Council Working Party on Statistics
Advancing Statistical Collaboration and Quality Across Nations
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About the Council Working Party on Statistics
The Council Working Party on Statistics (CWPS) is an international collaborative body established to promote cooperation, harmonization, and quality improvement in statistical practices across member nations. Founded in 1987, the CWPS has grown from a small group of statistical offices to a comprehensive network encompassing statistical agencies from 47 countries.
The organization serves as a forum for exchanging best practices, developing common standards, and addressing methodological challenges in collecting, processing, and disseminating statistical information. Its work spans both economic and social statistics, with the overarching goal of enhancing the comparability, reliability, and timeliness of data that informs policy decisions worldwide.
Through its specialized committees and working groups, the CWPS tackles emerging statistical challenges such as measuring the digital economy, capturing new forms of employment, and developing indicators for sustainable development goals. The organization also plays a crucial role in capacity building, providing technical assistance to statistical offices in developing countries to strengthen their statistical systems.
Mandate and Objectives
The Council Working Party on Statistics operates under a clear mandate defined by its founding charter and updated through successive strategic plans:
Structure and Governance
Executive Board
The Executive Board consists of the heads of ten national statistical offices elected by the membership for three-year terms. The Board provides strategic direction, oversees the implementation of the CWPS work program, and represents the organization in international forums.
Technical Committees
Specialized committees focus on particular statistical domains or methodological areas:
- Economic Statistics Committee
- Population and Social Statistics Committee
- Methodology and Quality Committee
- Information and Communication Technology Committee
Working Groups
Temporary working groups are established to address specific emerging issues or tasks:
- SDG Indicators Working Group
- Big Data Integration Task Force
- Data Dissemination Standards Group
- Gender Statistics Advisory Group
Secretariat
The CWPS Secretariat, based in Geneva, Switzerland, provides administrative support, facilitates communication, coordinates meetings, and manages the organization's knowledge resources and documentation systems.
Key Initiatives and Projects
Launched in 2019, this ambitious five-year program aims to significantly increase cross-national statistical comparability. The initiative focuses on aligning key economic and social indicators across member countries, developing common data collection tools, and establishing quality control benchmarks.
Learn MoreThis framework guides statistical offices through adopting modern technologies and data sources. It addresses areas such as cloud computing, automated data collection, data visualization, and secure data sharing. The framework includes implementation guidelines, training modules, and case studies from successful digital transformations.
Learn MoreThe CWPS supports national statistical offices in developing the data infrastructure needed for monitoring and achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This includes creating national SDG indicator frameworks, building statistical capacity, and establishing data sharing mechanisms for SDG reporting.
Learn MoreThis project addresses measurement challenges related to new forms of employment in the digital economy, including gig work, platform-mediated labor, and remote work arrangements. The project develops methodologies for capturing these employment forms in official statistics and ensures they are comparable across countries.
Learn MorePublications and Resources
The Council Working Party on Statistics produces a range of publications, guidelines, and resources to support statistical development:
Comparative Statistical Indicators, 2024 Edition
3 days agoAnnual compilation of key economic and social indicators across member countries with methodological notes.
Quality Assurance Framework for Official Statistics
2 weeks agoComprehensive guidelines for establishing quality management systems in national statistical offices.
Handbook on Big Data Integration
Last monthPractical guide for incorporating non-traditional data sources into official statistics.
Dissemination Standards and Best Practices
2 months agoRecommendations for improving user experience and accessibility of statistical data portals.
Methodological Guide to Business Registers
3 months agoTechnical guidance on establishing and maintaining comprehensive business registers for economic statistics.
Upcoming Events
15
OctAnnual Conference on Statistical Quality
Virtual platform - bringing together statisticians from across member countries to share experiences and innovations in quality management.
Registration closes October 5, 2023
Register Now22
NovBig Data Implementation Workshop
Paris, France - Practical training for statistical offices beginning to incorporate big data sources into their operations.
Limited to 50 participants
Apply to Attend8-10
DecExecutive Board Meeting
Brussels, Belgium - Quarterly meeting of the CWPS Executive Board to review progress and set strategic priorities.
By invitation only
Contact Information
Secretariat Office
Council Working Party on Statistics
International Statistics Building
15 Rue du Mont-Blanc
1211 Geneva, Switzerland
General Inquiries
Email: info@cwps.int
Phone: +41 22 730 5750
Fax: +41 22 730 5759
Technical Support
Email: support@cwps.int
Phone: +41 22 730 5761
Media Inquiries
Email: media@cwps.int
Phone: +41 22 730 5762
Office Hours
Monday - Friday: 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM (GMT+1)
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