EFTA and UNECE hold workshop in Moldova on moving to a process-based statistical organisation

Traditionally, the production of statistics has been organised by topic. However, as part of modernisation efforts in recent years, a process-oriented approach to statistical production has gained popularity among national statistical institutes (NSIs). This approach focuses on the optimal coordination and operation of processes, aiming to generate efficiency, ensure greater coherence between outputs, and provide a more sustainable approach to information technology management. 

Today’s NSIs face many challenges, including rapidly changing technologies, increasing public demand for timely, relevant and up-to-date statistics, and decreasing budgets. These challenges require NSIs to employ more skilled staff and improve their infrastructure. One way of doing this is to move to a process-based organisation. In addition to efficiency gains, it will also improve the quality and reliability of official statistics disseminated by NSIs.

A significant part of the workshop was dedicated to participants sharing their experiences in transitioning to a process-based statistical organisation. From the EFTA States, Anton Örn Karlsson from Statistics Iceland outlined Iceland’s reorganisation towards a process-based structure, while UNECE experts Steven Vale and InKyung Choi presented the Generic Statistical Business Process Model (GSBPM), the Generic Activity Model for Statistical Organisations (GAMSO) and the Generic Statistical Information Model (GSIM).

The workshop also featured three interactive sessions that allowed participants to engage with the material. The first session focused on the implementation of GSBPM/GAMSO and other models, including plans and expected gains. The second session addressed issues and obstacles in transitioning to a process-based organisation, specifically in the areas of human resources and production/technology. The final session was a general discussion on what was needed to move forward, such as training, tools and knowledge-sharing. This session was chaired by Michel Di Pietro, Director of the EFTA Statistical Office.

25 experts from Armenia, Georgia, Iceland, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Serbia, Uzbekistan and UNECE attended the workshop, which formed part of the 2024 EFTA Work Programme for Technical Cooperation in the Field of Statistics. It was organised as a follow-up measure to statistical assessments previously conducted by EFTA and UNECE in the participating partner countries.

The EFTA Secretariat extends its sincere gratitude to all participants for their valuable contributions to the workshop, particularly colleagues from UNECE, as well as from the National Bureau of Statistics of the Republic of Moldova and from Statistics Iceland. 

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