Statistics Botswana, like other statistical agencies, is the pre-eminent national agency responsible for the development and management of official statistics and coordination of the National Statistical System (NSS). Thus, Statistics Botswana has the responsibility to inform users and producers of statistics on the concepts, definitions, classifications, and methodologies used in collecting, processing, and analysing data; the accuracy of the data produced; and any other features that may affect data quality. The organisation has developed the Botswana Strategy for the Development of Statistics (BSDS) in an effort to realise its objective on quality statistics and NSS capacity building. The development of the Data Quality Assessment Framework (DQAF) plays an important role in promoting the production of official statistics.
The Botswana Data Quality Assessment Framework (BDQAF) was developed in accordance with UN Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics, which underpins the reliability and objectivity of official statistics. It is a major milestone in the improvement of quality statistics within the National Statistical System which is envisaged to inform all development agendas nationally, regionally, and internationally in planning, policy formulation, and evidence-based decision making.
The framework provides a rational, transparent, and sustainable methodology for the quality assessment of statistical products and services. It also outlines procedures for designating statistics as ‘official statistics’. According to Section 29 (2) of the Statistics Act of 2009, official statistics shall be in accordance with the standards and principles issued by the United Nations Statistical Commission.
Botswana Data Quality Assessment Framework (BDAQF)
The development of the Data Quality Assessment Framework (DQAF) plays an important role in promoting the production of statistics that conform to the UN Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics. It ascertains that all the processes during the production of statistics are adhered to within NSS. These entail conforming to international standards, guidelines, and policies. Thus, the availability of the BDQAF enables the facilitation of the assessment to ensure the quality of the statistical products.
The framework provides a rational, transparent, and sustainable methodology for the quality assessment of statistical products and services. This document also outlines procedures for designating statistics as “Official Statistics”.
Code of Practice for Official Statistics
The Code of Practice is a document that sets out professional and ethical standards for the production and dissemination of official statistics within the National Statistical System. It serves as a guide to producers of statistics and ensures conformity to the necessary principles and practices set out to promote the production and dissemination of trustworthy statistics, of high quality, and of public value. The Code of Practice also promotes the production of official statistics that inform decision making as well as support the continuous improvement of these statistics