Transcript Chapter 9 - Dissemination

8th OG Meeting, BAKU
Chapter 9: Data Dissemination
Mr. Robert Maluta Kwinda
Deputy Director
Covered..
• Recommendations from 7th OG Meeting
• Summary of revised Chapter 9 sections
• Approach to further improving the content
OG 7 Recommendations to Chapter 9
At its 7th meeting, the Oslo Group –
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Recommended to include more practical examples throughout the chapter on specific
topics in data dissemination..
Recommended the inclusion of more text on confidentiality. It also recommended that the
content in IRES be considered.
In recognition of the importance of meeting user needs and ensuring that all user needs are
met, the Group suggested that some text should be added to give some guidance and
country examples on this topic.
Recommended that some text and possible country example on the following topics:
· revision of data;
· release schedule and pre-release
· dissemination of micro-data, particularly in relation to confidentiality issues.
· format of the disseminated data (e.g. figures, tables, etc.)
· risk of disclosure when using new technology to disseminate data.
· data exchange format, SDMX
OG 7 Recommendations to Chapter 9
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Cont..
Took note of the fact that some countries have establish Twitter-account related to their
energy statistics but baring in mind that twitter/facebook bring new challenges with regard
to disclosure and confidentiality.
Recommended the inclusion of some text on the international dissemination strategies and
how these can be relevant for energy statistics.
Encouraged members of the Oslo Groups to provide more country examples in order to
provide information on how the dissemination is done in various countries.
Recognised that institutions other than the national statistical offices can be in charge of the
dissemination of energy statistics. In this regard, the Group suggested to review the text
does not refer exclusively to statistical offices.
Revised sections of the Chapter
Section 1. Overview of the Chapter
SOME KEY POINTS
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Provides a description/definition of data dissemination
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Makes reference to the UN’s fundamental principles of official statistics
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Outlines/Introduces key dimensions of an effective data dissemination system, Viz,
 Reference period;
 Dissemination Schedule;
 Confidentiality;
 Revision Policy;
 Dissemination Format and Access; and
 Meeting User Needs
Section 2. Reference period
SOME KEY POINTS
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Provides a description/definition of a reference period in statistical terms
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Should be distinguished from the publication time, the period or point in time at which the
statistical data are published
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Reference period can be a calendar year (reference year), a fiscal year, a semester, a quarter,
a month and even a day.
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Some data, like population variables, relate to one specific time, a reference time point (e.g.
a specific day, population on the 1st of January).
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Calendar based reference period is recommended (Gregorian calendar) for international
comparability of statistical data
Section 3. Dissemination schedule
SOME KEY POINTS
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Statistical Agencies should issue advance press releases to the media
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The schedule for issuing press releases on regular series of statistics for each calendar year
should be announced well in advance in the preceding year, a month and even a day (for
monthly or daily releases).
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The schedule should distributed to the media and also made known to the general public on
the website of the Statistical Agency.
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Calendar based
reference period is recommended (Gregorian calendar) to allow for
international comparability
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All releases should be made exactly on the scheduled dates unless severe preventative
circumstances prevail
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Embargo times should be strictly adhered to
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In exceptional cases, designated state figures (personnel) may be allowed advance access
within prescribed protocols.
Section 4. Confidentiality
SOME KEY POINTS
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A description of confidentiality is outlined first
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Confidentiality is of national importance, and is also becoming international due to
globalization of energy markets, among other things
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Recommended confidentiality measures for data storage and processing described
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Recommended confidentiality measures for data transfer described
Section 5. Revision policy
SOME KEY POINTS
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Revisions are determined by a variety of factors
E.g • Conceptual changes;
• Improvement of algorithms relating to methodological procedures;
• Change in statistical data sources ;
• Inclusion of additional observations; etc
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Two main types of revisions described
• Routine, normal or concurrent revisions;
• Major or special revisions ; and
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Importance of a revision is emphasised
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Importance of a revision schedule is also emphasised
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Documentation of effected revisions and their impact on the overall statistics also critical
Section 6. Dissemination and Access
SOME KEY POINTS
Various forms of publications/dissemination are describes:
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Issuing of press releases which contain statistics of common interest to the general public;
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Release of statistical publications;
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providing statistical data and methodologies in greater detail;
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Production of CD-ROM products for distribution to key users and subscribers;
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Online Interactive Systems which enables data users to build statistical tables to their own
specific requirements through a simple and user friendly step-by-step process;
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Provision of data enquiry service, including customised data tabulation service, for users
requiring specific data.
Statistical Agencies are encouraged to make releases in as many formats as possible.
To expedite data transfer for publication it is recommended that countries use the Statistical
Data and Metadata Exchange (SDMX) format, if possible, for possible for the exchange and
sharing of their data.
Section 7. Meeting user needs
SOME KEY POINTS
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User needs must be properly identified, synthesised, understood and prioritised to be met.
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Users invariably have a long list of statistical needs, and every effort should be made to
guide users to identify their priorities.
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User needs and priorities are always changing and tracking of the changes is vital
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Consultations and discussions with users should aim to establish, among other things;
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how they use statistics in their operations and availability of required statistics and
how they may have been constrained by lack of adequate statistics;
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their assessment of the adequacy of existing statistics in terms of relevance, accuracy,
consistency, completeness, timeliness, level of disaggregation (geographic, product
type, etc.) and accessibility;
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their current and perceived future statistical needs and priorities and where there are
gaps;
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Online user satisfaction surveys
Conclusion
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Practical examples were recommended and are still being thought about
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Most of the OG 7 recommendations have been incorporated
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Assistance is thought from contributing counties
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Support from OG members in enhancing the text will be highly appreciated
Comments & discussion
[email protected]
National Department of Energy
Republic South Africa
+27 12 406 7536