## BOTSWANA — Report on the National Accounts Mission (November 2022) ## Source details **Canonical URL:** [BOTSWANA — Report on the National Accounts Mission (November 2022)](https://www.imf.org/-/media/files/publications/cr/2023/english/1bwaea2023001.pdf) ## Other formats - [Markdown version](/-/media/files/publications/cr/2023/english/1bwaea2023001.pdf.md) - [Structured JSON version](/-/media/files/publications/cr/2023/english/1bwaea2023001.pdf.json) --- ### Summary of mission outcomes and priority recommendations - A technical assistance (TA) mission was conducted by IMF’s Regional Technical Assistance Center for Southern Africa (AFS) during October 2022 to assist Statistics Botswana (SB) in developing the strategic plan for the next rebase of the national accounts statistics. - SB will focus on the rebase over the coming years and has no plans to expand what they currently produce unless adequate resources are obtained. - Two strategic documents were reviewed and updated: - Rebase Strategy Notes (broad objectives) — many objectives already completed (e.g., implementing the System of National Accounts, 2008 (2008 SNA)) and require updating. - Rebase Implementation Strategy (detailed milestones) — required significant updating as many key milestones and activities were missing. - Timeline agreed: - Rebase will officially commence in April 2023 and is likely to take four to five years to complete, i.e., finish in 2028/29. - Next base year will be 2024, given the timings of key surveys: Agriculture Census (2024/25), Botswana Multi Topic Household Survey (BMTHS) (2023/2 4), and Census of Economic Establishments (CEE) 2024. - Data input and processing system development will be undertaken during 2023/24, commencing in May 2023. Strategic documents, questionnaire design and sample frame need to be close to final by the end of April 2023. - SB plans to use the tax list to identify the sample frame; discussions with Botswana Unified Revenue Services (BURS) will commence to determine the sample frame. Priority recommendations (Table 1) - Target Date: April 2023 — Finalize strategic plan for rebasing the national accounts. — Responsible Institution: SB - Target Date: April 2023 — Determine sample frame for the rebasing of the national accounts. — Responsible Institution: SB - Target Date: April 2023 — Finalize the questionnaire design for the 2024 CEE. — Responsible Institution: SB Recommended actions - National Accounts team to update the Rebase Strategy Notes and Rebase Implementation documents. - National Accounts team to be involved in the development of key surveys to ensure required rebase data are obtained. - National Accounts team to develop the 2024 CEE questionnaires. - National Accounts team to finalize the sample frame in conjunction with the BURS. - National Accounts team to commence development of the IT data processing system specifications. ### Annual national accounts rebase — findings and operational guidance - Current base year: 2016 (released July 2021). Recommended timeframe between rebases is five years. - Due to Covid19 impacts and delays in required censuses/surveys, the next base year was decided to be 2024. - Key surveys/censuses and their roles: - Census of Population and Housing (2022) — currently being processed; national accounts team should articulate their data needs while processing continues. - BMTHS — essential for Household Final Consumption Expenditure (HFCE) and updating the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Previous BMTHS data were of poor quality and required significant adjustments. COICOP has been updated and must be included in BMTHS. National accounts and prices teams must be involved in BMTHS development. - Agriculture Census (2024/25) — must collect economic data required to calculate Gross Value Added (GVA); if agricultural GVA data are not collected, CEE will need to include agriculture, creating duplication and provider irritation. National accounts team must be involved in Agriculture Census form development. - CEE (2024) — main survey for estimating GVA and populating Supply and Use Tables (SUT). Previous CEE had very low response rate. Recommendations to improve response and quality: - Simplify questionnaires; include only necessary items. - Align questions with business accounts (avoid SNA terminology); keep questions simple and specific. - Reduce number of questionnaires (previous rebase had 14 different questionnaires). - Use “write in” items rather than very specific item lists to allow generic questionnaires and enable validation of industry codes. - Develop alternate questionnaires only where output derivation methods differ (e.g., construction, trade services). - Sample frame: - Must be finalized by May 2023. Decision made to use the tax list as the business frame for the CEE sample. National accounts team to commence discussions with BURS as soon as possible to produce the frame. - IT system development: - Previous system was only a data input system; GVA compilation was done manually. - Recommendation: develop a data input and processing system that derives main aggregates and includes consistency checks to reduce errors and save time on business follow-ups. - National accounts team to start developing IT data processing system specifications so an IT consultant can commence work in May 2023. - Next mission timing: - Planned for March 2023 to review strategic documents, 2024 CEE questionnaires, sample frame and IT data processing specifications before May 2023. - Staffing: - Current National Accounts (NA) team has necessary skills and experience from previous rebase; mission hopes SB retains this team during the rebase. Recommended short-term actions (restated) - Update Rebase Strategy Notes and Rebase Implementation documents. - National Accounts team involvement in development of key surveys (BMTHS, Agriculture Census, CEE). - Develop 2024 CEE questionnaires. - Finalize sample frame with BURS. - Develop IT data processing system specifications. ### Detailed technical assessment and milestones (Results Based Framework) Objective: Strengthen compilation and dissemination of data on macroeconomic and financial statistics decision making according to the relevant internationally accepted statistical standard, including developing/improving statistical infrastructure, source data, serviceability and/or metadata. Outcome and verifiable indicator - Data are compiled and disseminated using the concepts and definitions of the latest manual/guide. - The general framework, concepts and definitions broadly follow the 2008 SNA. Key milestones, target completion dates, and comments (from Table 2) - Strategic plan for 2024 rebase of NA developed — Target Completion Date: 30 April 2023 - Determine sample frame for the rebasing of the national accounts — Target Completion Date: 30 April 2023 - Finalize the questionnaire design for the CEE — Target Completion Date: 30 April 2023 - Commence development of data input and processing system — Target Completion Date: 1 May 2023 - Undertake the CEE — Target Completion Date: FY 2025/26 - Data gathering and assessment (Analysis of data; BMTHS, Agric census, CEE etc.) — Target Completion Date: FY 2026/27 - Compilation of SUT — Target Completion Date: FY 2026/27 - Dissemination of rebased GDP estimates — Target Completion Date: FY 2028/29 - Disseminate back cast series from 1994 to 2024 (the new base year) — Target Completion Date: FY 2028/29 ### Officials met during the mission - Dr Lucky Mokgatle — Deputy Statistician General; ECOSOC - Boitumelo Matlhaga — Director: Economic Statistics - Phaladi Labobedi — Manager; National Accounts & Prices - Lekoko Simako — Senior Statistician - Winstern Kabo — Statistician - Chandler Madisa — Statistician - Boitumelo Kobua — Statistician - Godiraone Gaolaolwe — Statistician - Phemelo Ntwayapelo — Statistician - Michael Andina — Statistician *IMF Country Report No. 23/124 — Technical Assistance Report: Botswana — National Accounts Statistics Mission (completed October 2022).* --- _Source: https://www.imf.org/-/media/files/publications/cr/2023/english/1bwaea2023001.pdf_