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| Statistical Institute for Asia and the Pacific | |
|---|---|
| Name | Statistical Institute for Asia and the Pacific |
| Formation | 1970 |
| Founder | United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific |
| Type | Intergovernmental training institute |
| Headquarters | Manila, Philippines |
| Region served | Asia and the Pacific |
| Parent organization | United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific |
Statistical Institute for Asia and the Pacific is an intergovernmental training and research institute based in Manila, Philippines that focuses on statistical capacity building for countries across Asia and the Pacific. It was established under the auspices of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific to provide professional training, postgraduate education, and advisory services for national statistical systems. The institute engages with a broad range of multilateral organizations, regional development banks, and national agencies to support statistical standards, methodologies, and data dissemination.
The institute traces its origins to initiatives by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific and policy dialogues involving the United Nations Statistical Commission, Food and Agriculture Organization, International Labour Organization, World Bank, and Asian Development Bank during the late 1960s and early 1970s. Formal establishment in 1970 followed consultations with the Government of the Philippines, the United Nations Development Programme, and regional delegates from India, China, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand. Over successive decades the institute expanded programs through partnerships with the International Monetary Fund, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, United Nations Children's Fund, and United Nations Population Fund, reflecting evolving standards from the System of National Accounts and the International Comparison Program. Political and economic shifts in the region, such as liberalization policies in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Philippines' policy reforms, shaped demand for its capacity building, while crises including the Asian financial crisis underscored needs for improved statistical infrastructure. The institute has hosted delegations from national statistical offices such as Statistics Canada, Office for National Statistics (United Kingdom), National Bureau of Statistics of China, and Statistics New Zealand.
The institute's mission aligns with mandates from the United Nations and regional development agendas promoted by organizations like the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank. Objectives include strengthening national statistical systems in member states such as Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam, and Philippines; promoting international standards developed by the United Nations Statistical Commission, the International Monetary Fund, and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development; and advancing capacities in areas addressed by the Sustainable Development Goals, the International Comparison Program, and the Global Strategy to Improve Agricultural and Rural Statistics. The institute prioritizes professional education, methodological harmonization, and technical assistance for censuses, surveys, and administrative data integration.
Governance comprises oversight mechanisms involving the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific and advisory inputs from member governments represented by national statistical offices such as Statistics Indonesia, Department of Statistics Malaysia, and Central Statistics Office (Ireland) in comparative exchanges. An executive committee includes experts drawn from institutions like the International Monetary Fund, World Bank, Asian Development Bank, Food and Agriculture Organization, and International Labour Organization. Organizational units reflect academic departments, training divisions, and advisory teams that liaise with technical bodies including the United Nations Statistical Commission and regional bodies like the Pacific Islands Forum and the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation.
The institute offers postgraduate diplomas, certificate courses, and short-term professional training in subjects aligned with curricula from institutions such as the London School of Economics, Columbia University, Australian National University, and National University of Singapore. Course offerings cover topics influenced by frameworks from the System of National Accounts, Balance of Payments Manual (BPM), Consumer Price Index methodology, and the International Standard Classification of Occupations. Training modalities include in-person programs on its Manila campus, online courses developed with partners like United Nations Institute for Training and Research, and field-based workshops with national statistical offices including Statistics Korea and Statistics Philippines. The institute runs fellowship schemes and supports thesis supervision linked to universities such as the University of the Philippines, University of Colombo, and Chiang Mai University.
Research outputs include methodological manuals, technical reports, and working papers addressing topics championed by the United Nations Statistical Commission, the Global Measure of Multidimensional Poverty, and the International Comparison Program. Publications disseminate findings on survey design, sampling methods inspired by work at INSEE and Statistics Netherlands, data quality frameworks, and case studies from member states including Nepal, Cambodia, and Lao People's Democratic Republic. Collaborative research has engaged institutions such as the World Bank Development Research Group, the Asian Development Bank Institute, and academic centers like Harvard University and Stanford University. The institute contributes to guidelines used by national statistical offices and multilateral agencies in census planning, household surveys, and administrative data integration.
The institute maintains formal and informal partnerships with United Nations entities including the United Nations Development Programme, United Nations Children's Fund, and UN Women; multilateral lenders such as the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank; and regional networks including the Pacific Community and the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation. Academic collaborations extend to the London School of Economics, National University of Singapore, University of Melbourne, and research centers like the Institute of Development Studies and the East-West Center. Technical cooperation also involves bilateral donors such as the Government of Japan, Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and agencies like the Japan International Cooperation Agency and Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency.
Located in Manila, the campus includes classrooms, computer laboratories, a statistical computing center equipped with software commonly used by national statistical offices (paralleling tools adopted by Statistics Canada and Statistics New Zealand), and a library with collections comparable to holdings at the United Nations Library and Archives. Facilities support distance learning and collaboration through videoconferencing linked to partner sites in Bangkok, Jakarta, Kathmandu, and Wellington. The institute's campus hosts conferences, workshops, and regional meetings attended by delegations from national statistical offices, multilateral agencies, and academic institutions.
Category:Intergovernmental organizations Category:United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific