ECE/CES/BUR/2016/XXX

page 3

UNITED NATIONS ESCAP/SD/SGRPES/2016/XXX

ECONOMIC and SOCIAL COMMISSION

FOR ASIA and the PACIFIC 24 June 2016

STEERING GROUP FOR THE REGIONAL PROGRAMME ON

ECONOMIC STATISTICS IN ASIA and the PACIFIC (RPES)

TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR A TASK FORCE ON
THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE RPES CAPACITY SCREENING TOOL II

Note prepared by Task Force Lead and the secretariat

The note includes a proposal for the terms of reference for a Task Force to develop a new/revised capacity screening tool for use in the second RPES capacity screening exercise which will be conducted in 2017.

I. BACKGROUND

1.  In May 2016, the Steering Group discussed possible…..

II. MANDATE

2.  The work of the Task Force is conducted in support of the implementation of the Regional Programme on Economic Statistics. The Task Force reports to the SGRPES annually on progress of work. The Task Force will be created for a period from June 2016 to June 2017 with a possibility of extension.

III. OBJECTIVE

3.  The objective of the Task Force is to develop a new/revised capacity screening tool (i.e. questionnaire) for use in the second RPES capacity screening exercise. The capacity screening tool II should seek to:

(i)  assess the progress made by countries in developing capacity to produce economic statistics, and

(ii)  identify the constraints or barriers to producing the Core Set of Economic Statistics.

IV. PLANNED ACTIVITIES AND OUTPUTS

4.  The Task Force shall review the existing capacity screening tool and suggest improvements or changes taking into consideration the purpose of the second capacity screening exercise, as well as, the recommendations by the Task Force on the Review of the Capacity Screening Tool.

5.  The new/revised capacity screening tool shall be finalised by April 2017 for endorsement the Steering Group at its sixth Meeting of the SGRPES.

V. TIMETABLE

6.  The activities of the Task Force are planned for the period from June 2016 to June 2017, according to the following tentative schedule:

July 2016 / Establishment of the Task Force
Sep 2016 / 1st Meeting of the Task Force to discuss/clarify objectives and timelines (via teleconference)
Circulation of the first draft of the CS Tool II by the Secretariat for Task Force’s initial comments
Oct 2016 / Review of second draft of the CS Tool II by Task Force (via email and/or teleconference)
Dec 2016 / Review of third draft and finalisation of the CS Tool II by Task Force (via email and/or teleconference)
Feb 2017 / Circulation of proposed CS Tool II for Co-chairs’ comments (via email)
April 2017 / Circulation of proposed CS Tool II for Steering Group’s comments (via email)
May 2017 / Endorsement of CS Tool II by Steering Group at the 6th Meeting of the SGRPES
Dissemination of CS Tool II to countries for completion (via email)

VI. METHODS OF WORK

7.  The Task Force will primarily work via email, ESCAP communities workspace and telephone conferences. Face-to-face meetings of the Task Force may be arranged in conjunction with other regional events.

VII. MEMBERSHIP

8.  The following countries and international organizations have expressed interest in participating in the Task Force: Singapore (Lead), . . . and UNESCAP. UNESCAP acts as secretariat of the Task Force.

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