The future agenda of CCSA: the sectoral perspective

Susan TeltscherHead, ICT Data and Statistics

DivisionInternational Telecommunication

Union

20th CCSA SessionFrankfurt, Germany17-19 September 2012

Revamping CCSA: motivation

• CCSA and UNSC: the missing link

• Participation in CCSA: improving or deteriorating?

• 10th anniversary: take stock and look forward

CCSA terms of reference – key activities revisited

• Efficient functioning of stat. system– Yes but limited - coordination takes place also in

other forums • Common standards and platforms

– Yes: e.g. SDMX – others? See IAEG• Development of methodologies

– See IAEG• Inter-institutional support

– Yes: e.g. human resources, quality assurance frameworks

CCSA terms of reference – key activities revisited

• Outreach– Capacity building – more coordination of TA

activities?• Advocacy of statistics

– Yes: WSD 2010– Need to increase visibility with countries (UNSC)

and UN system (UN CEB)

Since 2010: most of the agenda topics have focused on inter-institutional support

CCSA membership

• Growing, today 39 members• UN system agencies: 62%

• Membership is diverse:– Global and regional– Specialized and non-specialized– Large and small – UN and non-UN– Different type of statistical work (data work,

methodological work, capacity develpoment)

CCSA membership by size of statistical departments

• Small: 37%• Medium: 37%• Large: 25%

• Mostly small and medium • Different levels of resources• Implications for choice of topics (essential or additional)• Need for cooperation and coordination (pooling of

resources)

CCSA membership by function and geographic scope

• Global sectoral: 52%• Global cross-sectoral:10%• Regional: 38%

• Majority are global agencies and specialized• Different interests in terms of coordination (sectoral or

cross-sectoral statistics; regional or global membership)

Conclusions and suggestions

• CCSA is not the only coordination mechanism – IAEGs and similar forums: build horizontal bridges?

• Recently, CCSA has focused on topics that are mostly horizontal: diversify agenda?

• Most CCSA members are specialized: address better their interests?

• CCSA is not known well enough: make it more visible in UNSC and other UN bodies?

Conclusions and suggestions• CCSA agenda topics should be mixed

– Membership is diverse – agenda needs to be diverse– Cross-sectoral and sectoral topics (see also UNSC

agenda)– Targeting small and large members– Include briefings of relevant activities going on in

other coordination forums• CCSA should be forward looking

– Role of NSOs is changing– Data from other sources are emerging– Internet is changing statistics

Conclusions and suggestions

• CCSA co-chairs could prepare and disseminate a short questionnaire to ask CCSA members about priorities

CCSA is the only forum for the coordination of statistics dealing with cross-cutting issues – it is a unique body that needs to be maintained