## Data Quality Assessment Framework, July 2003—Summary Results (_cr05421) ## Source details **Canonical URL:** [Data Quality Assessment Framework, July 2003—Summary Results (_cr05421)](https://www.imf.org/-/media/websites/imf/imported-full-text-pdf/external/pubs/ft/scr/2005/_cr05421.pdf) ## Other formats - [Markdown version](/-/media/websites/imf/imported-full-text-pdf/external/pubs/ft/scr/2005/_cr05421.pdf.md) - [Structured JSON version](/-/media/websites/imf/imported-full-text-pdf/external/pubs/ft/scr/2005/_cr05421.pdf.json) --- ### Overall assessment (Section I) — key findings - Participation and metadata - The Gambia is a participant in the General Data Dissemination System (GDDS) and started posting its metadata on the IMF’s Dissemination Standards Bulletin Board (DSBB) in May 2000. - General findings on GDDS compliance - Meets some GDDS recommendations for macroeconomic statistics. - Coverage of government finance statistics (GFS) does not extend to general government. - Periodicity recommendations for some data categories are not met. - Some macroeconomic statistics are not disseminated within GDDS-recommended periods. - Legal, institutional, and resource environment - Legal framework broadly adequate; proposed Statistics and Central Bank Bills in advanced stages of preparation to replace dated laws. - 2004 Budget Law does not provide for compiling statistics for general government. - Under Central Bank of The Gambia Act (1992) and Financial Institutions Act (2003), CBG has authority/responsibility for monetary statistics; legal authority for balance of payments compilation extends only to financial data, not to real sector data (merchandise trade and services). - Staff resources are inadequate for all sectors, especially national accounts; need for improved equipment and upgraded software, particularly to replace the Wang-based accounting system for the GFS. - Quality management and integrity - Limited processes in place to focus on data quality; no program to regularly consult users or to promote quality within CSD and DOSFEA. - Professionalism encouraged via recruitment, graduate training, and on-the-job training. - CSD fairly independent of government; pre-release access to data given to other government agencies but details are not published. - Methodological soundness and scope - Most published series have a good methodological foundation, but significant deviations exist in national accounts and balance of payments. - Improvements needed in scope, classification, and sectorization for most datasets; national accounts, balance of payments, and GFS affected by incomplete coverage. - Basis for recording appropriate for GFS; international standards not fully applied in national accounts and balance of payments. - Source data, accuracy, and validation - Limited source data undermine accuracy and reliability across most published statistics. - National accounts and balance of payments: inadequate effort to obtain data through surveys. - GFS: inadequate source data because of the accounting system; DOSFEA has not collected data from local governments and thus compiles statistics on the operations of the general government. - Monetary statistics: lack details on accounts of other depository corporations (ODCs), impeding accurate classification and sectorization. - Processes for assessment and validation of source, intermediate, and output data are weak in most cases. - No formal revision studies are undertaken in most sectors. - Serviceability and accessibility - Frequency and timeliness meet GDDS requirements for national accounts, balance of payments, and monetary statistics. - Shortcomings in revision policy and practice; revisions are not always identified and explained to the public. - Accessibility hampered by limited resources, especially at the CSD (which does not publish data except on prices). - Presentation of balance of payments lacks sufficient detail for public interpretation. - Since 2002, the CBG has not published data; only published metadata relate to the GDDS (on the Fund’s DSBB). - Contact points and details of available publications are not provided domestically. ### Assessment by agency and dataset (Section II) — ratings highlights - Four macroeconomic datasets assessed: national accounts, government finance statistics, monetary statistics, balance of payments. - DQAF element rating scale: O = Practice Observed; LO = Practice Largely Observed; LNO = Practice Largely Not Observed; NO = Practice Not Observed; NA = Not Applicable. - Selected summary ratings (Dimensions 0–5) - 0. Prerequisites of quality - 0.1 Legal and institutional environment: National Accounts O; GFS LO; Monetary Statistics O; Balance of Payments LO - 0.2 Resources: National Accounts LNO; GFS LNO; Monetary Statistics LNO; Balance of Payments LNO - 0.3 Relevance: National Accounts LNO; GFS LNO; Monetary Statistics LO; Balance of Payments LNO - 0.4 Other quality management: National Accounts LNO; GFS LNO; Monetary Statistics LO; Balance of Payments LNO - 1. Assurances of integrity - 1.1 Professionalism: all four datasets LO - 1.2 Transparency: National Accounts LO; GFS LNO; Monetary Statistics LO; Balance of Payments LO - 1.3 Ethical standards: National Accounts LO; GFS LO; Monetary Statistics O; Balance of Payments O - 2. Methodological soundness - 2.1 Concepts and definitions: National Accounts LNO; GFS LO; Monetary Statistics LO; Balance of Payments LNO - 2.2 Scope: National Accounts LNO; GFS LO; Monetary Statistics LO; Balance of Payments LNO - 2.3 Classification/sectorization: National Accounts O; GFS O; Monetary Statistics LO; Balance of Payments LNO - 2.4 Basis for recording: National Accounts LO; GFS O; Monetary Statistics LO; Balance of Payments LO - 3. Accuracy and reliability - 3.1 Source data: all four datasets LNO - 3.2 Assessment of source data: National Accounts O; GFS LO; Monetary Statistics LO; Balance of Payments LNO - 3.3 Statistical techniques: National Accounts LNO; GFS LO; Monetary Statistics O; Balance of Payments LNO - 3.4 Assessment and validation: National Accounts LO; GFS LNO; Monetary Statistics LO; Balance of Payments LO - 3.5 Revision studies: National Accounts NO; GFS NO; Monetary Statistics LNO; Balance of Payments NO - 4. Serviceability - 4.1 Periodicity and timeliness: National Accounts O; GFS LNO; Monetary Statistics LO; Balance of Payments LO - 4.2 Consistency: National Accounts O; GFS LO; Monetary Statistics LO; Balance of Payments LO - 4.3 Revision policy and practice: National Accounts LO; GFS LNO; Monetary Statistics LO; Balance of Payments LNO - 5. Accessibility - 5.1 Data accessibility: National Accounts LNO; GFS LNO; Monetary Statistics LO; Balance of Payments LNO - 5.2 Metadata accessibility: all four datasets LNO - 5.3 Assistance to users: National Accounts LNO; GFS LNO; Monetary Statistics LO; Balance of Payments LNO ### Agency-level findings — selected points - Central Statistics Department (CSD) - 1972 Statistical Act provides a legal basis; confidentiality guaranteed; penalties specified (fine not exceeding 2,500 dalasis (about US$90) and/or imprisonment not exceeding one year in Article 9). - Resources: only three staff dedicated to national accounts; computer facilities adequate for existing needs; accommodation poor. - Quality management: no regular user consultation; no formal quality procedures. - Transparency: internal government access prior to release exists but details not public. - Department of State for Finance and Economic Affairs (DOSFEA) - No law mandating compilation of GFS for general government; Government Budget Management and Accountability Act (2004) promotes fiscal transparency and mandates publication of budget execution progress and an annual statement of government accounts. - Resources: Wang accounting system and peripherals seriously inadequate; no accounting entries in accounting system for budget outturn since January 2002. - Central Bank of The Gambia (CBG) - Legal authority for monetary statistics; legal authority for balance of payments limited to financial data. - Resources for balance of payments and monetary statistics substantially inadequate; staff lack good computers, modern software, and necessary equipment. - Quality management: no documented deliberate steps to achieve user confidence in BOP and monetary data; feedback sought only on request. - Professionalism and ethics: recruitment, training, and strengthened Service Rules/Code of Conduct in place. ### Staff’s cross-cutting recommendations (Section III) - Human resources and capacity - Make adequate provision for upgrading skills of existing staff and for additional human and other resources for statistics; applies especially to central government budget in context of SMP and PRGF programs. - Dissemination and metadata - Disseminate statistics, including monthly data (weekly, where available), for all macroeconomic sectors on one or more websites. - Disseminate comprehensive and updated explanations and other metadata, including those on the GDDS site, for all disseminated statistics. - Revisions, user engagement, and reconciliation - Establish an overall revision policy and practice for the statistical system and all its agencies and datasets. - Establish a data user group committee to make recommendations on serving needs of statistical users. - Establish data reconciliation committees to ensure statistics in all macroeconomic areas, particularly monetary and fiscal data, are reconciled and periodically document status of such reconciliations. --- ### Methodological soundness — National accounts (System of National Accounts 1968 framework) - Concepts and definitions - General framework: System of National Accounts 1968 (1968 SNA). - Scope - Only annual estimates for GDP measured from the production approach, at current and constant prices. - Extremely poor quality of data on changes in inventories; figures for output represent sales. - Some expenditure approach components compiled, but not household final consumption or changes in inventories. - Classification/sectorization - Production figures classified according to ISIC, third revision. - Basis for recording - Market output valued at factor cost and imports recorded c.i.f., in line with 1968 SNA. - Market transactions recorded on an accrual basis; all central government figures are on a cash basis. - Source data and assessment - Large