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During the data collection design, the burden placed on respondents is considered and measures are taken to reduce this burden. NBS policies and practices emphasize the requirement for the authorized person (interviewers) to clearly explain the purposes of the survey/census to the respondent during the introduction. In this explanation, respondents are asked if they are willingly to participate and be informed on the duration of the interview.
Data collection forms or questionnaire indicates contact persons who can provide assistance in responding, as well as information on how to complete the questionnaire and explanations for answering the questions.
Also, every questionnaire contains legally required information depending on the purpose of data collection, type, and scope, obligation to provide information, reporting unit, confidentiality, and other quality aspects in data collection. In particular, a reference to the Statistics Act CAP. 351 is given in surveys and statistical inquiries (section 31 and 36).
NBS provides Government Finance Statistics to the respondents upon request and in conformity with established statistical confidentiality guidelines.
0.2 Resources
0.2.1 Staff, facilities, computing resources, and financing are commensurate with statistical programs.
• Staff resources for compiling the statistics are adequate to perform required tasks.
GFS is based in the National Accounts Statistics department which comprises a total of 10 staff (eight (8) with masters’ degree in statistics and two (2) with degree in statistics and economics). The staff also have the requisite training in the compilation of national accounts statistics and Government Finance Statistics from reputable institutions such as IMF, MEFMI (Macroeconomic and Financial Management Institute of Eastern and Southern Africa), World Bank and EAC. They all have the required and sufficient GFS compilation skills.
Salary levels depend on the Government Scheme of Service and are adequate for the nature of the work and competitive with other public
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entities and private sector in the country. The Staff are provided with incentives to motivate them.
For the purposes of monitoring and evaluation, staffs are appraised weekly, monthly, semi-annually and annually through the Public Employee Performance Management Information System (PEPMIS) based on prior agreed targets that are derived from the work plan. All staff are recruited on the basis of professional qualifications, and in an open competition.
• Computing resources for compiling the statistics are adequate to perform required tasks.
The National Accounts Statistics department has sufficient computing resources that are available to all the staff and back-up procedures are utilized by Information, Technology and Data Management (ITDM) Department to ensure security of data.
• Physical facilities and other resources are adequate to perform required tasks.
NBS headquarter office building located in Dodoma and Regional Offices provide adequate working facilities such as lighting, cooling and office furniture and equipment are adequate to perform the tasks. Government Finance Statistics are collected through Integrated Financial Management Information Systems (IFMIS) such as MUSE and GePG.
• Funding for compiling the statistics is adequate to perform required tasks.
Funding for Government Finance Statistics comes from government subventions provided under Other Charges (OC) and Development Expenditure such as TSMP fund. Work plans are developed in consideration of the resources availability and cost benefit analysis maximize on outputs and outcomes. GFS budget is reviewed every year and some components are increased to accommodate all emerging issues required in the production of statistics.
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0.2.2 Measures to ensure efficient use of resources are implemented.
• Management ensures that resources are used efficiently.
Management ensures compilation of Government Finance Statistics and related activities are carried out and reviewed on the basis of the annual performance plan and efficient use of resources is monitored and evaluated on a quarterly basis by the department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation. The staff performances are monitored by Department of Administration and Human Resources using PEPMIS at NBS level and the President's Office, Public Service Management and Good Governance at Government level whereby staff are given qualities for promotion.
• Costing and budgeting practices are in place and provide sufficient information to management to make appropriate decisions.
Management ensures resources for carrying out GFS activities are enough and used efficiently. GFS activities are included in NBS Strategic plan 2021/22-2025/26, Action plan and annual cash flow. Funds are allocated by the Ministry of Finance (MoF) for ongoing GFS activities and allocation within NBS is based on the priorities and planned activities.
Activities are carried out and reviewed on the basis of the annual performance plan and efficient use of resources is monitored and evaluated on a quarterly basis by the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation.
NBS activities are guided by the strategic plan. An annual schedule of activities is drawn from the NBS Strategic Plan 2021/22-2025/2026. The annual work plan includes itemized budget which guide the timing of the activities as well as optimization of resources.
0.3 Relevance
0.3.1 The relevance and practical utility of existing statistics in meeting users’ needs are monitored.
• Specific actions are taken to ensure that current statistics meet needs of data users.
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Specific actions are implemented to ensure Government Finance Statistics (GFS) meet data users’ needs. These include engaging with stakeholders such as MoF, BoT, OTR and PO-RALG to understand requirements, regularly updating methodologies to align with international standards, enhancing data transparency and accessibility, and providing detailed documentation and user guides. Continuous feedback mechanisms are also established to adapt and improve the statistics based on user input.
• Mechanisms are in place to identify new and emerging data requirements.
User producer meetings which include MDAs, academia, the press, and/or private sector are conducted with MDA’s and other principal data users, including academia, the press, and/or other private sector representatives, to review the usefulness of existing Government Finance Statistics and to identify emerging data requirements.
Staff participate regularly in the meeting, seminars and training organized by international and regional organizations for capacity building and discuss on the emerging data requirement. The international and regional organizations that support NBS in Capacity building include IMF, World Bank, Macroeconomic and Financial Management Institute of Eastern and Southern Africa (MEFMI), and East African Community (EAC).
