REPUBLIC OF LIBERIA€¦ · This policy addresses the issue of unlocking access to available data and statistics in government ministries and agencies in support to policy formulation

REPUBLIC OF LIBERIA

Liberia Institute of Statistics and Geo-Information Services

(LISGIS)

National Data Sharing & Exchange Policy And

LISGIS Data Dissemination Policy Released October 2011

This document establishes data sharing principles and outline guidelines for the production and dissemination of official statistics which assures enhanced data access and sharing among stakeholders in Liberia’s National Statistics System. It also elaborates a policy guide for enhanced access to data, statistics and other information products disseminated by LISGIS.

Any comments or queries should be addressed to:

[email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

LISGIS

Health Labour Justice, LNP, BIN

Central Bank, Finance, MPEA

Public Works, EPA

NEC

UN Agencies NGOs Research Academia

Users of Statistics …

Public, Civil Society, Private Sector, Research Organizations, International Development Agencies, etc.

Liberia Coordinated System of official statistics dissemination

Education MOGD Agriculture

Development partners supporting government…

Transport, Commerce

Table of Contents

Preamble .................................................................................................................. 1

The Policy for data sharing ....................................................................................... 1

Policy Details ............................................................................................................ 3

Annex A: United Nations Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics. ................... 8

Appendix B ‐ General Data Dissemination System (GDDS) ...................................... 9

National Data Sharing & Exchange Policy Page 1

Preamble Liberia’s National Strategy for the Development of Statistics (NSDS) identifies weaknesses in

statistical compilation and dissemination as a major constraint for the ability of both

Government and its development partners to adequately articulate and assess the impact of

development strategies and programs. The NSDS aims to ensure not only the efficient

production of accurate and relevant statistical data of high quality, but also their dissemination

in a timely and accessible manner. It is designed to mainstream sector statistics to reflect the

national and sub‐national level focused through appropriate disaggregation. To this end, the

NSDS identifies five strategic objectives among which is “Developing and managing an efficient

approach to Information Sharing in Liberia”. This objective seeks to achieve excellence in the

provision of timely, reliable and affordable official statistics for informed decision making as

well as inform on achievements in the implementation of Liberia’s development strategies.

This policy addresses the issue of unlocking access to available data and statistics in government ministries and agencies in support to policy formulation and supporting the implementation and monitoring of national, sectoral and local level development plans and strategies in Liberia.

The Policy for data sharing

Objective: It is well recognized that an enhanced access to data and statistics can create an enabling environment for enlightened decision‐making about policies and programs. The objective of this policy is to define principles and guidelines for sharing data and making it available and accessible to all stakeholders equally, subject to confidentiality constraints. Rationale: With the formulation and implementation of Liberia’s Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper, it is recognized that there is a significant demand from government, local authorities, development partners, civil society and Researchers for relevant data covering a broad range of economic and social indicators both for planning and monitoring program interventions. This requires an enhanced data access and sharing policy that guides producers on the one hand and assures users on the other hand. In consequence, the NSDS has, as one of its priority interventions, the formulation of data access and dissemination policies that promote information flows within the national statistics system and its stakeholders. In particular, this policy aims to outline principles and guidelines for the production and dissemination of statistics as well as enhance data access and sharing among stakeholders.


Policy Statement In accordance with the provisions of the Statistics Act of 2004 and the implementation of the National Strategy for the Development of Statistics launched in 2008, Government Ministries and Agencies engaged in the compilation and dissemination of data and statistics will adopt the following principles for sharing data:

1. There will be full and open exchange of data, metadata, statistics and other information products among government ministries and agencies and other stakeholders, recognizing relevant national policies and legislation as well as applicable international instruments and standards.

2. All data, metadata and other information products shared among government Ministries and Agencies will be made available with minimum time delay and at NO COST.

3. All data, metadata and statistical products declared as official statistics shall be FREE to ALL Users or no more than applicable cost recovery amount to cover reproduction or distribution. Such costs will be communicated in a posted bulletin by the Ministry or Agency in advance.

