ENGLISH
Original: m C H
Xoonomio Commisaion for Africa
Seoond Conference of Africa S t a t i s t i c i a n s 26 June 1961, k i e
I. Introduction
The seoond Conference of African S t a t i s t i c i a n s w i l l convene a t Tunis (Tunisia) on 26 June 1961, i n accordance with the programme of work approved by t h e Economic Commission f o r Africa a t i t s t h i r d session (Froject 04-01 (0)).
This i s the follow-on from the f i r s t Conference, held a t M d i s Ababa in September 1959, the r e p o r t on which, adopted a t the Commission's second session, ( r e s o l u t i o n 1 ~(II), s t i p u l a t e d t h a t r
I
"further sessions of the Conferenoe, and meetings of experts o r o f f i c i a l s in sub-regions should be oonvened, when necessarg, to review t r a i n i n g a o t i v i t i e s and t o f u r t h 3 r the development of the S t a t i s t i c a l Survey of Africa" para. 64.The provisional agenda t o be submitted f o r the approval of the Conferenoe is based on the above recommendation. One important task of t h i s seoond
Conference w i l l be to review progress i n the S t a t i s t i c a l Survey'of n f r i c a end t r a i n w a c t i v i t i e s . The Conference w i l l also discuss S e c r e t a r i a t a c t i v i t i e s
.
and a l l the working groups and consultations of s t a t i s t i c i a n s held since 1959 and w i l l determine a programme of regional a c t i v i t i e s f o r the period 1961-63.
It thus appears t h a t t h i s seoond Conference of African S t a t i s t i c i a n s w i l l play a major r o l e i n s t a t i s t i c a l development policy i n the region. This
trend i s i n keeping with the wishes of the Commission, which in i t s l a s t annual r e p o r t t o the Economic and Social Council (paragraph
249)
"noted with g r a t i t u d ethe kind i n v i t a t i o n of the Government of Tunisia to the Conference of Afrioan S t a t i s t i c i a n s t o hold i t s next meeting i n Tunis and expressed the hope t h a t t h a t Conference would play a s important a p a r t a s t h a t of i t s European and A s i a n Counterparts".
11. Arrangements f o r the Conference
A s an organ f o r disoussing and deciding questions of general s t a t i s t i c a l development policy, the Conference should above a l l b r i n g together o f f i c i a l s
with r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s i n the sphere of s t a t i s t i c a l development. Hence, l o g i c a l l y , i n v i t a t i o n s a r e being sent out primarily to t h e heads of the s t a t i s t i c a l services of members an4 a s s o c i a t e members of the Commission.
Numerous o o n s u l t ~ t i o n s i n 1960 between the S e c r e t a r i a t and these services have enable c e r t a i n conclusions to be drawn, which a r e given here inerely f o r information.
F i r s t l y , the hope has been expressed that- delegations w i l l oonsist of fxo, o r a t most three, persons
-
so a s to keep the Conference down t omanageable proportions. In view of the importance given on the agenda t o n a t i o n a l accounts and foreign trade s t a t i s t i c s , delegations might u s e f u l l y oontain experts on these s u b j e c t s alongside the chief of the s t a t i s t i c a l service.
Secondly, i t appeared desirable to cut the length of the Conference down aa muoh a s possible
-
e.g. t o ten days, l i k e the f i r s t Conference. It would c e r t a i n l y be d i f f i c u l t to make i t muoh shorter, considering the number of items on the provisional agenda. Again, each of these items might, i f care i s not shown involve days of discussion, should d e t a i l s of s t a t i s t i c a l teohniquee be gone into. This i s apparently not the view of the s t a t i s t i c a l s e r v i c e s consulted, which consider t h a t fill discussion of s t a t i s t i c a l techniques should be l e f t to working groups s e t up by the Conference to meet i n t h e i n t e r v a l s between sessions. The r o l e of the Conferenoe would then be l i m i t e d to defining the terms of reference of the working groups, following t h e i r progress and discussing t h e i r r e p o r t s before f i n a l l y recommending adoption.One l a s t remark8 Many s t a t i s t i c a l s e r v i c e s have requested t h a t
i n t e r n a t i o n a l recommendations on s t a t i s t i c s from United Nations organs should be systematically brought to the n o t i c e of the Conference, which could p l w a u s e f u l p a r t in disseminating them and, i f necessary (on reguest)
,
studyinghow they might be implemented i n Africa. In so doing, t h e Conference would merely be conforming t o t h e p r a o t i o e i n s t i t u t e d i n E n o p e o r Asia under t h e a u s p i c e s o f t h e r e g i o n a l s t a t i s t i c i a n s ' conferences.
