PROJECT C2.7_47 Training on the production of final energy consumption statistics

Activity type
Online training course
Title
Online regional training on the production of final energy consumption statistics
Participants
There were 29 registered participants from Armenia (4), Azerbaijan (2), Belarus (5), Georgia (4), Moldova (9) and Ukraine (5). Participants were head of units and staff from the energy statistics units of partner NSIs. The Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure of Armenia as well as the Ministry of Economy and Infrastructure and the Energy Efficiency Agency of Moldova were also represented.
Location
Online
Timing
25-27 January 2021
Activity code
C2.7_47

This training course on final energy consumption statistics was the second regional activity organised in the context of project C2.7, following an online regional workshop, which took place on 10-13 November 2020 on the production of final energy consumption (FEC) statistics. This workshop allowed for the transfer of knowledge and practical know-how about the production of FEC statistics. During the course, the STE presented the major concepts and definitions in this field, including the major features of the EU methodological guidelines in particular, the analysis of the possible data sources, the production of FEC statistics relating to specific sectors and the analysis of FEC purposes and uses. The workshop also allowed to take stock of the situation and difficulties faced in all partner countries with regard to the production of FEC statistics, and to elaborate national roadmaps for the development of FEC statistics aligned with EU standards.

The training course additionally allowed the participants to understand clearly the major recommendations regarding the estimation of the production and use of renewable energy products as well as get acquainted with the key principles and examples in this respect. The discussions proved that scarcity of financial and human resources is the major obstacle in all partner countries to collect household energy consumption data on a regular basis. Several countries have already conducted such a survey but further activities are not planned for the time being. Concerning renewable energy sources, the countries expressed their willingness to implement the presented methodologies for modelling photo voltaic electricity, solar heat and ambient heat into energy statistics.

PROJECT C2.7_13 Workshop on the production of final energy consumption statistics

Activity type
Four-day online workshop
Title
Online Regional workshop on the production of final energy consumption statistics
Participants
Staff from the Energy statistics units of partner NSIs and from Ministries of Energy in charge of compiling statistics on final energy consumption
Location
Online
Timing
10-13 November 2020
Activity code
C2.7_13
This online workshop was the first regional activity implemented in the framework of project C2.7 Energy statistics: final energy consumption and energy efficiency indicators. It aimed at ensuring knowledge of the major features of the EU standards regarding the production of final energy consumption statistics of the partner countries. It also gave the opportunity to take stock of the situation and difficulties faced in the partner countries with regard to the production of final energy consumption statistics, and to draft national roadmaps for the development of final energy consumption statistics aligned with the EU standards. The workshop was conducted by a highly-specialised STE. The partner countries presented the current situation regarding the production of final energy consumption statistics with special emphasis on the challenges they face and their objectives in this area. The workshop identified the next steps towards the development of final energy consumption statistics within the partner countries.

PROJECT C2.2_40 Training course on input/output and supply and use tables

Activity type
Eight-day online training course
Title
Training course on input/output and supply and use tables
Participants
Staff from the National Accounts units of partner NSIs
Location
Online
Timing
16-19 and 24-27 November 2020
Activity code
C2.2_40

This online training course was the fourth regional activity organised in the context of the project on Macroeconomic Statistics: NA and GFS. This training is one of the most technical activities that will be implemented in STEP. The trainer used a mixture of theoretical presentations, practical examples and practical exercises where the participants have the opportunity to calculate the input and outputs of each sector in the economy. In addition, the participants were presented with how the activities and sectors interact and should be consolidated. The training was spread out over eight mornings. Each session started by going through the practical exercises that were given to the participants the day before. Then there was a theoretical presentation with practical examples of how the products flow from sector to sector combined with practical exercises. Considering the technicalities of the issues tackled, this combination of theory, practical exercises and examples proved appropriate and was highly appreciated by participants.

During the last day, participants presented the statistical sources used and the methodologies implemented for compiling supply and use tables, and sometimes symmetric input-output tables, in their country. The presentations proved to be very interesting and raised many questions and discussions with the expert and among participants.

PROJECT C2.2_30 Training course on the development of the production account in accordance with 2008 SNA and ESA 2010

Activity type
Three-day online training course
Title
Online Training course on the development of the production account in accordance with 2008 SNA and ESA 2010
Participants
Staff from the National Accounts units of partner NSIs
Location
Online
Timing
7-9 October 2020
Activity code
C2.2_30
This online training course was the third regional activity organised in the project on Macroeconomic Statistics: NA and GFS. The three STEs from Statistics Hungary presented the methodologies, systems, tools and processes that can be implemented in order to elaborate on a production account that is fully consistent with 2008 SNA and ESA 2010. The STEs focused on some specific issues that had been identified as of major interest to partner countries. These included the assessment of the non-observed economy and of the consumption of fixed capital as well as the treatment of specific financial activities, namely the output of central banks, Financial Services Indirectly Measured (FISIM) and insurance services. The participants presented and discussed steps to be taken within each partner country in order to develop a production account that is fully consistent with 2008 SNA and ESA 2010 with a view to producing annual and quarterly gross domestic product (GDP) data and possibly sector accounts aligned with ESA 2010.

