Fourth Group Training Course on Analysis, Interpretation and Dissemination of Official Statistics, Chiba, Japan, 14 July –12 September 2008

 The Fourth Group Training Course on Analysis, Interpretation and Dissemination of Official Statistics was held from 14 July to 12 September 2008 in Chiba, Japan. This was part of the Tokyo-based regular programme jointly organized by the Statistical Institute for Asia and the Pacific (SIAP) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).  Twenty-two participants from 20 countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America participated in the two-month long course.

The course was designed principally to train statisticians mid-way in their professional careers on the application of statistical methods and techniques for analyzing, interpreting and disseminating official statistics.  The course addressed the growing need of government policy makers for statistics provided by national statistical offices to be reinforced by more data analysis and interpretation as well as to be more efficiently disseminated. The availability of expertise for such analysis and dissemination would facilitate the building of socio-economic indicator databases for the implementation and monitoring of programmes on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

The major thrust of the course was on developing skills in data analysis and improving interpretation, writing and presentation of the outcomes of analysis. Subjects covered included the social statistics framework and many other important topics in social statistics relating to poverty, labor force, gender, education, health, disability and the MDGs. The statistical analytical techniques ranged from descriptive statistics to regression, multivariate analysis and time series analysis. Basic training on technology for statistical processes covered modern database management systems and electronic publishing of official statistical data. STATA software was provided for training and analysis of data. Participants also gained experience in training techniques, so that they would be able to train other staff members in their organizations upon completion of the training.

In addition to the subject matter, each participant had undertaken project work on social statistics under the guidance of a supervisor. The participants selected variety of topics from gender inequality to population migration which would make the project itself useful for their organization and relevant to their country.  Each participant had presented the completed project task at the end of the course.

At the closing ceremony, course participants had the opportunity to meet with Mr. Yoshiaki Kano, Director-General, JICA TIC, Mr Akihiro Kimoto, Director for International Statistical Affairs, Office of Director-General for Policy Planning (Statistical Standards), Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communication, and many other distinguished officials representing the Government of Japan and JICA. Mr. Ilpo Survo from ESCAP Statistics Division joined the occasion.