4. Statistical usage will be encouraged for other uses including research and education whilst will be required to acknowledge sources.

5. For enhanced coordination of official statistics dissemination, data producers in Government are encouraged to subscribe to or publish their information on the LISGIS website, LiberiaInfo, Quarterly Statistical Bulletin, National Data Archive (NADA) or other available statistical dissemination tools.


In furtherance to this policy, Line Ministries and Agencies will adhere to the following guidelines for the compilation and dissemination of data and statistics:

1) Promotion of the Data Sharing Principles that promote full and open exchange of data and statistics subject to confidentiality constraints;

2) Ensuring consistency in the implementation of the Data Sharing Principles with relevant national policies and legislation;

3) Adoption and promotion of the United Nations Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics;

4) Promotion of the use of recognized standards and statistical classification scheme in the compilation, analysis and dissemination of official statistics;

5) Encouraging users to use and re‐disseminate shared data, metadata, and products;

6) Implementing pricing policies consistent with the Data Sharing Principles

7) Reducing time delays for making data available;

8) Promoting research and educational uses of statistical data and products;

9) Developing metrics and indicators for statistical data sharing activities; and

10) Developing effective coordination and outreach mechanisms for implementing the NSS Data Sharing Principles.

Policy Details

Full & Open Exchange of Data

For Liberia’s NSS to realize its vision and potential, it is essential to promote the full and open exchange of metadata, data and products in accordance with the Data Sharing Principles.

“Full and open access” means that data and information derived from publicly funded statistical activities are made available with as few restrictions as possible, on a non‐discriminatory basis, for no more than the cost of reproduction and distribution.

For Liberia’s NSS to work as a “system of systems” that can deliver integrated data and information as rapidly as possible to meet important user needs, it is important that Line Ministries and Agencies interoperate seamlessly with each other and with the fewest possible constraints on the sharing and integration of needed data and information (data/statistical products and applicable metadata).


The emphasis should be on promoting the benefits of full and open access to official statistics and spatial data through a process that engages directly both data providers and data users.

Consistency with National Policies & Legislation as well as International Instruments

All data producers and users must abide by various specific restrictions on the dissemination and use of data, metadata, and products based on national policies and legislation as well as recognized international instruments.

Such restrictions pertain mainly to concerns regarding the protection of: national security, proprietary interests, privacy, confidentiality, indigenous rights, and conservation of sensitive ecological, natural, archaeological, or cultural resources.

The LISGIS Board of Directors NSDS Steering Committee shall have overall responsibility for coordinating the application of these restrictions to avoid the development of a confusing array of vague and inconsistent use policies and approval procedures.

Consistent with this provision, each Line Ministry/Agency should consider establishing a focal point to coordinate information on and interpretation of any restrictions applicable to its data elements.

For copyrighted data products, data producers should consider approaches that place primary responsibility for compliance on users rather than enforcing compliance through technical controls on data access.

Adoption of recognized standards and best practices.

1. Liberia is a participating member of the IMF-supported General Data Dissemination System (GDDS) which provides a framework for participating countries to improve their statistical systems – quality and data dissemination practices. The GDDS Fosters (among other things):

The application of sound methodology and good statistical compilation practices ;

The application of good data dissemination practices including providing metadata; and

The observance of procedures for data compilation and dissemination that ensures high standards of professionalism.

(See appendix B for details on the GDDS).

2. Adoption and use of Spatial Data Standards and LISGIS Geo‐codes


Spatial data are critical to promoting economic development; improve stewardship of natural resources and to protect the environment. Availability and access to spatial data should form the basis for informed decision making for spatial matters by the government, its development partners and the business community.

The creation of a National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI) for Liberia will facilitate an environment that sustains easy access to, and uses of spatial data and information, and it will guarantee enhanced decision making based on spatial information.

In this regard, Data Producers would be encouraged to use GPS equipment as much as possible for the collation of geographical data.

