ICP Progress Report Western Asia Region

1. ICP Progress ReportWestern Asia Region ICP Regional Coordinators Workshop March 7-11, 2005 World Bank, Washington D. C.

2. Data Collection Status of consumption groups Expected Comparability Training Management Issues Time Table Main Issues

3. Data Collection • Seven countries already started the price collection for Food & Beverages and Clothing & Footwear; • Financial resources are needed for three countries to start and for another two countries to continue; • One country needs governmental support to form the team and to start; • Iraq joined the program in January 2005 and data collection will cover five cities only.

4. Countries started data collection

5. Countries not started data collection

6. Survey Magnitude and Inclusiveness

7. Status of Consumption Groups

8. Status of Consumption Groups

9. Status of Consumption Groups

10. Status of Consumption Groups

11. Status of Consumption Groups

12. How comparable would be the results? • At the expenditure group level; • At the expenditure sub-group level; • At the basic heading level; • At a single product level; • For the whole region; • For country groups in the region; and • Bilaterally (each country with other countries in the region)

20. Training Workshops; Tool Pack; Data Collection.

21. Third Workshop on ICPOctober 2004, Beirut Objectives: Discuss countries’ experiences, survey plans and readiness for the price survey; Enhance the statistical capacity of participants in the areas of expenditure weights, pricing, and survey framework & procedures; Provide training to price statisticians and/or survey supervisors on Tool Pack.

22. Third Workshop on ICPOctober 2004, Beirut Participants: 9 National Coordinators; 22 National Statisticians; 2 consultants; ICP Deputy Global Manager; and ICP Team of Western Asia.

23. Training on ICP Tool PackOctober 2004, Beirut 22 statisticians and 3 national coordinators received 2 days training on the ICP Tool-Pack (the Arabic version). The Food & Clothing product list was uploaded on 20 PCs and the participants were trained to design the survey framework and how to export and import files between PAM and PCM. 2 PCs, with TP installed and F&C list uploaded, have been supplied to each country to complete their work immediately after the workshop.

25. Training on Data Collection This training lies under the countries responsibility. The national statisticians who participated in regional workshops and received TP training are acting as trainers of data collectors and supervise their work. However, this process should be closely monitored. some national coordinators and/or supervisors still not aware of all constraints that characterize the ICP price survey. Data collectors in most countries will be hired for this project specifically and they did not receive proper education (they hold a high school certificate at most). Regular data collectors at statistical offices could be another source of probable data distortion since they stick to what they have used to do with CPI.

26. Management Issues Targets: • Follow up data collection; • Ensure quality results; • Enhance the conceptual understanding; • Maintain perfect relations and team spirit.

27. Management Issues Actions: • Frequent visits to the survey field taken by the Regional Office for random check; • Better assessment to expected products comparability before approving final lists; • Continuous training to data collectors, supervisors, statisticians and every regional and national team members; • More conceptual documents and materials; • Adequate advocacy.

28. Management Issues Requirements: • More training: workshops, seminars and EGMs; • Hiring the services of specialized consultants; • Recruiting qualified statisticians/economists with regional and national teams; • Recruiting qualified data collectors; • Producing and disseminating necessary guidelines and instructions; • Better media promotion; and • MONEY, GRANTS, FUNDRAISING…..what so ever?