different activities. 30.126 Theobjectives ofthesubprogramme are: (a)ToassistAfrican countries inestablishing and/ordeveloping adurable infrastructure forthecollection, processing, analysis anddissemination of integrated demographic, social andeconomic statistics; (b)Tointegrate environment statistics intoroutine datacollection activities andtocollect dataonspecial population groups, suchaswomen, children, thedisabled andtheaged; (c)ToassistAfrican countries tobuildupstatistical datarequired for drawing upmeaningful economic andsocialdevelopment plans; (d)Todevelop thenecessary statistical datainplanning, monitoring and evaluating social andeconomic progress; (e)Toprovide continuous support fordeveloping national dataprocessing capabilities, especially byenhancing theutilization ofmicro-computers; (f)Toexpandtheavailability ofandimprove theeaseofaccesstonational, subregional andregional databases; (g)Topromote theimprovement ofthequality, relevance, timeliness and inter-country comparability ofthedatabeingcollected. (b)CourseofactionoftheSecretariat 30.127 During 1992-1997, inordertoimprove thesituation inthefieldof statistics intheregion, theECAsecretariat willundertake thefollowing activities andwillprovide: (a)Assistance tomemberStatesforthemaintenance andstrengthening of theirinstitutional framework andfortheprovision ofdataforintegrated planning. Areascovered willinclude demographic, social andeconomic data, particularly onhouseholds andhousehold members, aswellasenvironment statistics; (b)Advisory services tocountries ontheformulation vfstatistical plans, including dataproduction schedules, training programmes anddetailed data-processing requirements, ontheestablishment ofuser/producer committees for optimizing theuseandrelevance ofstatistical services, andonthedevelopment andmaintenance ofintegrated computer-based systems ofeconomic, social, demographic andenvironment statistics; (c)Advisory services inthefieldsofpopulation censuses, civil registration, household surveys, environment statistics, national accounts, trade statistics andindustrial statistics, whichwillconcentrate onbuilding up self-reliance andwilltherefore emphasize on-the-job training; -30- Digitized by Dag Hammarskjöld Libraryf" j(d)Expansion oftheexisting regional statistical database,withaviewto disseminating touserscomprehensive andup-to-date statistical information, including well-documented datafromotherinternational databanksandfrom national sources; (e)Statistical computing"materials foron-the-job training andformal training ofstatisticians atstatistical training centres; (f)Methodological studies thatwillbecarried outinspecific areasof economic, social, demographic andenvironment statistics. Thosestudies willhave twomainobjectives, namely: toidentify andanalyse theshortcomings ofthebasic statistics atthenational level, andtoserveastechnical guidelines formember Statestoassist themintheirefforts toimprove thequality andtimeliness of databeingcollected; (g)Aseriesofseminars andtraining workshops toexamine conceptual and organizational requirements forimproving national, subregional andregional programmes onsocio-economic andenvironment statistics, topromote theexchange of experiences between thecountries oftheregioninthefieldofstatistics, andto develop further theprofessional competence oftheparticipants. Thoseworkshops andseminars willfocuson:statistical computing, population census, with particular reference tospecial population groups, civilregistration systems and vitalstatistics collection, household surveys, environment statistics, international tradestatistics, business surveys, basiceconomic statistics and national accounts. Aseriesoftechnical documents willbeprepared ontheabove
**Analysis**
The text appears to focus on the collection, analysis, and dissemination of statistical data related to economic, social, and demographic development in African countries. The objectives mentioned include the improvement of statistical data collection, processing, and dissemination, as well as the development of data required for economic and social development planning. The activities outlined also include advisory services, training, and methodological studies, which suggests a strong emphasis on capacity building and technical assistance.

**Category**
Economic development, Statistics