111. Reception of d e l e g a t i o n s
B e Tunisian Government h a s been good enough t o o f f e r t h e R e o u t i v e
S e c r e t a r y t h e n e c e s s a r y f a c i l i t i e s f o r t h e Conference (premises, i n t e r p r e t a t i o n equipment eto.). Moreover, a s s t a t e d i n t h e l e t t e r of i n v i t a t i o n , t h e Chief o f t h e Tunisian S t a t i s t i c a l S e r v i c e , M r . Bahroun, h a s undertaken to r e s e r v e moms f o r d e l e g a t e s i n d i c a t i n g t h e i r d a t e o f a r r i v a l and f l i g h t number.
Arrangements w i l l be made f o r r e c e p t i o n a t t h e a i r p o r t . ( ~ d d r e s s r M r . Bahroun, B.P.
65,
Tunis).IV.
P r o v i s i o n a l agendaThe p r o v i s i o n a l agenda c o n t a i n s f i v e s o t s o f i t e m s t o be submitted f o r t h e approval o f t h e Confernece, which may o f course add any o t h e r item i t would l i k e t o d i s c u s s . The f i v e s e t s o f i t e m s a r e a s f o l l o w s :
~ e l i b e r a t i b n s o f t h e u i i t b d ~ a t i o n s Economic Commission f o r A f r i c a and UN S t a t i s t i c a l Commission ( i t e m
4 ) ;
P r o g r e s s r e p o r t , S t a t i s t i c a l Survey o f & f r i c a ( i t e m
5 ) ;
T r a i n i n g and recruitment problems ( i t e m 6 ) ;
Report on work acoomplished st t h e r e g i o n a l l e v e l (item 7 ) ;
. Programme o f work. 1961-63 ( i t e m 8).
Some p a r t i c u l a r s of p r e p a r a t i o n f o r d i s c u s s i o n on t h e v a r i o u s items . . a r e given below.
E/CN. I 4 / ~ t a t / L . 8 page
4
V. D e l i b e r a t i o n s of ECA and t h e UN S t a t i s t i c a l
.-..
.- Commission (item. .. . 4)
This item i s subdivided under two headings: ( I ) proceedings a t ECA's second and t h i r d s e s s i o n s (item & a ) and ( 2 ) proceedings a t t h e S t a t i s t i c a l Commission s e l e v e n t h s e s s i o n (item &b)
.
S e p a r a t e r e p o r t s w i l l be prepared by t h e S e c r e t a r i a t under t h e m headings, t h e main purpose being t o a p p r i s e t h e Conference o f oonolusions and recommendations of i n t e r e s t t o i t . This q u e s t i o n s h a s been placed first on t h e p r o v i s i o n a l agenda, i n view of t h e i m p l i c a t i o n s of t h e s e conclusions and recommendations f o r the rrork of the C o n f e r e n ~ e .
VI. P r o g r e s s r e p o r t on t h e S t a t i s t i c a l Survey o f A f r i c a ( i t e m
51
(a) S t a t i o t i c a l problems m d Drogress of i n d i v i d u a l c o u n t r i e s and t h e i r programmes f o r s t a t i s t i c a l development (item 5-a)
The programmeshere concerned a r e those r e f e r r e d t o in paragraphs 42 and 43 of t h e r e p o r t on t h e first Conference:
"42.
The Conference s t r e s s e d t h e importance of s t a r t i n g t h eS t a t i s t i c a l Survey of A f r i c a by p r e p a r i n g programmes o f s t a t i s t i c a l work covering t h e n e x t f i v e years. The s t a t i s t i c a l o f f i c e s would need t o t a k e the l e a d in t h e p r e p a r a t i o n o f such programmes and emphasis w a s p u t on t h e
n e c e s s i t y of e n s u r i n g as much support a s p o s s i b l e a t t h e h i g h e s t l e v e l s of government f o r t h i s i n i t i a l phase of t h e Survey. Some c o u n t r i e s r e p o r t e d t h a t t h e i r s t a t i s t i c a l programmes would be i n c o r p o r a t e d ih t h e i r o v e r a l l development plans. I n o t h e r s , intra-governmental committeewould review t h e s t a t i s t i c a l requirements and e s t a b l i s h programmes.
43. It was agreed t h a t such prograamesshould i n d i c a t e n o t o n l y o b j e c t i v e s w i t h s p e c i f i c r e f e r e n c e s t o concepts, d e f i n i t i o n s , coverage and frequency, but a l s o t h e means
to
b e adopted, such a s p l a n s f o r s p e c i f i c t y p e s of f i e l d surveys, w i t h a t e n t a t i v e annual %lme schedule designed t o show t h e phasing o f t h e o p e r a t i o n over t h e t o t a l period. This would enable s t a t i s t i c a l o f f i c e s t o a r r i v e a t d e f i n i t e p l a n s c o n c e r n i n g , t h e perecnnel and f i n a n c i a l requirements o f t h e i r programmest'.Discussion on t h i s p a r t i c u l a r item of t h e agenda might begin with a d e s c r i p t i o n by t h e v a r i o u s d e l e g a t i o n s of a c t i o n taken i n t h e i r c o u n t r i e s t o p r e p a r e s t a t i s t i c a l development programmes.
