2 nd Inter- Agency and Expert Group Meeting (IAEGM) Organized by: ESCWA October, 2009 Beirut, Lebanon Mohamed Barre FAO-RNE Regional Statistician

Metadata: Concept & Definition  Metadata is data about data  Metadata consist of information that characterizes data. Metadata are used to provide documentation for data products. In essence, metadata answer who, what, when, where, why, and how about every facet of the data that are being documented.  Metadata is about defining, shaping, administering, organizing, and planning to capture, edit and disseminate general information and data.

Why to create metadata?  Metadata helps publicize and support the data you or your organization have produced.  Metadata that conform to the general standards are the basic product of the National Data.  Metadata is corner stone future statistical procedures.

Who should create metadata? Data managers who are either technically-literate scientists or scientifically-literate computer specialists. Creating correct metadata is like library cataloguing, except the creator needs to know more of the scientific information behind the data in order to properly document them.

Links to FAO Other Statistical Activities  FAO, as a provider of the largest agricultural database in the world, is currently implementing structured and comprehensive metadata through the FAOSTAT system, including FAO Data Quality Framework, the international Agricultural Bulletin Board on Data Collection, Dissemination, and Quality (ABCDQ), and Data Quality Stamp.

Metadata Initiative: Goal and Purpose The main purpose of metadata of statistics is to enhance better use and management of statistical resources. Thus, metadata can benefit both the users of statistics who access and utilize the data and statisticians who collect, process, compile, and disseminate the data.

Uses of Agricultural Statistical Metadata The information collected from this metadata initiative can serve for many uses, particularly, it provides:  an important input for updating FAOSTAT comprehensive metadata and data quality framework with the corresponding interface at country level within CountrySTAT  materials for compiling succinct country summary profiles as the first presentation of useful and comparable information on countries about the current stage of development of the agricultural statistical system, including their strengths and weaknesses  a reference for assessing data quality, identifying areas of further development, and assisting to plan, design, implement, and coordinate national and regional statistical capacity building programmes and activities; and providing advocacy tools to national statistics offices.

Country Report on Metadata Country report is expected to consist of three main chapters on:  national system of agricultural statistics  major domains and selected indicators of agricultural statistics  major data sources for agricultural statistics

Managing Metadata Different roles: 1.The theme administrator: responsible for thematic area 2.The interested parties: Mainly users 3.The supplier: Supplier of Metadata 4.The authority: Formal owner of Metadata 5.Communicator: Organizes distribution and accessibility of Metadata 6.The editor: Responsible that output Metadata needs textual standards 7.The coordinator: Starts/ coordinates the process.

Experiences Difficulties:  Coordinator not subject expert for all themes  Departments do not feel responsible enough  Labor intensive

Chapter 1:National System of Agricultural Statistics 1.1 Legal framework and statistical advisory bodies 1.2 Structure and organization of major agricultural statistical agencies 1.3 Outputs and dissemination of agricultural statistics 1.4 Dialogue with data users and co- operation with international organizations 1.5 Strategic framework

Chapter 2: Major Domains and Selected Indicators of Agricultural Statistics 2.1 List of major domains and selected indicators 2.2 Metadata for each of the major domains Concepts, definitions, and classifications Coverage and availability Data source and collection methodology Data processing, estimation, and revision methodology Other reference information

Chapter 3: Major Data Sources for Agricultural Statistics 3.1 List of major agricultural censuses, surveys, and registers 3.2 Metadata for each of the major censuses and surveys Overview Survey and census design Conduct, operations, data quality control 3.3 Metadata for each of the major administrative registers

Main purpose of Metadata Collection & Compilation As a final product, Compendiums on Metadata of National Agricultural Statistics will be compiled and published.

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