Population and development

Following the limited support provided in the PDS area to the National institute of State statistics and Information (NISSI) under the earlier regional programme and the technical support to the 1995 population census, a full-fledged PDS Sub-programme had been developed under the first Country Programme.

The goal of the PDS subprogram was to contribute to the achievement of a sustainable balance between population, resources and environment in Turkmenistan, within the overall context of the Presidential Health Program. Towards this end, the subprogram purpose is to reflect population, reproductive health and gender concerns in the national and velayat level development agenda and thereby contribute to effective formulation of policies that adequately reflect population and development relationships.

Various missions have been undertaken during project implementation by technical experts of the UN/DESA to provide assistance with the training. This usually resulted in training courses for 5-8 days for selected central and velayat level NISSI staff.

In order to have a clearer understanding of the availability and quality of statistical data on population and reproductive health, a review of the collection, analysis and dissemination of data had been undertaken by NISSI with the collaboration of the MOHMI and others in 2000. Following this review, the data gaps were identified which were to guide the research agenda. The review revealed the lack of sex-disaggregated data at the national level (including MOHMI data), this led to the recommendation to improve the collection of "gender statistics".

A major part of the project activities was formed by the organization of the first Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) in Turkmenistan in 2000 by the Clinical Research Centre of Maternal and Child Health, NISSI and MACRO International Inc. As mentioned above, funding and substantial technical assistance for this important survey were provided by MACRO International. According to the NISSI staff, NISSI participated actively in the various stages of the DHS process. This experience was highly valued as it was seen as "on-the-job training" of a major international survey. The DHS report was prepared in three languages: English, Turkmen and Russian.

Several selected sample surveys/ and other studies werr undertaken:

- "Factor Analysis of Life Expectancy", 2001. The study was designed to identify what the underlying causes of mortality were in order to establish where action could be taken. Apparently, this was the first time such a study was undertaken in Turkmenistan. It was particular relevant as the national programme "Strategy of socio-economic development in Turkmenistan for the period to 2010" aims to achieve the target of an average life expectancy of 71,4 year in 2010.

- Survey on population migration, 2001. The study, partly funded by UNFPA and UNDP, was published and reportedly had added to the understanding of the internal and external migration patterns and the underlying determinants which have helped in guiding the government in undertaking particular measures.

- A study on "Gender Differentials in Socio-Economic Indicators", 2001. The study provides an overview of various socio-economic indicators, which at times are clearly different between the two sexes.

- A Living Conditions Survey (of small towns in Turkmenistan), 2002. The survey aimed to analyze the socio-economic status of the population of selected small towns as small towns were considered to be negatively affected by the economic transition. The report was prepared in three languages.

- A "Health reform" survey, 2002 (with technical support from WHO) to evaluate the quality of health insurance system in two regions (1600 households were interviewed) The survey revealed that despite some shortcomings of the ongoing reforms in the health system, it was positively perceived and supported by the majority of the population and health specialists.

- A "Mini-survey on fertility behaviour", 2003 (sample survey of 1500 households of different regions).

In 2002 of a Centre for Training and Research in Population, Development and Health Management was established in the NISSI building, Ashgabat. This centre was seen as essential in view of the scarcity of institutional capacity for training, research and formulating population and development policies and programmes in the country.

Within the new programme cycle for 2005-2009 UNFPA will continue to strengthen NISSI including its branches, other relevant ministries' statistical departments, cooperating jointly with NISSI on improving data collection, analysis and dissemination in RH and Population areas. Special attention will be focused on the approved international measurement standards.
UNFPA is ready to support decision of the Government to fulfill 2009 census, which goes in line with the UN recommendation to conduct the census in all UN member-states till 2010. Paying special attention to the planned census, UNFPA will assist NISSI in preparation activities for this large-scale statistical event starting 2006.

The first CPD outcome is to ensure that the national capacity for data collection, analysis and reporting meets international standards, particularly with regard to socio-economic indicators and population and development indicators.

NISSI will assume the overall lead and coordinating function in implementation of the population and development strategy component of the proposed programme. UNFPA, together with NISSI, will work with Ministries, Mejlis (Parliament), local municipalities towards integration of gender mainstreaming and data in the national planning process. The other partner is UNDP. UNFPA will partner with NISSI in collection, analysis and dissemination of population, reproductive health and gender data complying to international standards