The Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) will organize a four-day Regional Advanced CountrySTAT training for ECO Member States. The event will take place from 10 to 13 November 2014 in the ECO Secretariat, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran.

CountrySTAT is a web-based information system on food and agriculture which provides easy access to statistical data of good quality that can aid decision-makers in better, evidence- based policy-making and greater efficiency in development politics. Nationally owned and maintained, it serves as a one stop centre that enables the collection and harmonization of timely and reliable official data from different sources and their integration in a common location. Data provided through CountrySTAT serves researchers, policymakers, development organizations, and the private sector to design and implement better policy and investments in agriculture.

The purpose of the training is to provide national delegates from the ECO Member States with skills and experience on how to use the CountrySTAT platform for the dissemination of official statistics on food and agriculture and the comprehensive process to upload data. It will also provide an excellent opportunity for members of ECO to work together under the direction of the Regional CountrySTAT Secretariat and to further promote the use of CountySTAT at regional and national levels.

His Excellency Dr. Shamil Aleskerov, ECO Secretary General, will open the meeting.

Presentations will focus on:

• Statistics module of CountrySTAT and the imputation methodology for missing data;
• Food Balance Sheet module
• IT module and the new CountrySTAT system.

The workshop is expected to provide a platform for the participants to assess the current situation, identify possible gaps and future needs, and to make recommendations to further promote the use and visibility of CountySTAT system for official data related to food and agriculture, at regional and national levels.