Geo‐codes are part of a data management system that provides unique reference codes to locations. These codes provide a systematic means of linking and exchanging data and analyzing relationships between them. Any information that is linked to one location with a geo‐code can be linked and analyzed with any other.

Geo‐codes resolve the basic issue of what we call a place/location. Using place‐names as identifiers can easily lead to confusion over spelling, different languages or scripts as well as duplication. If Data Producers develop individual systems for naming or coding places this makes data sharing extremely difficult and huge amounts of potentially useful information go unshared. Spatial data standards agreed to by all will provide a single, unified system for referring to locations, allowing the free exchange and sharing of data between participating entities.

LISGIS has compiled a Geo‐code system from the 2008 National Population Census for Counties, Districts, Clans, Zones and communities (towns, villages and cities). This list should be made available and accessible to all stakeholders for their use.

Consistent Pricing Policies

The pricing of statistical and spatial data products should be based on the premise that the data and information within the Line Ministries and Agencies is a public good for public‐interest use in line with the objectives of the NSDS.

The costs of data collection, processing, analysis and dissemination should be considered a previously incurred cost and an unallowable part of cost recovery.

LISGIS should lead in encouraging cost recovery models that waive or minimize costs for dissemination of statistical products that do not include microdata. LISGIS and other data providers should encourage development of flexible, online cost recovery mechanisms that allow different types of users to understand their access costs.

Cost recovery approaches and licensing arrangements for data and products that require payments for reuse of data and products already acquired by users are not consistent with the Data Sharing Principles.

Metadata should be made available openly at no cost, to enable users to discover sources of data and information without restriction.


Reducing Time Delays

Statistical entities should promote “minimal time delay” to data sharing and dissemination to its stakeholders.

Depending on the type of data and the need for appropriate quality control, data should be transmitted on a real‐time basis whenever necessary or practicable. For example dissemination through the web should be encouraged.

For research data (i.e. micro‐data), time delays may need to include a limited period of quality control, exclusive use by the data provider and anonymization.

Reuse & Re-dissemination of Data

Users of statistical data need the flexibility to reuse and re‐disseminate the resulting shared information in order to maximize their own uses, as well as the relevant secondary applications of such data and information for broad societal benefits. The full and open exchange of data called for in the Data Sharing Principles should apply to official statistical data, metadata, and products even after such shared information is disseminated to users. Users need to be able to integrate, reuse, and re‐disseminate the shared information with minimal restrictions in order to achieve maximum results in the sector/thematic benefit areas.

Liberia’s NSS needs a critical mass of accurate and relevant data to be made available and accessible to users in a timely and accessible fashion. Line Ministries and Agencies are encouraged to provide most, if not all, of their data, metadata, and products with applicable reuse or re‐dissemination restrictions.

It is in the interest of all producers and users to ensure that the range and use of statistical and spatial data continues to expand. To meet the full range of government and user needs identified as priorities in national and other development strategies, development partners, private‐sector or hybrid public‐private sector systems should be encouraged to contribute their data and information on a full and open basis, with minimal reuse or re‐dissemination restrictions .

Attribution requirements should include recognition of all significant data sources or authors, as well as the medium that enabled access to and delivery of the data.

Recognition of contributions through attribution will help provide incentives for effective participation and cooperation by the NSS membership.


Developing Metrics & Indicators

LISGIS in collaboration with Line Ministries and Agencies should develop minimum standards for data usage metrics and indicators to ensure that the overall utility and impact of data, metadata, and products can be objectively documented.

Usage metrics should capture the quantitative and qualitative results of statistical and spatial data, metadata and products by sector shared with users.

The NSDS Coordination Unit should devote significant effort toward making the collection, analysis, and interpretation of impact metrics and indicators an integral part of the system.

Coordination & Outreach Mechanisms

In order to implement the Data Sharing Principles successfully, the NSDS Coordination Unit would be charged with responsibility for promoting the established policies vis‐à‐vis the data providers and users.

