March 2014

13. 6. Transport statistics sector outcomes
Harmonisation of concepts, definitions for different modes of transport
Finalisation of a common list of indicators
Improving analytical capacity
Developing the Informal Transport Survey
Geo-referenced transport statistics
Development of a pilot module to be attached to the Economic Series Survey on Goods and Passengers Movement
Improved dissemination and publication of transport data
MGSC, March 2014

14. Cross-cutting topics/activities
Quality
Human resource management
Training courses
Improving dissemination
Improving dialogue with users
Improving coordination with ministries
Improving South-South cooperation
MGSC, March 2014

15. Implementation Task Forces
Training courses, including training of trainers
Study visits
MEDSTAT Workshops
Joint Eurostat-UN workshops/work sessions
Technical assistance missions of Key experts and short-term experts
Newsletters and publications
Directors' Committee
MGSC, March 2014

16. General Outcomes
Increased the commitment of countries to making data more easily available
Made policy-makers and others more aware of the contribution of high-quality statistics to the decision-making process
Enhanced the human and technical capability to produce relevant, timely and high quality statistics in the specific thematic sectors
Progress in terms of the transfer of knowledge
Improved quality of statistics, data exchange and registered publications
Implement international standards in data processing and analysis
MGSC, March 2014

17. Harmonised International Migration Survey MED-HIMS
To understand the socio-economic and demographic characteristics of migrants
Impact on socio-economic behaviour and practices of households
Remittances: their utilisation and impact on socio- economic development in the region
Impact on unemployment and labour dynamics
Impact of migration on the skills of the return migrant
MGSC, March 2014

18. MED-HIMS Model Questionnaires
MQ-1: The Household Questionnaire MQ-2: Individual Questionnaire for Out-migrant MQ-3: Individual Questionnaire for Return migrant MQ-4: Individual Questionnaire for Non-migrant MQ-5: Individual Questionnaire for Forced Migrant MQ-6: The Household Socio-economic and Environmental conditions Questionnaire MQ-7: The Community Characteristics Questionnaire
MGSC, March 2014

19. MED-HIMS technical assistance
Implementation in two phases:
Phase 1 – Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon ( )
Phase 2 – Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria (2013 – 2016)
Assistance in preparing the Project Fiches to submit to potential donors to fund the survey
Adaptation of model questionnaires
Training on sample design
Assistance in preparing the survey
Developing a common IT structure to process the data
MGSC, March 2014

20. MED-HIMS Partners World Bank UNHCR UNFPA IOM ILO Arab League
Some bringing financing to help develop manuals, provide training, technical assistance, etc.
MGSC, March 2014

21. Post-MEDSTAT: Hopes and plans
Strategy for EU-Med cooperation on Statistics
Four interrelated objectives
Continuous improvement in the quality of official statistics
Improved technical and management skills in the NSI through comprehensive training
Users empowered with the data they need to address social and economic issues
A sustainable framework to design, implement and steer the EU-MED cooperation in Statistics
MGSC, March 2014

22. Forum and working groups
Working Groups set up/to be set up:
Business registers and business statistics
Energy
Migration
Social (Labour: employment/unemployment)
Trade
Transport
Training
Quality in statistics
MGSC, March 2014

23. Quality Working Group Led by Eurostat
Annual meeting to set/follow up on 2 year work program
Organising workshops on issues related to quality:
– in March WS on European Statistics Code
of Practice
- in June 2014 – possible WS on introducing the
EU Quality framework to ENP-South countries
Participation in Eurostat's Quality Conferences and training courses
Sharing of manuals, guidelines, translations of key material, etc.
MGSC, March 2014

24. Other Working Groups
Business registers: to be led jointly by Palestine and Tunisia
Energy: to be led jointly by Morocco and Tunisia
Labour: to be led by Tunisia
Migration: to be led by Lebanon
Trade: to be led by Morocco (through the Office des Changes)
Training: to be led jointly by Egypt and Lebanon
Transport: to be led by Morocco
MGSC, March 2014

25. Work programmes
Most of the WGs have prepared draft work programmes, including outline budget
Programmes include programming meetings, workshops, training, technical assistance
Countries willing to contribute in kind, with human resources, meeting facilities, translation of documents
But cannot contribute financially
TAIEX limited in what it can provide
MGSC, March 2014

26. Funding?
There will be funds from the European Neighbourhood Instrument for a new regional programme: not clear yet when exactly
Eurostat own funds enough for a limited programme on Quality, and a few training courses, but cannot cover all the WGs
MGSC, March 2014

27. Forum of Euro-Mediterranean Statisticians
Management and Steering Committee for the strategy
Permanent members: Directors/presidents of the National Statistical Institutes of the ENP- South partner countries, European Commission (Eurostat and possibly EuropeAid)
Other participants: EU Member States, EFTA, interested international and regional organisations
MGSC, March 2014

28. Forum of Euro-Mediterranean Statisticians (cont)
Meets every year
Decides on setting up WGs and approves their work programmes
Promotes coordination with other donors in the region
Discusses emerging issues
MGSC, March 2014
MGSC, March 2014

29. Thank you for your attention
MGSC, March 2014