Summary of workshopWorkshop on Writing Metadata for Development Indicators

Lusaka, Zambia30 July – 1 August 2012

Workshop objective• Build capacity of countries in writing

metadata for development indicators

• with a view to improving data quality

• and resolve discrepancies between national and international sources

Source: International Labour Organization (ILO), Guide to the new Millennium Development Goals Employment Indicators including the full set of Decent Work Indicators, 2009.

UNDP Guide to Measuring Human Development

“… a reference tool that provides guidance on statistical principles…”

Types of metadata

Uses of metadata• Data discovery• Define and describe data resources• Drive statistical production• Capture information about sources• Integral to the IT environment• Describe quality of outputsSource: Graeme Oakley, Australian Bureau of Statisticswww.unescap.org/stat/apex/2/APEX2_S.4_conference_Statistical%20Metadata%20Standards.pdf

Existing guidance

Metadata and development indicators

• indicators often have multiple data sources

• users may have limited knowledge of statistics

• discrepancies in MDG estimates

Improving MDG metadata is a global priority

‘National statistical systems to improve the compilation of metadata in countries and their accessibility by users’ 

Recommendation from the International Conference on MDGs Statistics, Manila,

October 2011

Challenges you faceWithin the NSO•Need a metadata champion•Lack of consistent practices•Lack of awareness about metadata•Capacity gaps in metadata management•Limited documentation on business processes•Not mandatory to produce metadata•Data influenced by operating partners•Limited legislation / accountability•Reluctance to share knowledge•Lack of dissemination policies and systems

Challenges you faceOutside the NSO•Other organizations require training•Limited resources to provide guidance•Inconsistent standards•Practices not harmonized•NSO needs to lead in this area / set standards•One-off data collections create problems•International estimation difference

On their own, statistics are just

numbers

Who are you

talking to?

Metadata for presentation with data

Metadata presented with dataMandatory metadata 1. Title describing data being presented

2. Data provider3. Statistical concepts and definitions

Conditional metadata 4. Comparability (geographical / over time)5. Source data6. Symbols or abbreviations

Optional metadata 7. Accuracy8. Contact information9. References / Relevant links

Metadata about an overall data series

1.Name of data series2.Goal and target addressed3.Method of computation4.Definition5.Rationale6.Sources and data collection7.Gender issues8.Comments and limitations9.Availability

National activities1. Convince management about need for action2. Create awareness about importance of

metadata3. Establish a technical working group on

metadata4. Develop metadata framework and strategy5. Create a metadata-friendly culture 6. Develop standards and produce metadata tools

(e.g. national compendiums, guidelines, templates)

7. Produce a training manual

National activities8. Train statisticians / other data producers in

writing metadata9. Collect, edit and compile national MDG-

related metadata from across the NSS10.Disseminate metadata (hard and soft copy)11.User-producer workshops to get feedback12.Create a data quality assessment framework13.Ensure AU Handbook is used by the NSS

Regional activities1. Campaign for action / convince heads of NSOs2. Agree on a minimum standard for writing

metadata3. Translate metadata guide into other

languages4. In-depth training on SDMX (train the trainer)5. Further training on metadata6. Collate national metadata at the regional level 7. Create technical committee to review

metadata and provide feedback to NSOs8. Compile and publish regional metadata

Regional activities9. Needs assessment to identify gaps in

statistical capacity10.Standard set of indicators, AU

handbook and legislation11.Build adequate capacity in

implementing a quality framework statistics

Expectations of the workshop• Better understanding / knowledge produce

and disseminate better metadata• Tools to apply what we learn• Develop skills of other data producers• Get managerial support: resources and will• Guidance on how to customize MDG

metadata to reflect national practices• How to build on what NSOs have already

done

Expectations of the workshop• SDMX: what is it and how to

implement?• Standard format for writing metadata• How to narrow the gap between

different data sources?• How to build a data warehouse?• Resolve international and national

discrepancies

What are metadata? Provide a short definition.

Answer: metadata are data that defines or describes other data.

What metadata would you expect to be included with data presented in a table?

Answer: a clear title , column / row labels, footnotes , data provider, source of the data…

Why is metadata particularly important when reporting on development indicators, such as the MDGs?Answer: •indicators often have multiple data sources•users of MDG reports may have limited experience in interpreting statistics•differences in MDG estimates

What benefits can be gained by improving the way national statistical offices produce and manage metadata?

Benefits of managing metadata• Use up-to-date classifications and

definitions• Gain resources• Increase morale and productivity• Capitalising on lessons learned • Make it available to users• Easier for data users to understand• Increased trust in official statistics

What are some tips / advice for writing good metadata?

Answers include:• Be aware of the target audience• Use clear and simple language• Keep sentences and paragraphs short• Avoid technical terms, jargon and acronyms• Ask colleagues to review the data and

metadata – do they make sense?• Use a standard glossary of terms for

consistency• Develop publication or style manuals for

how data / metadata are presented