The LISGIS Board of Directors NSDS Steering Committee shall consider adopting procedures to encourage the adherence of this National Data Exchange and Sharing Policy. LISGIS is the government agency with statutory coordination authority. It should take the lead in encouraging compliance with this policy and the development of a statistical dissemination template to be used by other entities.


Annex A: United Nations Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics.

Principle 1: Relevance, Impartiality and Equal Access. Official statistics are an indispensable element in the information system of any society, serving the government, the economy and the public with data about the economic, demographic, social and environmental situations.

Principle 2: Professional Standards and Ethics. To retain trust in official statistics, the national statistics system has to operate according to strictly professional considerations, scientific principles and professional ethics.

Principle 3: Accountability and Transparency. To enable the data to be correctly interpreted, information will be presented according to scientific standards on the sources, methods, and procedures of the statistics.

Principle 4: Prevention of Misuse of Data. Professional staffs in the national statistics system are entitled to comment on erroneous interpretation and misuse of statistics.

Principle 5: Cost-Effectiveness. Data for statistical purposes may be drawn from all types of sources, including statistical surveys, or administrative records. The source should be chosen in ways that assures quality, timeliness, and reduces the costs and the burden on respondents.

Principle 6: Confidentiality. Data on individuals collected for compilation within the national statistical system, whether they relate to natural or legal persons, will be strictly confidential and used exclusively for statistical purposes.

Principle 7: Legislation. The laws, regulations and measures under which the national statistics system operates will be made public.

Principle 8: National Coordination. Coordination among statistical agencies is essential to achieve consistency and efficiency in the national statistics system. All agencies will cooperate to ensure this occurs.

Principle 9: International Standards. The national statistical system will use international concepts, classifications and methods to promote the consistency and efficiency of the system with others at all official levels.

Principle 10: International Cooperation. Bilateral and multilateral cooperation among national statistics systems contributes to the improvement of official statistics in all countries.


Appendix B General Data Dissemination System (GDDS)

The purposes of the GDDS are to: Encourage member countries to improve data quality; Provide a framework for evaluating needs for data improvement and setting priorities in this

respect; and Guide member countries in the dissemination of comprehensive, timely, accessible, and

reliable economic, financial, and socio-demographic statistics to the public.

The GDDS sets out objectives for data production and dissemination in 4 areas:

Data - Coverage, periodicity and timeliness;

Quality assurance;

Integrity; and

Access by the public.

Nature of the GDDS The GDDS is a structured process through which participating countries commit voluntarily to improving the quality of the data compiled and disseminated by their statistical systems over the long run to meet the needs of macroeconomic analysis. Member countries that participate in the system determine themselves the priorities they will pursue in a set of statistical development plans that reflect the migration toward full realization of the objectives of the GDDS as well as recognition of the resource and other constraints that determine the pace of the migration. The GDDS fosters sound statistical practices with respect to both the compilation and the dissemination of economic, financial, and socio-demographic statistics. It identifies data sets that are of particular relevance for economic analysis and for monitoring social and demographic developments, and sets out objectives and recommendations relating to the development, compilation, and dissemination of statistics. Particular attention is paid to the needs of users, which are addressed through guidelines relating to the quality and integrity of the data, and access by the public to the data. The objectives and recommendations of the GDDS are fully consistent with the United Nation’s Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics and the objectives of the NSDS.

Liberia Institute of Statistics and Geo-Information Services (LISGIS)

Data Dissemination Policy

Released October 2011

This policy outlines guidelines for the dissemination of data, statistics and other information products by LISGIS in an accessible and enhanced manner to all users within and out of Liberia.

