SB adopts framework to guide sectors generate statistics
Isaac Pinielo | Friday December 4, 2015 11:00
The framework is expected to promote generation and use of statistics for decision making across sectors.
Statistician general, Anna Majelantle stated that SB will provide the necessary technical backstopping to ensure that processes to generate such follow internationally recognised standards which will enhance credibility of such information.
She was speaking on Wednesday at the signing of an agreement between SB and the Human Resource Development Council (HRDC).
“We believe the HRDC also has challenges, one of its key responsibilities is to try to match the output of graduates from tertiary institutions to the needs of employers and other human resource requirements of the economy. This is not an easy task and we will do our best through this cooperation to assist in this endeavour,” she said.
She said the signing of the agreement is just the start and that they would set up functional structures as provided for within this agreement so that they derive maximum benefits from the engagement.
The purpose of the agreement is to set out the broad principles of collaboration between the HRDC and SB as well as specific details of engagement.
She added that the agreement was produced after intense discussions, which explored areas of common interest where cooperation was essential for the effective and efficient capacity building and data sharing arrangement in performance of their respective functions.
“The signing of this MoU also comes at a time when the demand for data and information for decision making has reached an all-time high,” Majelantle said.
She said stakeholders were increasingly demanding accurate and timely information to guide interventions, policy formulation and monitoring. Such expectations put pressure on SB to deliver on its mandate and vision of being a provider of quality official statistics.
According to Majelantle, the Statistics Act of 2009, which established SB, recognises the national statistical system comprising statistics producers and users.
The law specifies the role of SB in enhancing the efficacy of this national statistical system.
“Today we are affirming the collaboration between the HRDC and Statistics Botswana for effective production and use of official statistics,” she added. “This is certainly the right step in strengthening of the National Statistics System.”
She indicated that collecting data and conducting surveys had become expensive exercises, saying there is a need for a collective effort by stakeholders by making modest contributions towards conducting surveys and collecting data to assist processes that facilitate production of knowledge products for their immediate needs.