Feasibility Study

feasibility study

Report of Feasibility Study on Capacity Building in National Accounting in the East Timor National Statistics Directorate

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Project Sponsor: NZ Aid

Prepared by: Michael Andrews

Statistics New Zealand

June 2004

Key Input from: Mr Manuel Mendonca

Director, National Statistics Directorate,

Government of East Timor

Executive Summary

This feasibility study has been conducted to assess how Statistics NZ could provide long term assistance to the National Statistics Directorate of Timor-Leste, specifically for national accounts statistics. This report is addressed to the executive of Statistics NZ, and NZAid.

The study identified the key uses of the national accounts, what national accounts statistics are needed, and what support the NSD needs to build its capacity over the next several years. The NSD has considerable ability in conducting surveys of households, and recently upgraded the CPI collection and begun compiling external trade statistics. However, the NSD currently has little experience of producing analytical outputs, particularly from economic or financial data. Therefore, it will take a number of years for the NSD to build up to a level of experience and knowledge needed to produce national accounts without external assistance.

This report provides a proposed plan for a series of missions to Timor-Leste. These missions will provide both training and statistical assistance to compile the accounts while the NSD staff develop their skills and knowledge. It also outlines available data sources, possible methodology for developing time series for value added by industry, and identifies areas where additional collections may need to be developed to fill critical data gaps.

Recommendations:

1. That two visits per year be undertaken. This maintains regular face to face contact, while still requiring the...