A s h a s been s t r e s s e d s e v e r a l times i n t h e ECA S t a t i s t i c a l Newsletter, the S e c r e t a r i a t w i l l do i t s utmost t o d i s t r i b u t e documents concerning n a t i o n a l
s t a t i s t i c a l development programmes. A t t h i s d a t e communications have been r e c e i v e d from t h e f o l l o w i n g c o u n t r i e s : S t h i o p i a , F e d e r a t i o n of Rhodesia and . ". . .
.. . . . .
Nyasaland, Ghana, Morocco, P o r t u g a 1 , S u d a n a n d Chad. Others a r e announced
, ,
from Libya. United Arab Republic a t c . .
The following arrangements a r e proposed f o r d i s t r i b u t i o n r
C o u n t r i e s w h i c h have a l r e a d y prepared a dooument on t h e i r s t a t i s t i c a l development programmes and have n o t s e n t i t t o t h e S e c r e t a r i a t f o r
. . . . .
d i s t r i b u t i o n might t r a n s m i t i t as e a r l y a s p o s s i b l e , i n t r i p l i c a t e , i n one o f the working l a n g u w e s ( ~ r e n c h , h g l i s h ) . The document w i l l be d i s t r i b u t e d i n t h e o t h e r language a s soon a s t r a n s l a t i o n f a c i l i t i e s in t h e S e c r e t a r i a t permit.
Countries s t i l l at a preliminary s t a g e i n t h e p r e p a r a t i o n of t h e i r programmes might send t h e S e c r e t a r i a t a s h o r t n o t e r e p o r t i n g progress.
Distribution can be guaranteed only f o r documents reaching the S e c r e t a r i a t by
15
may 1961 a t l a t e s t . Documents received a f t e r t h a t date w i l l , so f a r a s possible, be d i s t r i b u t e d during the Conferenoe. Lastly, information w i l l besupplied l a t e r regarding the'type of duplicator a v a i l a b l e a t k i s , so t h a t delegations so wishing can b r i n g s t e n c i l s of documents f o r quick d i s t r i b u t i o n a f t e r t h e i r a r r i v a l .
(b) Regional co-operationfor the S t a t i s t i c a l Survey (item 5-b)
The S e o r e t a r i a t w i l l d r a f t a report on the individual and s u b r e g i o n a l consultations which have taken place since
1959
and on the various regional cc+operation p r o j e c t s r e s u l t i n g from these consultations. On the b a s i s of t h a t r e p o r t t h e Conference might u s e f u l l y discuss the regional co-operation projeofe and give the S e c r e t a r i a t guidance a s to action on f u t u r e progcammes.( c ) Technical assibtanoe i n the f i e l d of s t a t i s t i c s ( i t e m A
A note w i l l be prepared on t h i s subject by the United Nations S t a t i s t i c a l Office and Technical Assistance Operations Office. Cther i n s t i t u t i o n s m a y
,
ifthey so desire,'send the S e c r e t a r i a t a note ( i n both languages, i f possible) on t h e i r technical assistance programmes f o r Africa i n the s t a t i s t i c a l f i e l d .
. . . . . V I I . Traininn and r e c d t m e n t problems (item 6 1 .
.
This item of the provisional agenda i s sutdivided under two headings:
( 1 ) progressin t r a i n i n g a c t i v i t i e s ( i t e m &a) and ( 2 ) the s t a t u s of . .
s t a t i s t i c i a l s i n public sorvice and i t s impact on rec?d'tment(item 6-b).
The l a t t e r item i s tncluded a t the express request of f i v e s t a t i s t i c a l s e r v i c e s ( ~ t h i o ~ i a , Libya, Morocco, United Arab Republic and Sudan)
.
,tendered a t the Cairo meeting i n November 1960.
It i s suggested t h a t c o u n t r i e s send t h e S e c r e - t a r i a t f o r d i s t r i b u t i o n a b r i e f r e p o r t covering mainly the following points:
(i) range o f grades, with d e f i n i t i t i o n s , d i s t i n g u i s h i n g between p l a n n i n g and s u p e r v i s o r y staff, u s u a l l y with u n i v e r s i t y degrees, and the ~ x e c u t i v e s t a f f .
(ii) a t a b l e showing numbers on t h e budgetary s t r e n g t h and i n d i c a t i n g vacant p o s t s ;
(iii) p o s s i b l y , a t a b l e showing e s t i m a t e d budgetary s t r e n g t h , i f known;
(10) recrui$ment d i f f i c u l t i e s , i n c l u d i n g t h o s e due t o d i f f e r e n c e s i n s t a t u s a s between t h e s t a t i s t i c a l and o t h e r s s r v i c e s $
(v) e f f o r t s made o r oontemplated t o s o l v e t r a i n i n g and r e c r u i t m e n t problems, d i s t i n g u i s h i n g befween t h e v a r i o u s grades.