PROJECT C2.2_72 TA mission on the development of the production account in accordance with ESA 2010 (Ukraine)

Activity type
Technical assistance
Title
TA mission on the development of the production account in accordance with ESA 2010 (Ukraine)
Participants
18 staff members from the National Account of the State Statistical Service of Ukraine (SSSU)
LocationOnline
Timing
1-30 June 2021
Activity codeC2.2_72

The general objective of this technical assistance mission was to produce a detailed diagnostic of the current situation regarding the calculation of households’ final consumption and the production of quarterly GDP flash estimates in the national accounts of Ukraine and, on this basis, to produce specific recommendations for the alignment of the national accounts of Ukraine with European and international standards in relation to these two major issues.

Before the first meeting, a questionnaire was sent to the SSSU dealing with each topic to be addressed during the mission in order to get information about the estimation method implemented, the available data sources and the main difficulties faced regarding the calculation of quarterly GDP flash estimates and of the final consumption of households. The answers to this questionnaire were received prior to the first meeting and, based on this information, the actual calculation process and the main problems could be discussed during this meeting.

During the second meeting, the practice of the EU Member States in relation to both topics was discussed. Between the second and the third meetings, the STEs received a series of questions regarding both topics which had to be answered in writing. Other questions were sent by the SSSU before the third and fourth meetings and all issues could henceforth be discussed in depth during these two meetings.

PROJECT C2.9_64 Training to apply the Harmonised European Time-Use Surveys (HETUS)

Activity type
Online training course
Title
Training to apply the Harmonised European Time-Use Surveys (HETUS)
Participants
There were 23 registered participants from Armenia (4), Azerbaijan (4) Belarus (3), Georgia (4), Moldova (3), and Ukraine (5). All participants came from the NSIs. They were mainly Managers and Senior Specialists working under Social Statistics Divisions, especially in the field of gender, labour, life quality, living standard and demographic statistics.
LocationOnline
Timing
22-24 June 2021
Activity codeC2.9_64

Five of the six participating countries had previously conducted a TUS or were in the process of conducting a pilot or a full-scale survey at the time of the training. This training course enabled participants to become familiar with HETUS 2018 guidelines and its application in ongoing and future TUSs planned in partner countries. Participants deepened their knowledge of HETUS 2018 methodologies, acquired practical knowledge on how to apply learned methodologies in planned or ongoing TUSs and learnt from the experiences of other countries.

The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the TUS results were emphasised during the country discussion session. One of the examples of countries learning from each other was that adopting the country-specific activity code “Distance learning” by one country was followed by other countries including it in the activity codes of their upcoming surveys.

PROJECT C2.9_19-1 TA to support pilot TUS in Armenia, methodology

Activity type
Technical assistance
Title
Pilot TUS methodology support to Armenia
Participants
Staff of Armstat
LocationOnline
Timing
From June 2020 to June 2021
Activity codeC2.9_19-1

The STEP programme supported Armstat in the conduction of a pilot TUS through the provision of technical assistance (TA) missions on TUS methodology as well as on sampling and IT issues. All activities regarding TUS in Armenia were undertaken in close collaboration with the UN Women Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia based in Istanbul.

The pilot TUS plan and methodology including survey questionnaire were finalised and the pilot survey data were collected in May/June 2021. The household and individual questionnaires were adapted to produce additional information as required by ICATUS coding. One additional column on payment for the main activity was added in the diary. Instructions and background questions in the diary were adapted based on the results of cognitive testing. Templates for manuals and guidelines were developed for interviewers and data coders based on the HETUS 2018 Guidelines and experiences of the STEs.

The Armenian activity list known as ACATUS was developed and used in coding in the pilot TUS. The ICATUS 2016 activity coding list (ACL) at the 3-digit level was used for the main and secondary activities. The HETUS 2018 ACL was used in the coding of context information in the diary.

In total, 14 methodological meetings between Armstat staff and STEs were held and five training courses were conducted on various topics, such as introduction to TUS methodology, TUS classification, data collection, cognitive testing and training for coders.

PROJECT C2.4_45 Training course on business demography statistics

Activity type
Online training course
Title
Training course on the European Framework for Business Demography Statistics
Participants
There were 39 participants from Armenia (10), Azerbaijan (7), Belarus (7), Georgia (7), Moldova (6) and Ukraine (4) participating in the study visit. Participants were heads of business statistics units of partner NSIs and other staff from the unit
LocationOnline
Timing
8-10 June 2021
Activity codeC2.4_45

The training course aimed to teach main EU acquis on business demography statistics, the Eurostat/OECD manual on the topic and application of the theory as to the current situation in the partner countries and discuss how the partner countries can improve their business demography statistics following EU guidelines.

Two senior short-term experts in business demography statistics facilitated this three-day virtual training course, supplementing each other and focusing on their respective areas of expertise. One additional expert contributed as a guest speaker during the second day to the presentations on the major features of the Eurostat-OECD Manual on business demography statistics, and on the impact of the new Regulation (EU) 2019/2152 on the indicators to be developed. The training course had an important workshop dimension, with the sharing of experiences and difficulties of the partner countries regarding the production of business demography statistics and the collective elaboration of national roadmaps for the development of business demography statistics aligned with EU standards.

PROJECT C1.2_35 Training in building capacity in quality methods, tools and good practices

Activity type
Four-day online training course
Title
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
LocationOnline
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.

PROJECT C1.1_14-2 Communication for Statistics: Phase 2, adaptation of material

Activity type
Adaptation of existing training material
Title
Communication for Statistics: Phase 2, adaptation of material
Participants
No participants
LocationOnline
Timing
March-May 2021, online
Activity codeC1.1_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.

[1]https://www.fun-mooc.fr/en/