Any comments or queries should be addressed to: [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Table of contents

Background ..................................................................................................................................... 1

Purpose Statement ....................................................................................................................... 1

Policy Statement ............................................................................................................................ 2

Principles of Dissemination ...................................................................................................... 2

Applicability .................................................................................................................................... 3

Scope of products/services covered ..................................................................................... 3

Statistical Dissemination Channels ....................................................................................... 4

Roles and Responsibilities ........................................................................................................ 5

Glossary ............................................................................................................................................. 7

[LISGIS Dissemination Policy] Page 1

Background

The Liberia Institute of Statistics and Geo‐Information Services (LISGIS) was created in 2004 by a

Legislative Act with a mandate among other things to compile statistical data on the status of

demographic and other socio‐economic indicators and to coordinate the dissemination of

official statistics on Liberia. Since its inception, LISGIS in partnership with other line Ministries

and Agencies and development partners have compiled statistics through extraction of data

from administrative records and the conduct of surveys and censuses of national interest

including the very significant 2008 National Population and Housing Census (NPHC). The lack of

an operational dissemination policy has hampered the effective dissemination of available data

to users in a coherent and consistent manner.

A 5‐year National Strategy for the Development of Statistics (NSDS) was launched in September

2008 and is presently being rolled‐out with the participation of 25 Government line Ministries

and Agencies. The strategy delineates 5 objectives including “Developing and managing an

efficient approach to information sharing” which addresses the critical issue of data

dissemination. A key intervention recommended amongst others was the formulation of data

access and dissemination policies that promote information flows within the national statistics

system and to users.

Purpose Statement

This policy addresses the issue of enhancing access to data and statistics available in LISGIS and making it available and accessible to all users equally, subject to confidentiality and applicable cost constraints. The following comprise justification for this policy;

In accordance with the provisions of the Statistics Act of 2004, LISGIS shall “Organize, maintain and ensure free access to a central depository of data, statistical reports, spatial information products such as maps and georeferenced list, statistical publications and documents…”

The implementation of the NSDS identifies as a priority intervention, the “…formulation of data access and dissemination policies that promote information flows within the national statistics system for the benefit of its stakeholders.”

Principle 1 of the United Nations Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics outlines the importance of statistical data dissemination as follows: “Official statistics provide an indispensable element in the information system of a democratic society, serving the government, the economy and the public with data about the economic, demographic, social and environmental situation. To this end, official statistics that meet the test of practical utility are to be compiled and made available on an impartial basis by official statistical agencies to honour citizens' entitlement to public information”.


Liberia is a member of the General Data Dissemination System (GDDS) and LISGIS as the focal entity for its roll‐out remains committed to the guidelines relating to assuring data quality and integrity and enhanced equitable access by the public to official statistics.

Policy Statement

LISGIS commits to making available data, statistics and other information products relating to Liberia that have been compiled/processed using acceptable standards to all users in accessible formats and in a timely manner in accordance with applicable laws, policies and guidelines currently in operation.

Principles of Dissemination

1. Relevance to policy issues: The mission of LISGIS is to provide reliable, relevant and

timely statistics to support Liberia's social and economic development.

2. Promotion of Data Sharing Principles: The NSDS supports the promotion of full and

open exchange of data and statistics subject to confidentiality constraints. Products will

be made available to users with minimum time delay and at no cost or a minimal charge

(i.e. at cost recovery basis) to cover reproduction/packaging cost.

3. Reliability and timeliness of data disseminated: Many policy and business decisions

are based on key economic indicators on the performance of the economy and specific

industries in particular. To facilitate planning and effective monitoring for development

results, the data disseminated must be the best available within reasonable timeframe.

4. Transparency: To keep data users informed, LISGIS will release an “Advance Release

Calendar” that will have release dates for key economic indicators on Liberia with

messages on its website and with brochures to be made available at its customer service

desk.

5. Responsiveness to User Requirements: Data dissemination has to be "customer‐

centric" delivering what is needed by users in both the public and private sectors. Given

an increasing need by users for existing data on more frequent basis and at more

disaggregated levels (spatial and gender), and more new data, there is a need to

manage user expectations while responding to those demands that can be met.

