Botswana Data Quality Assessment Framework

Statistics Botswana, like other statistical agencies, 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 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.