enterprises reasonably well covered; small enterprises poorly represented. - Agriculture, central government, and utilities reliably reported; local government data not available. - No producer price index; CPI must be used instead. - Statistical techniques - Extensive use of historical grossing factors and value added to output ratios. - Only a 12-industry breakdown available. - Constant price figures derived directly from value added. - Base year is 1976/77. - Assessment, validation, and revisions - All possible data assessments undertaken; no revision study has ever been undertaken. - Periodicity and timeliness - GDP estimates produced annually and first available within six to seven months after the end of the year. - Consistency and dissemination - GDP figures internally consistent; no independent expenditure measure to verify. - CSD does not publish GDP figures itself; figures published in the CBG Annual Report, which has not been released for the last two years. - Figures are not released to a preannounced schedule and not made available to all users at the same time. - Recommendations (selected) - Use new enterprise census to derive estimates for changes in inventories and proper output figures. - Produce sequence of accounts for total economy and rest of the world. - Produce annual value-added components at current prices by industry as soon as resources allow. - In new enterprise survey, instruct establishments to record intra-enterprise transactions on a gross basis. ### Methodological soundness — Government Finance Statistics (GFSM assessment) - Concepts and definitions - Budget outturn data mainly based on GFSM 1986; no migration path to GFSM 2001 established. - Scope - Fiscal data disseminated do not include local governments; general government data not available. - Classification/sectorization - Underlying classifications conform with GFSM 1986; differences resolvable by bridging links. - Basis for recording - Treasury and budget reporting on a cash basis (consistent with GFSM 1986). - Statistical reporting in the CBG Annual Report, as provided by DOSFEA compilers, is on a modified accrual basis. - Source data and assessment - Source data not adequate due to deficiencies in the accounting system; accuracy of annual data not routinely assessed. - Statistical techniques and documentation - Data compilation procedures limited to manual manipulations on spreadsheets; procedures not documented. - Validation and reconciliation - No checks for differences between net borrowing and changes in outstanding debt over the same period; no evidence of reconciliation with other sectors. - Revisions - Revised data only apply to preliminary data; absence of final audited data limits scope of revisions; no revision studies undertaken. - Periodicity and timeliness - Annual central government transaction data disseminated to the public; annual data available after about 14 months. - Domestic and foreign debt totals compiled monthly but only publicly available once a year. - Recommendations (selected) - Issue a DOSFEA mandate for compiling and disseminating GFS monthly for budgetary central government and quarterly or annually for general government. - Authorize and establish soon a reliable and flexible automated accounting and fiscal control system, including payroll. ### Methodological soundness — Monetary statistics (1984 Monetary Statistics Guide; migration to MFSM planned) - Concepts and definitions - Follow 1984 Monetary Statistics Guide; plan to migrate to MFSM by end-2005. - Scope and coverage - Summary accounts of CBG in line with 1984 Guide; ODC survey excludes the Post Office Savings Bank, VISACAs, and credit unions. - Classification/sectorization - CBG principles broadly in line with 1984 Guide; accounts of commercial banks do not provide adequate information for proper sectorization. - Basis for recording - CBG accounts consistent with 1984 Guide; deviations exist regarding commercial banks’ accounts and IMF accounts not updated regularly. - Source data and processing - Main sources: monthly CBG trial balance (BankMaster) and monthly reports on commercial banks submitted in hard copy. - Manual entry of commercial banks’ data increases error risk; commercial banks’ information insufficient for proper sectorization/classification. - Statistical techniques and validation - CBG applies aggregation, consolidation, and netting in line with 1984 Guide; no seasonal adjustments. - MCU occasionally performs cross-checking; insufficient mechanisms for validating intermediate data against other secondary sources. - Periodicity and timeliness - Current periodicity and timeliness do not meet GDDS recommendations because of delays in publishing the quarterly economic bulletin. - Recommendations (selected) - Computerize the monetary statistics production process, including providing access to the internet to facilitate electronic data transmission. - Broaden coverage of ODCs to include Post Office Savings Bank, VISACAs, and credit unions in accordance with MFSM. ### Methodological soundness — Balance of payments (BPM5 deviations and scope gaps) - Concepts and definitions - Significant deviations from BPM5 identified: