UN-ESCWA in collaboration with the Arab Institute for Training and Research in Statistics (AITRS) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), held a training workshop on “Measuring ICT Indicators” in Amman, Jordan, from 7 to 10 April 2008. The workshop agenda was based on the “Core ICT Indicators” publication issued by the Partnership on Measuring ICT for Development , which was translated into Arabic by AITRS in collaboration with UN-ESCWA. The workshop also focused on the “Guidelines for ICT Indicators Measurements”, a technical manual published by UN-ESCWA in 2007.

The workshop provided theoretical as well as hands-on training to participants on data collection of the core list of ICT indicators including indicators on ICT infrastructure and access, indicators on access to and use of ICT by households and individuals, indicators on use of ICT by businesses, and indicators on ICT sector and trade in ICT goods.

The workshop started by exploring the definitions of ICT indicators with emphasis on the core list of indicators and the methods of measurement in addition to specifying the extended list of indicators at the national level and potential sources for data collection. It also highlighted the current status of ICT indicators data collection and the statistical methodologies used including the households and business surveys. It concluded by exploring the ESCWA Statistical Information System (ESIS) and provided a hands-on-training on its different modules including the data management and reporting modules.

The workshop was attended by 36 participants from 14 Arab states, working in national statistical offices, ICT ministries, telecom regulatory authorities and communications companies.