0.4 Other quality management
0.4.1 Processes are in place to focus on quality.
• There is recognition throughout the organization that quality builds trust and thus is a cornerstone of statistical work.
NBS management always emphasizes on quality of statistics produced by the National Accounts Statistics Department following the recommended and agreed international standards. In the NBS organization structure there is a Directorate responsible for quality management. To ensure quality statistics is produced by NBS, the standard menu is provided in the website (www.nbs.go.tz). Several quality guidelines for production of quality Statistics are posted in the NBS website menu and disseminated to the stakeholders within National Statistical Systems. These guidelines are Tanzania Data Quality Assurance Framework (TDQAF) for Official Statistics,
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the Manual for Strengthening and Integrating Administrative Data into Official Statistics, a handbook of quality guidelines for production of statistics, Statistical Methods and Standard guidelines, Concept and definitions for official statistics. https://www.nbs.go.tz/publications/statistical-guidelines
The training programs that emphasize the importance of data quality are given to all staff including those who are responsible for production of GFS. This program emphasize on understanding on how quality may be achieved in all GFS production stages i.e. design, collect, process, analyse, disseminate and evaluate are conducted at least once per year.
0.4.2 Processes are in place to monitor quality during the planning and implementation of the statistical program.
• Measures are in place for a systematic monitoring and review of quality.
Production of quality statistics to meet the demands of stakeholders in a timely manner is insisted in the quality guidelines, NBS strategic plan and Tanzania Statistical Master Plan II. Monitoring and Evaluation of NBS activities is conducted on quarterly and annual basis.
The NBS uses Regional (EAC guidelines for compilation of GFS and Public Sector Debt Statistics) and International (GFSM 2014) guidelines and Assessment Framework for monitoring implementation of EAC guidelines on GFS and Public Sector Debt Statistics (PSDS) in ensuring standard and quality statistics are produced. Moreover, strategies are in place for improving data production for compilation of Government Finance Statistics and periodic reviews are undertaken to identify steps necessary to maintain quality requirements.
- Assurance of Integrity
1.1 Institutional Integrity
1.1.1 Statistics are produced on an impartial basis. • The terms or conditions under which the statistics are produced are in accordance with professional independence.
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The Statistics Act CAP. 351 Section 9(1) gives the power to the President of United Republic of Tanzania to appoint a Statistician- General on the recommendation of Minister of Finance. Section 5 of the Act stated that the Bureau shall excise professional independence in collection, processing, analyzing and dissemination of official statistics so as to enhance and protect the integrity and impartiality.
• Professionalism is actively promoted and supported within the organization.
Staff are recruited and promoted based on expertise in statistics and other related fields, PEPMIS is used to evaluate the overall performance of staff.
The organization provides comprehensive training to the staff to increase their skills and knowledge based on their professions as per Training need assessment, TSMP II Training Program and NBS training programs.
Processes and activities planned for computation of GFS promote professionalism and NBS adapt methodologies from IMF as recommended in GFS Manual 2014.
1.1.2 Choice of data sources and statistical techniques as well as decisions about dissemination are informed solely by statistical considerations.
• The choices of data sources and statistical techniques are informed solely by statistical considerations.
Data sources are selected according to the basis of recording and the availability of the information needed to compile quality statistics. The choice of compilation methods is dictated by the objective of measuring the public sector borrowing requirement from a national budget monitoring standpoint, and the Financial Requirements of the Public Sector according to GFSM 2014.
• Decisions about dissemination are informed solely by statistical considerations.
The decision about dissemination is based on when, how, and which component of GFS to release, and not external influences such as
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political, economic or social pressures. NBS follow the planned date on advanced release calendar to release GFS which is usually on annual basis. The GFS is a chapter in the Economic Survey Publication prepared by the Ministry of Finance every year.
1.1.3 The appropriate statistical entity is entitled to comment on erroneous interpretation and misuse of statistics.
• The data-producing agency comments when its statistics are misinterpreted or misused.
To reduce misinterpretation or misuse of statistics, NBS has responsibility of educating the public on how to interpret statistics and to ensure that the informed data is used and understood properly to the users. By doing so these agencies help to maintain the integrity and credibility of their work and promote better informed decision making based on accurate and properly understood data.
All reports produced by the NBS are accompanied by key definitions and concepts for the understanding of the users. These help to reduce misinterpretation of statistics. Journalists are also trained to understand these concepts to enable them report accurately.
1.2 Transparency
1.2.1 The terms and conditions under which statistics are collected, processed, and disseminated are available to the public.
• Information is available to the public about the terms and conditions under which the statistical series are compiled and disseminated, including the obligation to compile and disseminate the statistics, the confidentiality of individual reporters’ data, and other key features.
Sections 18 to 20 and Section 31 of the Statistics Act CAP. 351 outline the provisions for the collection, processing, and dissemination of statistics. The Bureau ensures all necessary measures are taken to maintain the confidentiality of official statistics.
1.2.2 Internal governmental access to statistics prior to their release is publicly identified.
• The public is made aware of internal government access to statistics prior to their release to the public.
To maintain professional independence, the GFS is not released to any government organization or agency prior to dissemination.