European Conference on Quality in Official Statistics Issues of quality assurance: conceptual approach and implemented works (experience of Azerbaijan) YUSIF YUSIFOV, Deputy Chairman of the State Statistical Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan 2-5 June, 2014, Vienna, Austria

Introduction International challenges; Fundamental principles; Standards, codex and criterion .... Assessment, methodologies

General overview New approach and different contents; International comparability; Systems approach; Interrelation;

Motivating factors First steps; Global Assessment; Management support; Adopted decisions; State Programs

Organizational support Announcement of policy and objectives; Creation of the Council of Coordination; Appointment of representative; Creation of division; Formation of supporting environment

National Fundamental principles 1.Management of statistical system 2. Organization of institutional environment 3. Management of statistical processes 4. Management of statistical products

1. Management of the system 1.1. Coordination - There are centralized system and independent organizations; - The law of the RA on «Official Statistics» is in force ; - Coordination role of the SSC is prescribed by the law; - Statistical works program is being developed every year; - 4 long-term State Proqrams were adopted; - Implementation of statistical standards and classifications in the territory of the country is mandatory; - Statistical Council is functioned; - Agreements related to data exchange with public authorities are signed

1.Management of the system 1.2. Relations with users and respondents - organization of regular discussions with stakeholders and study its requirements ; - representation of the Committee in working groups; - close cooperation with representatives of media; - assessment of main interests of users; - public debate regarding to drafts of the documents ; - awareness of respondents and users about changes and answer to their questions - weak points -possibilities - risks

1.Management of the system 1.3. Standards of statistics - application of main international classifications; - application of SNA-2008 ; - provision with active participation in preparation of standards of international organizations (7 experts); - discussion of standards and corresponding decision -making; - provision of standards application

2. Management of institutional environment 2.1. Professional independence - Inadmissibility of outside organizations’ intervention in provision of professional independence is established by legislation; -The status of chairperson is the same with the status of chairpersons of other ministries and central organizations; - Issue of statistical products is being decided freely ; -Statistical works program is published and presented to community; -activities related with misuse and interpretation of data are implemented

2. Management of institutional environment 2.2. Equity and objectivity - the Code of Practice of statistical body is available and applied; - data and press-release calendar is presented in advance ; - revealed errors are corrected in time; - administrative rules related with data access’s procedures is available ; - detailed metadata is presented on data sources and concepts.

2. Management of institutional environment 2.3. Transparency - information on statistical activities is accessible for public ; - information on metadata and processes is available in webpage; - there are standards on dissemination policy; - catalogue of statistical publication is available; - information on budget of statistics is assessible; - speech in media.

2. Management of institutional environment 2.4. Confidentiality - Confidentiality of data is proved by the Law and guaranteed; - Employees are responsible for confidentiality; - Responsibility related with breach of confidentiality is stipulated ; - Technical and organizational activities are implemented with regard to data protection; - there are rules on using microdata for research purposes.

2. Management of institutional environment 2.5. Committed to quality - Policy and objectives of quality was announced - Council of Coordination was organized; - representative on quality was appointed ; - independent division was established ; - set of documents on quality were developed; - Actions plan for 2012-2013 has been approved and is being realized ; - separate section on quality was foreseen in the next 5 year State Program - Trainings were organized; - Global Assessment and IMF monitoring was implemented

2. Management of institutional environment 2.6. Adequacy of resources - there are sufficient financial means for activities; - provision with ICT is in high level; - new software were purchased and on-line system is applied and equipments are upgraded

3. Management of statistical processes 3.1. Provision with corresponding methodology - applied methodologies is to ground on international sources; - methodological changes are documented - documents are discussed in scientific- methodological council before adoption; - organizational plan of surveys is developed; - corrections , assessments and methodological documents related with descriptive statistics are available.

3. Management of statistical processes 3.2. Provision of economic efficiency - monitoring of expenditures for surveys is carried out; - Rrespondents’ burden is regularly decreased azaldılır; - application of ICT equipment is extended; - total survey is replaced by sample survey ; - the practice on receiving of results based on administrative data is extended.

3. Management of statistical processes 3.3. Provision with adequate execution - Management of statistical processes is realized based on standards (GSBPM) - E-documentation system is applied ; - Methodological work plans are prepared; - work plan is developed for each sectors; - processes are automated and documented regularly; - there is a control system with regard to execution of decisions; -written notes with regard to database management and archiving is conducted and taken protocol

3. Management of statistical processes 3.4. Decreasing of respondents’ burden - «smart report » project is foreseen in the State Program; - administrative sources are used; - different report and different periodicity is applied to small enterprises - respondents are informed about reports and changes ; - information burden is measured and suggestions are presented to government.

4. Management of statistical products 4.1. Provision of actuality - organization of regular meetings with users - monitoring of users’ comments and remarks ; - preparation of metadata based on reports and indicators; - organization of Working Groups; - availability of dissemination policy; - organization of public debates with regard to projects; - including of the State Program in webpage; - participation in regional and international events - users’ satisfaction is studied. -

4. Management of statistical products 4.2. Provision with accuracy and condfidence - availability of rules on data updating - estimation of sample errors; - provision with explanation with regard to corrections - preparation of reports on data quality and discipline on reporting; - implementation of monitoring and discrepancy of errors; - presentation of data according to time-schedule

4. Management of statistical products 4.3. Timeliness and punctuality - period of dissemination of data corresponds to international standards; - Action plan is prepared in time; - there is access to archive of disseminated data; - there is an equal access to data; - there is time-schedule for data collection, processing and preparation

4. Management of statistical products 4.4. Provision with access - Format of output data is prepared in accordance with international requirements; - modern ICT resources are used for dissemination; - catalogue of publication is presented in advance -“hot line” is fuctioned; - it is possible to use source data for research purposes; - Metadata is disseminated

4. Management of statistical products 4.5. provision with comparability and correspondence - compilation of time-series for a long period, using of reference period for comparability; - national classification are prepared in accordance with international classification; -correspondence of used methodology and terms is provided; - Administrative sources give possibility to provide with comparability.

4. Management of statistical products 4.6. Management of metadata - Action plan for 2012-2013 on metadata management; - Conception related to metadata system was prepared’ - statistical dictionary is prepared; - there are quality documentation procedures

Monitoring and certification of results Management of quality İSO 9001:2008; Audit as an effective tool; Internal audit; External audit; «Bureau Veritas»ın Certificate

Targets -Sustainability ; -Extension of coverage; -Increasing of documented procedures; -Integration to information technologies; -Increasing of employee’s capacity and qualification

Thank you for your attention