statement structure inconsistent with BPM5; services classification nonstandard; income and financial account presentation incomplete; errors and omissions aggregated with short-term capital. - Scope and coverage gaps - Goods for processing, a sizeable amount of re-exports, and private transfers are not included. - Compensation of employees not compiled; many service and financial items incomplete or misclassified. - Source data and statistical techniques - Primary data sources have significant deficiencies; many source data not routinely assessed. - Compilation techniques largely inadequate; much manual data input; documentation limited; no formal revision studies. - Consistency, periodicity, dissemination - BOP compiled on an annual basis and published in CBG Annual Report and Quarterly Bulletin; CBG publications delayed since 2002. - Statistics consistent within datasets but are not reconciled with foreign trade, monetary statistics, and external debt. - Presentation hampered by highly aggregated tables, nonstandard classifications, and lack of metadata and contact points. - Key recommendations (Balance of payments) - Change overall structure, classification, and definition of BOP statistics to be consistent with BPM5. - Expand data sources by conducting important surveys in re-export trade, travel, other services (especially debit), and compensation of employees; improve coverage to conform to BPM5. --- ### Source data, processing, validation, and revisions — cross-cutting accuracy and reliability - Source data limitations - Extensive use of historical benchmarks; enterprise register “very poor”; small enterprises undercovered; local government data not obtained. - Agricultural data from DOSA comprehensive; IHBS 2003/04 planned to derive household final consumption. - Commercial banks’ reports provided in hard copy; manual entry leads to error risk. - Processing and statistical techniques - Heavy reliance on spreadsheets and manual manipulations across agencies. - Grossing factors for small enterprises many years old; base year for constant prices 1976/77. - Changes in inventories not derived; constant price estimates derived directly from value added. - Validation and revisions - Routine checks exist for large enterprises and budget data, but no supply and use tables; no formal revision studies in most sectors. - Revisions are indicated in publications but no public analysis; no systematic documentation of revision studies. - Recommendations (selected) - Negotiate with CBG to obtain financial institutions’ data directly. - Pursue collection of local government data. - Allocate enterprise returns to the calendar year containing the majority of the accounting year. - Update base year and review constant price estimation methods after enterprise census. - Instigate a regular program to analyze revisions to the data. ### Accessibility — presentation, metadata, and user assistance (selected findings) - Presentation and dissemination - Fiscal transactions data disseminated with the budget roughly match GFSM 1986 but presentation differs and lacks several conventional items (e.g., use of cash balances, domestic amortization). - Monetary and BOP data disseminated in highly aggregated format; CBG website tables not regularly updated. - Release schedule and simultaneity - No preannounced schedule for many data; annual budget report presented to parliament in November but public release timing varies (example: 2005 release expected mid-February 2005). - Data are not consistently released to all users simultaneously. - Metadata and user assistance - No comprehensive documentation on concepts, practices, and procedures published domestically; GDDS metadata available on IMF DSBB but out-of-date (last update 2003). - Contact points for subject fields are not publicized; catalogs of publications not available. - Recommendations (accessibility) - Publish concepts, practices, and procedures guides (e.g., for GFS). - Disseminate GDDS metadata in local publications and on a website; update metadata regularly. - Identify specific contacts for GFS and balance of payments in official publications and websites. - Start publishing GDP estimates as an information release and preannounce publication dates. --- ### Users’ Survey of Official Macroeconomic Data — The Gambia (February 2005) — key statistics and feedback - Survey administration - Questionnaire sent to 53 users; completed by 22 respondents (41 percent received). - Responses by type (Total Sent / Total Received / In % Received) - Government: 3 / 3 / 100 - State-owned agencies (enterprises): 9 / 4 / 44 - Banks: 3 / 2 / 66 - Other enterprises: 20 / 8 / 40 - Embassies: 3 / 1 / 30 - Universities (researcher): 3 / 0 - Media: 2 / 1 / 50 - NGOs: 3 / 2 / 66 - International Organizations: 7 / 1 / 14 - Regular use of official statistics (number of responses) - National accounts (NA): 9 - Prices: 13 - Government finance statistics (GFS): 11 - Monetary statistics: 13 - Balance of payments (BOP): 7 - Access and methodology awareness - Respondents who refer to official descriptions of sources and methods: Yes 9; No 10 - Ways respondents access official statistics: Official releases 15; Hard