International experts in statistics, representatives of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), and national and international partners met in an International Technical Advisory Board (ITAB) to discuss the challenges and solutions related to the development of the informational system on ‘Population and Migration Statistics’.

The National Bureau of Statistics presented to Board members the methods used to develop the system, challenges encountered, and the next steps. Thus, the experts appreciated the progress made so far by NBS and formulated recommendations for its further development. 

The NBS has the goal to develop an informational system for population and migration statistics. This system will contain feasible, accurate, relevant and timely data, as well as internationally comparable demographic statistics, domestic and international migration, annual estimates of the population with habitual residence by age, sex and territorial profile. 

At the opening event, E.S. Rahul Shrivastava, Ambassador of India to Romania, Republic of Moldova and Albania, reiterated the Indian Government’s support for NBS strengthening initiatives, underlying the importance of global cooperation in this regard.

Oleg Cara, Director General of NBS, emphasized the importance of qualitative data, especially during the pandemic. ‘Qualitative statistics can help authorities manage better the crisis situations and formulate efficient policies, especially in the context of the pandemic. This important activity should be conducted only in cooperation with our international partners, especially when it comes to vital statistics, in order to have data disaggregated by age, gender, and other criteria’. 

Nigina Abaszada, Resident Representative of United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) reiterated the importance of qualitative population data. ‘NBS is a long-term partner of the United Nations Population Fund. Our goal is for the informational system on population and migration to provide feasible and disaggregated data, aligned to the international standards.  We want it to be a starting point for the 2023 census. In the long run, this system will help the NBS to move from a traditional census to a register-based one’.

‘The pandemic put high pressure on statistical institutions worldwide, as data were needed to manage the situation we all had to face. I hence believe that investments in qualitative data are important for any country. Qualitative statistical data can help the Moldovan authorities address some consequences of the migration and come up with efficient policies’, believes Ms. Caroline Tissot, Director of Swiss Cooperation Office Moldova.

To help formulate the final concept for the future informational system on ‘Population and Migration Statistic’, UNFPA organised a number of knowledge and experience-sharing sessions for NBS professionals and statisticians from Spain, Estonia, Netherlands, Slovenia and Finland during February-March 2021. Experts shared their experience on development of statistical registers or the use of administrative data sources for the production of demographic statistics and conducting of the population censuses. 

The informational system on ‘Population and Migration Statistic’ is developed by the National Bureau of Statistics with UNFPA technical assistance and financial support from India-UN Development Partnership Fund.

The International Technical Advisory Board is a platform, by means of which international experts provide technical assistance for the development of an informational system on population and migration on the basis of the administrative data available in the Republic of Moldova. The main objective of ITAB is to provide high-level technical counselling and guidance to NBS in establishing an informational system on ‘Population and Migration Statistics’, in line with the relevant international recommendations and practices.