Training in building capacity in quality methods, tools and good practices
Participants
Staff working with quality management and quality issues in the national statistical institutes and other producers of official statistics
Location
Online
Timing
30 September – 2 October and 17 November 2020
Activity code
C1.2_35
Before the training, the participating countries were asked to complete a short questionnaire prepared by the STEs on the current state of quality management. This helped the STEs to address the real needs in the partner countries. The STEs from Lithuania and France presented their experience in quality management and process mapping. Partner countries provided concrete examples of activities, methods and tools implemented to adhere to the European Statistics Code of Practice, principle by principle.
During the second part and last day of the training that took place on 17 November 2020, discussions were based around questions posed from partner countries about the Generic Statistical Business Process Model (GSBPM) and data checking, communication on the revision of statistical tools, satisfaction surveys and quality management.
Communication for Statistics: Phase 2, adaptation of material
Participants
No participants
Location
Online
Timing
March-May 2021, online
Activity code
C1.1_14-2
The objective of the activity was to prepare the C4S Training of Trainers material and set up the online learning platform. Most of the video material is reused from a similar training conducted in the framework of MEDSTAT IV, but some of the material had to be reproduced in Russian. The learning material was integrated into the France Université Numérique (FUN) platform[1] in English and Russian, based on an agreement between the Contractor and FUN.
Training course on researchers access to microdata
Participants
Senior officials from the national statistics institute and/or other producer of official statistics
1 person in charge of this area in the partner country and who can take part in all four days
1 person from legal department
1 person from IT department
1 person from methodological department
And other people from other departments.
(in principle unlimited number from each country as this can be of interest for several departments)
Location
Online
Timing
29-30 June and 8 and 9 July 2020
Activity code
C1.1_22
The aim of the activity was to train the participants in what is required to provide researchers access to micro data based on examples and experience of countries that have implemented such processes. More specifically, the aim was to clarify definitions, to provide an overview of the legal frameworks at stake and to present a framework for implementing with different possible strategies the various processes that are required for providing access to microdata for research purposes: user accreditation, data preparation, metadata, access facilities, communication. The countries’ specific issues, main difficulties and possible solutions could then be discussed by the participants in light of this framework.
It was initially aimed to have about 2 people by beneficiary country participating to the training, i.e. 12 people. Due to COVID-19, it was decided to implement the activity online (using Zoom) and the countries were offered to have more people attending the training. The proposal was welcome as shown by the final unexpectedly high number of participants, 65 with 13 from Armenia, 4 from Azerbaijan, 14 from Belarus, 5 from Georgia, 12 from Moldova, and 15 from Ukraine. The participants included people from numerous departments, in particular the legal departments, the methodology and quality departments, the surveys departments, the communication/dissemination/information departments, the IT departments and the resources departments, involving many times the heads of the departments and for Armenia several researchers from the Central Bank. This was very much in line with the training objective, as the implementation of researchers’ access to microdata requires a strong involvement and coordination of these various departments and liaising with researchers.
The 4 days’ training were divided in 2 x 2 days, in June and July with four sessions each day. Though interaction with numerous participants was more difficult online than in an on-site meeting, the four days training offered the possibilities of interesting questions at the end of each session. Continuous attendance (with even 2 more participants joining for the second part of the training on July 8 and 9) demonstrated the interest of the participants. It was decided to slightly reorganise the workshop on the training on the fourth day, with an internal discussion for each country instead of grouping two or three countries. The countries’ participants were asked to analyse their current situation in the light of the framework presented during the training on the legal frameworks, the five safes (safe projects, safe researchers, safe data, safe settings, safe outputs) and communication issues. It worked well and all countries presented their analysis of the situation during the round table session.
The presentations made by the countries showed that the participants have been able to seize very well the framework provided during the training for analysing their current situation and next steps. The main concepts and strategies have been well understood and should help the various institutes identifying priorities and key actors.
Most countries attending the training have changed or are on the way to change their legal frameworks for allowing access to confidential microdata for research and some have already started providing access. It is therefore expected that they will benefit from the training and that there should be fruitful development in the near future. Participants have expressed satisfaction in the training and interest for future support, for which various possibilities have been rapidly discussed and could be further investigated (regular online support, on-site support on specific issues, future workshops for discussing progress made and roadmaps).
Kick-off meeting for Communication for Statisticians, C4S
Participants
The NSIs from all the EaP countries were present at the meeting (NC, a person from the communication office and a person from the human resources and training office)
Location
Online
Timing
19 and 29 June
Activity code
C1.1_14
The C4S training courses have been identified as a key activity in developing under component 1 of STEP, that is, dealing with the improvement of the visibility and communication/dissemination in the EaP countries. The objective of the meeting was to present to the overall process of the C4S and to answer questions and demands for clarifications from the participants. The meeting was also an opportunity to present the next steps to be taken by the training team and by the countries in order to be ready to start the training process in October 2020.
All the EaP countries are very interested in communication issues that they all consider important and with a high level of priority in their respective national statistical strategies. Journalists are key actors today for communicating data and relations with them, always difficult, must be improved for the benefit of all: statisticians, journalists and users of statistics in general. Some of the countries already started working in this area, alone or with the support of external technical assistance and were eager to progress more with the training proposed. They all appreciated that the issue was part of the activities developed under STEP and expressed their full support and commitment to the work to come.
