DUSHANBE, August 26, 2010, Asia-Plus  -- International expert from Germany’s Federal Statistical Office, Dr. Manfred Ehling, has conducted a five-day seminar for specialists from the Agency for Statistics under the President of Tajikistan on qualitative data and qualitative statistical reporting.

Zarrina Madumarova, a chief specialists form the department for consolidated economic analysis and international cooperation of the Agency for Statistics, said 16 specialists from the Agency had taken part in the seminar.  “They were instructed in modern methods of elaborating questionnaires, testing data for conducting surveys and polls, etc,” she said.

According to her, the seminar was conducted in the framework of the Tajikistan Strengthening the National Statistical System Project.

The project mainly aims to modernize the national statistical system and improve its efficiency and effectiveness to provide relevant, timely and reliable statistical data for evidence-based policy making to support the Government''s poverty reduction strategies and the process of economic development.

The project has 6 components: 1) the Institutional Development component improves the institutional capacity to carry out the formulation, coordination, and implementation of appropriate statistical policies and programs; 2) the Human Resource Development component targets improving the qualifications of personnel in all statistical offices of the national statistical system; 3) the Development of Statistical Infrastructure component improves the basic elements of the statistical infrastructure (statistical registers, sample frames, classifications and methodologies, statistical computer packages for analysis of survey data, and Geographical Information System (GIS) for statistical mapping); 4) the Data Development component supports adapting internationally accepted standards and methodologies in data collection, compilation, and validation by the state statistical agency and other relevant agencies; 5) the Physical Infrastructure and Equipment component upgrades existing information technology (IT), transportation and other equipment that is essential to carry out existing and project activities; and 6) The Project Management component finances the project coordination.