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SDMX at United Nations Statistics Division

SDMX at United Nations Statistics Division. Experience, Challenges, Strategies. Background. United Nations Statistics Division is an SDMX Sponsor agency Has used SDMX in its business processes since 2005 (UN Comtrade)

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SDMX at United Nations Statistics Division

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  1. SDMX at United Nations Statistics Division Experience, Challenges, Strategies

  2. Background • United Nations Statistics Division is an SDMX Sponsor agency • Has used SDMX in its business processes since 2005 (UN Comtrade) • Participates in the development of global Data Structure Definitions (DSDs) • Uses SDMX in dissemination

  3. Development of Global Data Structures • Under the auspices of Interagency Expert Group on Millennium Indicators, led the development of DSD for MDG indicators • Participates in the development of DSD for National Accounts • Leads the development of DSD for International Merchandise Trade Statistics • Development of DSD for Demography is in the initial stages

  4. SDMX Exchange • Exchange of IMTS data between UNSD and OECD • Pilot project underway to exchange National Accounts data with IMF, Eurostat, OECD; full-scale exchange to be established after the pilot • As part of the UNSD-DfIDCountryData project, exchange of development indicator data was established with 11 countries • Several non-project countries have also joined the exchange • The system has been in production since 2011 and receives new data on a regular basis • SDMX-related modules (mapping, registry) were developed for the DevInfo software

  5. SDMX Dissemination • Commodity Trade web site has disseminated international merchandise trade data since 2005 • CountryData disseminates development indicator data supplied by approximately 100 countries • Implementation of SDMX is underway at UNdata, UNSD’s flagship dissemination platform • 6 UNdata datasets are currently available, including World Population Prospects and Millennium Development Goals • Eurostat’s SDMX Reference Infrastructure is used as the engine

  6. SDMX Issues: Technology • Extensibility • Countries very often wish to extend a standard DSD to customize it for their own needs, while some classifications explicitly provide for user-defined codes. • Metadata • In terms of tools available, limited support for metadata exchange in versions prior to SDMX 2.1 • Metadata is often stored and maintained outside of a database, which complicates the automation of metadata exchange.

  7. SDMX Issues: National Statistical Office • Lack of IT expertise • Many of the developing countries are unfamiliar with SDMX or underlying technologies, as well as with the principles of data modeling. • Lack of established aggregated data processing and dissemination • Many countries do not use databases to store aggregated data, which complicates both reporting and dissemination. • Standards • Not all countries adhere to the latest versions of international classifications. • Lack of coordination between IT and Statisticians • SDMX is often treated as a technology project, and statisticians are not involved to the extent required – or at all.

  8. SDMX Exchange Issues: International Agency • Complexity of data structures • Global Data Structure Definitions can be very comprehensive but also difficult to have the countries adopt and use them. • Mapping errors • Can lead to issues such as incorrectly coded or duplicate series, etc. This is a problem even for moderately complex DSDs. • Uncertainty • Scepticism about SDMX applicability at the global level given its perceived complexity

  9. SDMX Exchange Solutions:Technology • Further refinement of the standard • Improve support for modern and emerging technological standards. • Better documentation • Better support for metadata • New tools oriented at beginners • Implementing SDMX support for existing tools

  10. SDMX Exchange Solutions: National Statistical Office • Capacity building with assistance from international agencies • Improving data processing and dissemination • Formulating and implementing aggregated data dissemination strategy • Using standard tools and platforms • As a way to lower the barrier to entry

  11. SDMX Exchange Solutions:International Agency • Address the complexity of comprehensive data structures • IMTS Working Group (UNSD, Eurostat, OECD, UNCTAD and ITC) broke data exchange into manageable data-flows, which results in less complexity than a single overarching DSD would create. • Support capacity building at national level • Support further development of the standard • Support further development of tools

  12. SDMX Exchange: Recent Developments • Many capacity building projects underway (Eurostat, IMF, UNSD, ADB, …) • New tools greatly simplify dissemination and help lower the costs of implementation • SDMX Reference Infrastructure, Fusion Registry, DevInfo • Eurostat’s SDMX InfoSpace is an excellent resource to help master the technology • Global DSDs gradually become available • Greater awareness of SDMX and willingness to participate in exchange on the part of both countries and international agencies • Rapidly growing dissemination • Global SDMX Registry

  13. SDMX Exchange: The Future • It is expected that SDMX Exchange will be established for Post-2015 development indicators, both with international agencies and countries • Building on MDG and CountryData experience • Opportunities for capacity building and increasing SDMX adoption rates at country level • Brings to the fore sub-national geography issues • Gradual implementation of exchange with Member States • Reducing reporting burden • Eurotrace software (used by 80 developing countries) planned to be adapted for SDMX Exchange in International Merchandise Trade Statistics

  14. SDMX Exchange: The Future (2) • Expanding dissemination • Not only popularizes SDMX but enables and encourages use of advanced technologies such as API/Web services • Expanding exchange using the DevInfo software, available for over 100 countries • SDMX tools developed for the UNSD-DfID project are now part of the standard DevInfo package • Explore the possibilities for the use of SDMX in the context of Data Revolution

  15. Thank you!

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