copy publications 10; Data specifically requested 9; Official website 3; E-mail requests 1 - Users’ evaluation highlights (selected counts) - Coverage and detail — Monetary: coverage Yes 13 / No 2; detail Yes 12 / No 3 - Periodicity and timeliness satisfaction — NA frequency Yes 4 / No 3; timeliness NA Yes 1 / No 5 - Knowledge of a public release calendar — GFS Yes 12 / No 1; Monetary Yes 16 / No 1 - Release on announced dates — generally low across datasets (e.g., Monetary Yes 1 / No 9) - Overall quality rating (1 poor to 5 excellent): NA 3; Prices 3; GFS 4; Monetary 3 - Recurrent user concerns (summary) - Need for improved electronic access, preannounced publication dates, more timely and frequent releases (monthly/quarterly), clearer methodological explanations, and broader dissemination of metadata and contact information. --- *Source: IMF staff assessment as presented in "Data Quality Assessment Framework, July 2003—Summary Results."* ### 1. Data Quality Assessment Framework, July 2003—Summary Results..............................7 ### Data Quality Assessment Framework, July 2003—Summary Results ### Overall assessment (Section I) - Participation and metadata - The Gambia is a participant in the General Data Dissemination System (GDDS) and started posting its metadata on the IMF’s Dissemination Standards Bulletin Board (DSBB) in May 2000. - General findings on GDDS compliance - Meets some GDDS recommendations for macroeconomic statistics. - Coverage of government finance statistics (GFS) does not extend to general government. - Periodicity recommendations for some data categories are not met. - Some macroeconomic statistics are not disseminated within GDDS-recommended periods. - Legal, institutional, and resource environment - Legal framework broadly adequate; further legislative effort under way to promote greater autonomy/authority of some statistical agencies. - 2004 Budget Law does not provide for compiling statistics for general government. - Proposed Statistics and Central Bank Bills are in advanced stages of preparation to replace existing dated laws. - Under the Central Bank of The Gambia Act (1992) and the Financial Institutions Act (2003), the Central Bank of The Gambia (CBG) has authority/responsibility for monetary statistics; legal authority for balance of payments compilation extends only to financial data, not to real sector data (merchandise trade and services). - Staff resources are inadequate for all sectors, especially national accounts; need for improved equipment and upgraded software, particularly to replace the Wang-based accounting system for the GFS. - Quality management and integrity - Only limited processes in place to focus on data quality; no program to regularly consult users or to promote quality within CSD and DOSFEA. - Professionalism encouraged through recruitment of highly qualified staff, graduate training opportunities, and on-the-job training. - CSD is fairly independent of government; pre-release access to data is given to other government agencies but details are not published. - Measures to promote ethical standards vary: minimal efforts at CSD; CBG has strengthened staff service rules; General Orders apply for DOSFEA appointments. - Methodological soundness and scope - Most published series have a good methodological foundation, but significant deviations exist in national accounts and balance of payments. - Improvements needed in scope, classification, and sectorization for most datasets; national accounts, balance of payments, and GFS affected by incomplete coverage. - Basis for recording appropriate for GFS; international standards not fully applied in national accounts and balance of payments. - Source data, accuracy, and validation - Limited source data undermine accuracy and reliability across most published statistics. - National accounts and balance of payments: inadequate effort to obtain data through surveys. - GFS: inadequate source data because of the accounting system; DOSFEA has not collected data from local governments and thus compiles statistics on the operations of the general government. - Monetary statistics: lack details on accounts of other depository corporations (ODCs), impeding accurate classification and sectorization. - Processes for assessment and validation of source, intermediate, and output data are weak in most cases. - Statistical techniques could be improved; compilations rely on very dated data. - No formal revision studies are undertaken in most sectors. - Serviceability and accessibility - Frequency and timeliness meet GDDS requirements for national accounts, balance of payments, and monetary statistics. - Shortcomings in revision policy and practice; revisions are not always identified and explained to the public. - Accessibility hampered by limited resources, especially at the CSD (which does not publish data except on prices). - Difficulties with timely production of GFS limit public access. - Presentation of balance of payments lacks sufficient detail for public interpretation. - Since 2002, the CBG has not published data; only published metadata relate to the GDDS (on the Fund’s DSBB). - Contact points and details of