DESA News

Volume 14, No.9 - September 2010

Capacity development

Sharing experiences in disseminating census data

Regional Seminar on Census Data Dissemination and Spatial Analysis will be held in Nairobi, Kenya, from 14-17 September

DESA’s Statistics Division, in cooperation with Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, is organizing this regional seminar in the context of the 2010 World Programme for Population and Housing Censuses. The purpose of the Seminar is to provide a forum for sharing national practices and experiences in the dissemination and use of census data.

The Seminar will review emerging trends, innovative approaches and technological tools employed in the dissemination of census data. The Seminar is expected to provide a basis for assessing existing national dissemination strategies as well as technologies used by National Statistical Offices. It will also aid in taking stock of national capacities and challenges for meeting the increasing requirements of census data users.

Furthermore, the Seminar is expected to help in identifying good practices and lessons learned in the dissemination and analysis of census data. The ideas generated by the discussion and the recommendations made by participants will contribute towards the drafting of an international guideline for effective dissemination and utilization of census data.

For more information: http://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic/meetings/wshops/Kenya_14Sept2010/default.htm

Enhancing the capacity to use CensusInfo

National Advanced Training Workshop on CensusInfo will take place in Cairo, Egypt, from 20-23 September

DESA’s Statistics Division, in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), is organizing this workshop with the purpose to enhance the capacity of CAPMAS staff to use CensusInfo software as a tool for disseminating population and housing census results.

The workshop has been designed using an outcome-based training methodology consisting of a series of demonstrations followed by practical exercises based on the 2008 census results of Egypt. Participants will learn how to customize CensusInfo software according to national requirements in order to finalize the national application of CensusInfo which was drafted during the basic training held in Cairo from 2-6 May 2010.

For more information: http://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic/sources/census/2010_PHC/CensusInfo/index.htm

Introducing Web 2.0 tools in the era of governmentIntroducing Web 2.0 tools in the era of government

Workshop on Harnessing Knowledge Management through Web 2.0 Tools in the Era of Government 2.0 will take place in Shanghai, China, from 25-27 September

The workshop aims to enhance participants’ capacity for interaction with their clients through their introduction to and education about cutting-edge Gov 2.0 tools. Furthermore, the workshop aims to improve the quality of participants’ knowledge management through their introduction to the United Nations Public Administration Country Studies (UNPACS) platform and their subsequent training on related Web 2.0 tools. Moreover, participants will be provided with opportunities to share experiences, lessons learned and good practices from their countries and regions with respect to Knowledge Management.

This workshop is co-organized by DESA’s Division for Public Administration and Development Management (DPADM) in collaboration with the Regional Cooperation Office for City Informatization (RCOCI) of the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government.

For more information: http://www.unpan.org/Events/Conferences/tabid/94/mctl/EventDetails/ModuleID/1532
/ItemID/1584/Default.aspx

Integrating ICT in parliamentary processes

Workshop on ICT Strategic Planning in the SADC Parliaments was held in Windhoek, Namibia, from 26-28 July

Awareness was raised among the Southern African Development Community (SADC) parliaments on the potential of ICT in parliament and the importance of strategic planning for the effective integration of ICT in parliamentary processes.

The event was co-organized by DESA, through the Global Centre for ICT in Parliament, and the SADC Parliamentary Forum, in coordination with the Africa i-Parliaments Action Plan and brought together over 40 participants including Members of Parliament, Secretary-Generals and ICT Directors from Parliaments in the SADC region.

During the event, the APKN Draft Guidelines for Strategic Planning in Parliaments prepared by the African i-Parliament Action Plan were presented as well as the structure of the Handbook for ICT Parliamentary Committees that is being prepared by the Global Centre within the framework of the Project “Support to ICT Strategic Planning in the SADC Parliaments”.

The Workshop is one of the activities of the Project “Support to ICT Strategic Planning in the SADC Parliaments” funded by the European Commission and implemented by DESA in collaboration with the SADC Parliamentary Forum.

For more information: http://www.ictparliament.org/en/node/830