CSD recieves technical assistance from SPC - 26th May to 9th June 2009

This assistance covered two specific areas.

The first area invloved reviewing of the price collection forms used for the consumer price indices, providing advise on how the form can be improved, how to treat missing items and discussing key issues in calculating the final indexes. The second part of the assistance was the Training in economic statistics. The training was attended by staff from the CSD and various government departments and divisions.

The training focussed on basic economic statistics which covered national accounts, balance of payments, government finance statistics, data dissemination, classification systems and the role of statistics in evidence based policy making.

The training had generally two broad objectives: • Sharpen the skills of the CSD staff in compilation of statistics while extending the same knowledge to staff within the finance ministry who can be easily brought into mainstream statistics given the limited size of staff in the CSD; • Raise awareness on the importance of economic statistics amongst central planners in government while raising the profile of the CSD as a key unit.

The outcome of the sessions looked fruitful with participants expressing added value in understanding and interpretation of economic statistics.