Page 200 - Special Topic Session (STS) - Volume 2

STS479 Sabit A.H et al.
In support of the broader goals of producing internationally comparable
statistics, GCC- Stat takes an active role in appropriate international and
regional forums related to SDGs. For example, GCC-Stat has actively
participated as an observer at almost all meetings of the Inter Agency Experts
Group for SDGs (IAEG-SDGs). In the broader region, GCC-Stat has supported
the Technical Committee for Population Indicators in SDGs formed by
UNESCWA, UNFPA and the League of Arab States, and as noted above, is a
member of the GCC SDG Committee. These forums are an opportunity to
contribute to both the methodology of indicator development, but also help
understand local needs.
The IAEG-SDG has achieved considerable progress in defining and
describing the standardized indicators, that are at the heart of the global
monitoring and reporting system. An important part of these standard
definitions is the use of international classifications. Within the GCC strategy,
this is supported by the “Statistical Standards, Classifications, Methodology and
Data Quality” statistical priority project. The project aims to implement
contemporary statistical standards, recommendations, international standard
classifications and common methodologies across GCC statistics, with particular
focus on the statistical priority projects set out in the strategy. (GCC-Stat, 2015).
An important aspect is providing training in international standard
classifications. Examples of recent training includes implementation of
international and GCC classifications in administrative registers related to
cultural statistics, and implementation of the GCC occupation classification in
labour and related statistics. Recent training specific to member countries, has
included the review of industrial classification and their implementation in
Kuwaiti and Saudi registers, and the development of economic classification
mapping in the Bahrain national accounts system.
This key element of statistical modernization therefore has considerable
benefits to those SDG indicators that utilize data from the other statistical
priority projects, as well as supporting the application of international
standard calculation methodologies for SDGs.
As noted above, while SDG indicators will require a greater range of surveys,
administrative records are a key source. GCC-Stat has established a GCC wide
project to enhance the range of administrative data based indicators. The
project has identified a standard set of potentially administrative based
indicators to meet SDG and GCC policy requirements. The next stage is to work
with each country to identify potential sources for the data elements required
for each of the indicators.
The GCC-Stat work on modernization is not just confined to supporting
countries to provide standardized data inputs or standardized indicators. GCC-
Stat has established a project to deliver an Integrated End-to End solution.
This project will provide the necessary IT solution (hardware and software) to

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