available publications are not provided domestically. ### Assessment by agency and dataset (Section II and Table 1 summary) - Assessment approach - Four macroeconomic datasets assessed with the DQAF July 2003: national accounts, government finance statistics, monetary statistics, and balance of payments statistics. - Results presented at DQAF element level using a four-point rating scale: O = Practice Observed; LO = Practice Largely Observed; LNO = Practice Largely Not Observed; NO = Practice Not Observed; NA = Not Applicable. - Selected summary ratings from Table 1 (Dimensions 0–5) - 0. Prerequisites of quality - 0.1 Legal and institutional environment: National Accounts O; GFS LO; Monetary Statistics O; Balance of Payments LO - 0.2 Resources: National Accounts LNO; GFS LNO; Monetary Statistics LNO; Balance of Payments LNO - 0.3 Relevance: National Accounts LNO; GFS LNO; Monetary Statistics LO; Balance of Payments LNO - 0.4 Other quality management: National Accounts LNO; GFS LNO; Monetary Statistics LO; Balance of Payments LNO - 1. Assurances of integrity - 1.1 Professionalism: all four datasets LO - 1.2 Transparency: National Accounts LO; GFS LNO; Monetary Statistics LO; Balance of Payments LO - 1.3 Ethical standards: National Accounts LO; GFS LO; Monetary Statistics O; Balance of Payments O - 2. Methodological soundness - 2.1 Concepts and definitions: National Accounts LNO; GFS LO; Monetary Statistics LO; Balance of Payments LNO - 2.2 Scope: National Accounts LNO; GFS LO; Monetary Statistics LO; Balance of Payments LNO - 2.3 Classification/sectorization: National Accounts O; GFS O; Monetary Statistics LO; Balance of Payments LNO - 2.4 Basis for recording: National Accounts LO; GFS O; Monetary Statistics LO; Balance of Payments LO - 3. Accuracy and reliability - 3.1 Source data: all four datasets LNO - 3.2 Assessment of source data: National Accounts O; GFS LO; Monetary Statistics LO; Balance of Payments LNO - 3.3 Statistical techniques: National Accounts LNO; GFS LO; Monetary Statistics O; Balance of Payments LNO - 3.4 Assessment and validation of intermediate data and statistical outputs: National Accounts LO; GFS LNO; Monetary Statistics LO; Balance of Payments LO - 3.5 Revision studies: National Accounts NO; GFS NO; Monetary Statistics LNO; Balance of Payments NO - 4. Serviceability - 4.1 Periodicity and timeliness: National Accounts O; GFS LNO; Monetary Statistics LO; Balance of Payments LO - 4.2 Consistency: National Accounts O; GFS LO; Monetary Statistics LO; Balance of Payments LO - 4.3 Revision policy and practice: National Accounts LO; GFS LNO; Monetary Statistics LO; Balance of Payments LNO - 5. Accessibility - 5.1 Data accessibility: National Accounts LNO; GFS LNO; Monetary Statistics LO; Balance of Payments LNO - 5.2 Metadata accessibility: all four datasets LNO - 5.3 Assistance to users: National Accounts LNO; GFS LNO; Monetary Statistics LO; Balance of Payments LNO ### Agency-level findings (selected points from Tables 2a–2c) - Central Statistics Department (CSD) - Legal/institutional: 1972 Statistical Act gives CSD a strong legal basis; confidentiality guaranteed; fine magnitude for failure to submit data out-of-date. - Resources: Lack of staff is critical for national accounts; existing numbers sufficient only to produce annual GDP estimates from production approach; computer facilities adequate for existing needs; accommodation poor. - Quality management: No regular program of user consultation; no formal procedures to address quality issues. - Professionalism and transparency: 1972 Act does not explicitly guarantee professional independence but no attempts to compromise professionalism; internal government access prior to release exists but details not public. - Ethical standards: Some ethics statements in appointment letters; no program for regular reminders to staff. - Department of State for Finance and Economic Affairs (DOSFEA) - Legal/institutional: No specific law mandating compilation of GFS for general government; 2004 Budget Law promotes fiscal transparency and mandates publication of budget execution progress and an annual statement of government accounts; replaces Accountant General’s Office with a Treasury Directorate under DOSFEA Permanent Secretary. - Resources: Computers adequate but Wang accounting system and peripherals are seriously inadequate. - Quality management and relevance: No prior survey of users; limited evidence of responsibility for non-officials’ needs; only limited processes focus on quality. - Transparency and ethics: No publicly available information on compilation/dissemination terms except Budget Law; General Orders provide conduct/discipline rules; no evident standards specifically for ethical conduct of statistical compilation. - Central Bank of The Gambia (CBG) - Legal/institutional: CBG Act (1992) and Financial Institutions Act (2003) give authority for monetary statistics; legal authority for balance of payments limited to financial data. - Resources: Resources for balance of payments and monetary statistics substantially inadequate; staff lack good computers, modern software, and necessary equipment; inefficient use of human resources and ad hoc assignments