The Fourth Group Training Course on Analysis, Interpretation and Dissemination of Official Statistics commenced on 14 July 2008 at UNSIAP, Chiba, Japan. This is one of the Tokyo based regular programmes jointly organized by the Statistical Institute for Asia and the Pacific (SIAP) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).  The course is designed principally to train statisticians who are in the middle of their professional careers on the application of statistical methods and techniques to analyse, interpret and disseminate official statistics.  This is to meet the growing expectations of government policy makers, that, statistics provided by national statistical offices should be accompanied by more statistical analysis and interpretation of data as well as its efficient dissemination. It will also help in building up the relevant socio-economic indicator databases needed for the implementation and monitoring of programmes on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

  

Twenty two participants from twenty different countries representing Asia, Africa and Latin America are participating in this two month long course. The major thrust of the course is on the data analysis while improving skills for writing and presenting the analysed information with proper interpretations. Subjects covered will include Social Statistics Framework and many important topics in social statistics encompassing poverty, labour force, gender, education, health, disability and MDGs. The statistical analytical techniques will range from descriptive statistics to regression, multivariate analysis and time series analysis. Basic training on technology for statistical processes will cover the Modern database management systems, electronic publishing of official statistical data. STATA software is provided for training and analysis of data. In addition to statistical training, participants will gain experience in report writing, presentation skills and training techniques. 
Participants will be equipped with necessary knowledge and skills to become trainers that they would be able to train other staff members in their organizations or other departments upon completion of the training. In addition to the subject matter, each participant of the course has to undertake a project work under the guidance of a supervisor from the faculty.  Each participant will choose a topic which has a bearing on the main subject which is social statistics which he/she has the interests in pursuing.  Preferably, the project work itself should also be useful to their  organization and their country.  Each participant will present his completed project work towards the end of the course.