6. Protection of Data: In order to maintain the trust and confidence of survey

respondents, data disseminated must be made within a credible data protection


framework. Protection of confidentiality of individual information is provided for under

the LISGIS Statistics Act.

Applicability

This dissemination policy is applicable to all statistical data and products (including geo‐spatial

data sets and map products) that have been compiled by LISGIS alone or in partnership with

Government Ministries and Agencies or compiled alone by other Government Ministries and

Agencies that meet acceptable statistical standards and have been shared within the

framework of the National Data Sharing Policy.

This policy is a living document. As the needs of data users and capacities of LISGIS improve,

this document would be revised accordingly.

Please note that this policy does NOT apply to unprocessed data from household or enterprise

surveys or censuses. Anonymized household micro‐data will be covered in a separate policy (i.e.

Micro‐Data Access Policy) to be released by LISGIS at a later date.

Scope of products/services covered

1. Census and Survey Reports

2. Economic Statistics Reports

3. Other socio‐economic and environmental statistics reports

4. Statistical Bulletins

5. Maps & other geo‐spatial data products including but not limited to:

o Reference Maps of Liberia

o Thematic maps

o Regional, County, District, Clan, City and community/zone level maps

o Enumeration Area (EA) Maps

6. Household listings of selected samples for conduct of surveys.

7. Specific requests for additional analysis of existing household survey or census data;

8. Specific requests for additional geo‐spatial data analysis on existing data sets and/or the

development of custom maps.

9. Data, Statistics, metadata and other information products contained in electronic

databases including but not limited to the LISGIS website, LiberiaInfo, IMIS and NADA.


Statistical Dissemination Channels

Hard Copy (a) General‐purpose publications including the Statistical Bulletin, Monthly CPI, etc.

(b) Survey & Census reports;

(c) Other statistical papers and documents approved for dissemination Electronic Dissemination:

(a) The LISGIS website (www.lisgis.org) serves as a portal to official statistics compiled by

LISGIS and by other Government Ministries and Agencies in the national statistical system. The website contains a wide range of key indicators and general statistics on the Liberia economy, population and other social indicators.

(b) Softcopies of publications released for dissemination can also be accessed for free

downloading from the LISGIS website.

(c) LiberiaInfo is accessible on the web (www.liberiainfo.org) and is available on CD‐ROM for use. This dissemination tool is considered the national database and contains up‐to‐date information on relevant development indicators (including those of the MDGs) on Liberia.

(d) Mailing lists will also be used to disseminate various products to subscribers as according to schedule of the release calendar or when statistical updates are available.


Roles and Responsibilities

Director‐General of Statistics

1. Provide overall oversight and guidance for implementation of this policy.

2. Create enabling environment for ensuring equitable access to LISGIS products for users.

3. Provide oversight for the review of prices to be charged for applicable products and

services to ensure that they are based on cost recovery basis.

Division of Dissemination

1. Coordinate the preparation of the “Advance Release Calendar” and on the advice of the

Director‐General ensure its dissemination as widely as possible.

2. Ensure that a comprehensive up‐to‐date listing of available products and their

applicable prices are posted on an accessible Bulletin/Notice Board.

3. Ensure that electronic copies of statistical reports are disseminated on the LISGIS

website.

4. Maintain an up‐to‐date contact list of subscribers of various statistical and information

products and share with relevant LISGIS Unit Heads for their attention.

Customer Services Desk

1. Serve as the LISGIS’ point‐of‐sale for all statistical and map products.

2. Manage reproduction activities such as map printing, photocopying of existing products,

and other resources including the use of the LISGIS Statistical Library.

3. Maintain an up‐to‐date listing of available products such as map and reports catalogue

to be posted in an accessible area of the Service Center.

4. Record all transactions and issue appropriate receipts to clients for products and/or

services.

County Statistics & Information Offices (CSIOs)

1. Serve as an extension of the Customer Services Desk for the dissemination of statistical

reports and products.

2. Products in these locations at this time would be FREE. Any changes to this would be

communicated in a revised version of this policy.


