Capacity Development

A toolkit of practical guidance in conducting household income and expenditure surveys has been developed by the Pacific Community (SPC) for the region, supported by the World Bank.

Medical practitioners across the North Pacific gathered in Guam last week for a hands-on training aimed at one of civil registration’s critical challenges: accurately recording causes of death.

From trade to employment, an online portal for Samoa’s national statistics has launched, built on the same world-class, open-source platform used by other statistics innovators internationally.

Pacific trade and public health were in focus for statistics, customs and health officials from across the region late last year, part of broader joint efforts to develop trade data for better policy.

Improving the inclusion of people with disabilities in official data and decision-making is at the heart of a partnership of Pacific organisations, with a multi-year project funded by Australia launched this International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

Computer tablets and cloud software are making Pacific statistics more accurate, advanced and cost-effective, with Pacific Community (SPC) support and World Bank software.

Pacific statistics and data professionals led panel discussions on data modernisation and a climate-change case study last week, sharing insights and innovations from their region at the United Nations’ World Data Forum in Colombia.

Pacific projects and participation at an open-source statistics software ‘hackathon’ and conference at Melbourne’s Monash University last month showcased the power of the region’s open data, with SPC sponsoring members’ attendance for capability development.

Spreadsheets, spreadsheets, spreadsheets: With the public sector still powered by office stalwart Excel, SPC’s Director of Statistics for Development Peter Ellis has advocated for greater use of ‘R’—open-source statistical software with Pacific roots and potential.

Births, deaths, marriages and other major life events in Tuvalu are set to make greater use of digital systems and data-sharing, supported by the Pacific Community (SPC)’s expertise in this area.