With support from the EU-ASEAN project ARISE+, ASEANstats successfully conducted a joint workshop of two Working Groups (WG) of the ASEAN Community Statistical System (ACSS): the WG on Data Sharing, Analysis, Dissemination and Communication of Statistics (WGDSA) and the WG on SDG Indicators (WGSDGI). The well-attended half-day virtual workshop was held last 05 August, 2021 with 41 participants from the AMS, specifically the members of the WGDSA and WGSDGI, ASEANstats, and ARISE+.
The agenda included a presentation of the highlights and expectations from the activity, discussion of the Proposed ACSS Metadata Template for Social Indicators prepared under a Technical Assistance from ARISE+, and concluding summary of the agreements.
The importance of metadata, usually referred to as “data about data”, in the development and use of high quality statistical information cannot be undermined. In fact, metadata management is now widely recognized as an integral part of statistics production.
Recognizing the importance of a well-functioning metadata system, a critical infrastructure towards modernizing statistical offices under the Generic Statistical Business Process Model (GSPBM), the ACSS Committee (ACSSC) has set as deliverables for 2021, the ACSS Metadata Templates for SNA and for Social Indicators. These metadata deliverables are in accordance with the ACSS Strategic Plan 2021-2025 formulated with the support of the European Union (EU)
Upon the request of the ASEAN Secretariat, the EU-funded project ARISE+ is providing assistance for these deliverables. It may be noted that earlier, the WGSITS, WGFDIS, WGIMTS, and the WGSDGI produced metadata templates for their respective fields, also with the support of the EU.
In addition to the background behind the Proposed Metadata Template, ARISE+ presented the various considerations including issues and concerns as well as the relevant references in the design of the Template. Moreover, ARISE+ discussed the results and lessons learned from the pilot test of the Template with the cooperation of the AMS.
ASEANstats able facilitated the workshop which drew the active participation of the WGDSA Chair, Mr. Lay Chhan of Cambodia and the WGSDGI Chair, Mr. Hsiu Chin Tangof Singapore and Dr. Agus Sutanto, the ARISE+ Coordinator.
After a lively exchange of views, the joint workshop agreed that there is no need to revise the overall structure of the template. However, to further improve the proposed Template based on international practices, guidelines, & standards and the pilot test, the workshop agreed on the following :
- Transfer of Disaggregation from Methodology to Data Availability,
- Treatment of Classifications as a separate key element under Definitions & Concepts,
- Reinstatement of Rationale under Dimension 2: Definitions & Concepts,
- Renaming of Comments & Exception to Comments & Limitations, and
- Improving the Instructions and Guidelines column.