Data Processing Division

1. Advice the Director‐General on additional time Data Processing Staff spend in fulfilling

specific client requests for data entry, processing and/or analysis. Charges will also be

applied for the use of specialised software tools.

2. Submit ALL products with completed invoice to the Customer Services Desk for billing of

client.

GIS Division

1. Advice the Director‐General on additional time Data Processing Staff spend in fulfilling

specific client requests including developing custom maps, spatial data processing

and/or analysis. Charges will also be applied for the use of specialised software tools.

2. Submit ALL products with completed invoice to the Customer Services Desk for billing of

client.

Users

1. Acknowledge sources of data in any subsequent use of all official statistics.

2. Provide timely feedback to LISGIS on the quality and usage of its services and products.


Glossary

Accessibility The accessibility of statistical information reflects how readily the data

can be located and accessed. Accessibility includes the suitability of the

form in which the data are available, the media of dissemination, and the

availability of metadata and user support services. The cost of the

information is also an aspect of its affordability and hence accessibility.

Accuracy The accuracy of statistical information is the degree to which the

information correctly describes the phenomena it is designed to

measure.

Coherence Coherence reflects the degree to which the data and information from

one source are brought together with other information and are logically

connected and completed. Data are valuable when they can be

compared over time or across different areas.

Confidentiality The protection of data that relate to individuals, households or other

single statistical units and are obtained directly for statistical purposes or

indirectly from administrative or other sources against any breach of the

right to confidentiality. It implies the prevention of unlawful disclosure.

Cost Recovery This refers to the costing of statistical and map products discounting

costs already covered by Government and its development partners. This

will take into consideration only costs such as additional printing buying a

blank CD‐ROM and/or cost of medium of transmission (if any).

Dissemination The release to users of information obtained through a statistical activity.

It consists of distributing or transmitting statistical data to users. Various

release media are used including electronic format such as the internet

and CD‐ROM, paper publications such as reports and bulletins and other

documents available to authorized users or for public use; email

responses to special requests, public speeches, press releases, etc.

Interpretability Provision of metadata is essential in building confidence of the user

community in official statistics. Provision of metadata is necessary to

interpret statistical information appropriately. Some factors affecting

data comparability are: lack of uniformity with respect to concepts,


definitions and methods; incomplete coverage; and methodology for

data collection and analysis.

Metadata This is data about data. It summarizes what, how, where, for whom and

when a particular datum or set of data is collected, the data content and

sources.

Policy A deliberate plan of action to guide decisions and achieve rational

outcome(s). Policies are used to guide consistent actions, i.e. predictive

enough to guide stakeholders that are most involved in achieving the

desired outcome. It usually has system‐wide ramifications/impacts.

Printing Costs Costs associated with printing and binding of statistical reports,

publications, documents and map products.

Relevance Statistics are relevant when they meet users’ needs. Statistical offices try

to identify who the potential users are, what they need in terms of

content, formats and delivery modes. To increase statistics relevance,

demand driven approaches to the production of statistics must prevail

upon the supply driven approaches.

Staff time costs This refers to the cost to be charged for staff spending extra time on a

request such as conducting specific analysis on a data set or in producing

a custom map for a client.

Statistical data This refers to data obtained from a survey, census or administrative

sources. They are initially considered raw facts, especially organized for

storage and analysis. Data when compiled become statistics.

Timeliness Timeliness of information reflects the length of time between the

information's availability and the event or phenomenon it describes.

Timeliness must be considered in the context of the time period that

permits the information to be of value and still be acted upon. Accurate

information on relevant topics won’t be useful to users if it arrives after

they have made decisions. Some factors affecting data timeliness include

delays in the implementation of statistical operations, data processing

delays and poor logistics or organization at the various stages of

statistical operations.

Documents

REPUBLIC OF LIBERIA€¦ · This policy addresses the issue of unlocking access to available data and statistics in government ministries and agencies in support to policy formulation