• Summary
• Downloads
• Explanatory Notes
• Related Information
• Past Releases

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND REGIONAL STATISTICAL DEVELOPMENT

OBJECTIVES

The key objectives of the ABS's International Relations and Regional Statistics Development program are to:

• review and refresh the International Relations Strategy to ensure ABS maintains a high profile and outstanding reputation as an engaged and active statistical leader
• shape and influence national and international discussions regarding statistical frameworks, strategies and policies
• build strong statistical capacity and capability in priority countries in Asia and the Pacific region
• support Australia’s foreign policy and aid development objectives
• monitor performance and compliance across the various components of the program by undertaking audits and reviews of the program.

• increase the pool of expertise, and reduce the cost of re-development, in order to harmonise statistical methods, systems and capabilities to achieve mutual benefits across all participating National Statistical Offices (NSOs)
• implement the revised ABS International Relations Strategy, taking account of current organisational and government priorities
• support the growing importance of comparable international data in the global economy by meeting the increasing demand to produce high quality, timely and consistent statistics
• continue to focus on Asia and the Pacific region, with a model of engagement that supports a proactive voice from this region
• administer the funding received from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) to implement the delivery of high quality statistical improvement initiatives in priority countries in Asia and the Pacific region
• develop an integrated statistical capability framework that supports developing NSOs, particularly in meeting international standards in compiling and producing statistics.

• engage in collaborative projects with other NSOs, including new dissemination and collection systems, processes for collecting administrative data, and common metadata frameworks - ongoing
• work with the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe on the modernisation of statistical infrastructure - ongoing
• with the support of DFAT, deliver a range of improved outcomes for statistical initiatives in Papua New Guinea (2015-16 only), Indonesia, the Pacific region, Fiji, and Timor-Leste - ongoing
• through targeted collaboration, enhance the ABS's engagement with key countries to provide an opportunity to increase the pool of expertise, and reduce the cost of re-development via co-designed and co-developed projects - ongoing
• provide strategic advice to support ABS Executive engagement in key international statistical fora such as the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, United Nations Statistical Commission, and the United Nations Statistical Institute for Asia and the Pacific region - ongoing.