 “Human capital is probably one of the 
                                 essential  factors  in  the  perspective  of 
                                 the modernization of statistics” 1
                       Statistical                                                        production                                                    requires                                            
                                 specialized                                                knowledge                                                  on                     subject 
                                 matter statistics
                       Continuous                                                                  staff                                training                                            and 
                                 development are therefore essential to 
                                 maintaining and enhancing the capacity 
                                 of a National Statistics Office (NSO)
                                                                                                                                        1 Concept note- Regional/Sub-regional  conferences on 
                                                                                                                                        transformative agenda for official statistics                              2
         Statistical capacity building still remains 
           a  challenge  in  the  region  despite 
           assistance              from           International 
           Development Partners 
                                                                      3
       Adequate training  is available in economic 
         statistics      in   areas  such  as  national 
         accounts,  prices,  balance  of  payments, 
         government financial statistics, tourism as 
         well as in  labour force statistics
       Designated  international  agencies  see 
         these areas as critical to their work  and so 
         give priority to training
                                                                      4
      Areas in need of support:
        Social statistics, statistical infrastructure 
          such as  sampling, data analysis, survey 
          management
        Non-technical
          Management & leadership
          Communication
          Report writing  & presentation skills
          Project management
                                                                      5
      Small size of statistical offices 
         limits the pool of knowledge in the organization- 
          especially in specialised areas such as sampling
         limits the available time for training
      High  staff  turnover  especially  among 
        technical        staff     including        information 
        technology
      Difficult to compete with private sector or 
        other high income countries in the region
      Lack of succession planning
                                                                      6