Arrangements f o r t h e d i s t r i b u t i o n of t h e s e r e p o r t s a r e t h e same a s under item 4 . ( ~ 0 r e a c h t h e S e c r e t a r i a t by 15 M ~ J I 1961).
VIII. Report on work aocomplished a t t h e r e g i o n s 1 l e v e l (item
7 )
One o r more n o t e s w i l l be prepared by t h e S e c r e t a r i a t under v a r i o u s headings:
Item 7-88 Working groups on t h e treatment o f s u b s i s t e n c e t r a n s a c t i o n and on t h e u s e o f n a t i o n a l acoounts;
. .
Item
7-b:
Study t o u r and t r a i n i n g c s n t r e on population census technii-uen;Item
7-0:
ECA programme o f ' e x t e r n a l t r a d e s t a t i s t i c s !Item.7-d: ECA s t a t i s t i o a l p u b l i c a t i o n s and S t a t i s t i c a l Newsletter.
The two r e p o r t s on n a t i o n a l accounts by t h e working groups mentioned
under item 7-a were given l i m i t e d d i s t r i b u t i o n t o d e l e g a t e s t o the Commissif.m'a t h i r d s e s s i o n , and f ' u r t h e r c o p i e s w i l l be s e n t t o governments i n the r e g i o n d : ~ .
cussion a t the Conference of African S t a t i s t i c i a n s . These documents a r e a s followe:
~/CN.14/60
-
B//cN.$~/NAc/~: Report of t h e Working Group on t h e Treatment o f Non-monetary ( s u b s i s t e n c e )T r a n s a c t i o n s w i t h i n t h e framework o f U a t i o n a l Accounts ;
E / c N . I ~ / ~ ~
-
E / C E . $ ~ / N A C / ~ ~ Report of t h e Working Group on t h e Uses of National h c o u n t s i n Afrioa.Regarding item 7-0, i t maJT be u s e h l a t t h i s s t a g e t o quote t h e following r e ~ o m m e n ~ a t i o n made a t the Commission's t h i r d s e s s i o n , on which
.- ,. ,.
a c t i o n by .the S B c r e t a r i a t i s based: . . , .
"In view of t h e importance of t h e s u b j e c t of i n t e r n a t i o n a l and i n t r e - , African t r a d e , t h e Commission urged t h a t t h e a t t e n t i o n of t h e second
Conference of African S t a t i s t i c i a n s and 0-9 t h e s t a t i s t i o a l o f f i c e s of a l l African c o u n t r i e s should be d i r e c t e d t o improving t h e s t a n d a r d s c f
comparability of African t r a d e s t a t i s t i ~ s and organizing. improved
.
.se-mi cno f t r a d e s t a t i s t i c s t o t h e S e c r e t a r i a t " .
I n t h a t connexion;';th~~Sb~retariat~s work would.-be g r e & t l y f a c i l i t a t r - l i f governments could send i t , p r e f e r a b l y b e f o r e tlie Conferences
(i) a copy of t h e geographical code used i n t h e f o r e i g n t r a d e ~ t a t i s ~ i c s : and
(ii) a copy of t h e n a t i o n a l Customs nomenclature.
IX.
Programme of work f o r 1961-63 (item 8 1Vazious conclusions r e g a r d i n g a programme of f u t u r e ~ o ? k ~ w i l l be C-a;ir by t h e Conference i n t h e course of i t s d i s c u s s i o n s on t h e d i f f e r e n t items OL'
t h e agenda. It i s suggested t h a t t h e s e c o n c l u s i o n s be r a p i d l y reviewed a t t h e end o f t h e s e s s i o n , so a s t o provide a g e n e r a l p i c t u r e o f t h e programme. The S e c r e t a r i a t w i l l p r e p a r e s u g g e s t i o n s f o r t h e Conference under t h e f o l l o w i n g t h r e e headings:
(a) working groupe o f e x p e r t s ;
( b ) r e g i o n a l c o - o p e r e t i o n f o r t h e S t a t i s t i c a l Survey o f Africa;
( c ) o t h e r a c t i v i t i e s .
N.B.
Communications from governments t o t h e ECA S e c r e t a r i a t r e g a r d i n g t h e Conference o f A f r i c a n S t a t i s t i c i a n s should be s e n t by a i r mail to t h e f o l l o w i n g address:The Zxeoutive S e c r e t a r y ,
( f o r t h e a t t e n t i o n o f t h e Chief s t a t i s t i c i a n ) , Economic Commission f o r Africa,
P.O. Box 3001, Addis Ababa,
E t h i o p i a .