impede skill development. - Quality management and transparency: No documented deliberate steps to achieve user confidence in balance of payments and monetary data; feedback sought only when responding to specific requests. - Professionalism and ethics: Professionalism ensured via recruitment, graduate training, and on-the-job training; CBG has strengthened labor laws and Code of Conduct embedded in service rules. ### Staff’s cross-cutting recommendations (Section III) - Human resources and capacity - Make adequate provision for upgrading the skills of existing staff and for additional human and other resources for statistics. This applies especially to the central government budget in the context of the SMP and PRGF programs. - Dissemination and metadata - Disseminate statistics, including monthly data (weekly, where available), for all macroeconomic sectors on one or more websites. - Disseminate comprehensive and updated explanations and other metadata, including those on the GDDS site, for all disseminated statistics. - Revisions, user engagement, and reconciliation - Establish an overall revision policy and practice for the statistical system and all its agencies and datasets. - Establish a data user group committee to make recommendations on how the different statistical agencies can better serve the needs of statistical users. - Establish data reconciliation committees to ensure that statistics in all macroeconomic areas, particularly for monetary and fiscal data, are reconciled and periodically document the status of such reconciliations. *Source: IMF staff assessment as presented in "Data Quality Assessment Framework, July 2003—Summary Results."* ### 2. Methodological soundness ### _cr05421 - 2. Methodological soundness ### National accounts (System of National Accounts 1968 framework) - Concepts and definitions - General framework: System of National Accounts 1968 (1968 SNA). - Scope - Only annual estimates for GDP measured from the production approach, at current and constant prices. - Extremely poor quality of data on changes in inventories; figures for output represent sales. - Some components of the expenditure approach are compiled, but not household final consumption or changes in inventories. - Classification/sectorization - Production figures classified according to the third revision of the International Standard Industrial Classification of all Economic Activities (ISIC). - Basis for recording - Market output valued at factor cost and imports recorded c.i.f., in line with the 1968 SNA. - Market transactions recorded on an accrual basis; all central government figures are on a cash basis. - Source data and assessment - Large enterprises reasonably well covered in surveys; small enterprises poorly represented. - Data for agriculture, central government, and utilities are reliably reported; local government data are not available. - Other activities use historical benchmarks extrapolated by population estimates. - No producer price index; the consumer price index must be used instead. - Data for large enterprises and central government are routinely checked. - Statistical techniques - Extensive use of historical grossing factors and value added to output ratios. - Only a 12-industry breakdown is available. - Constant price figures are derived directly from value added. - Base year is 1976/77. - Assessment, validation, and revisions - All possible data assessments undertaken. - No revision study has ever been undertaken. - Periodicity and timeliness - GDP estimates produced annually and first available within six to seven months after the end of the year. - Consistency - GDP figures internally consistent; no independent expenditure measure to check against. - Consistent over time back to 1996. - External trade data and central government figures fully consistent with their source systems. - Revision policy and practice - Revisions tend to follow a regular pattern and are indicated in publications. - No publicly available analysis of revisions. - Data accessibility - Only a simple breakdown of the figures is published. - Figures published in the Annual Report of the CBG, but this has not been released for the last two years. - Figures are not released to a preannounced schedule. - Data are not made available to all users at the same time. - Metadata accessibility - Only published metadata relate to the GDDS and these have not been updated for some years. - Assistance to users - Contact points and details of available publications are not generally available. ### Government Finance Statistics (GFSM assessment) - Concepts and definitions - Budget outturn data mainly based on GFSM 1986. - Authorities may have considered GFSM 2001 methodology, but no migration path for implementing GFSM 2001 has been established. - Scope - Fiscal data disseminated do not include local governments; general government data not available. - Classification/sectorization - Underlying classifications conform with GFSM 1986; differences resolvable by bridging links with national classifications. - Basis for recording - Treasury and budget reporting on a cash basis (consistent with GFSM 1986). - Statistical reporting in the CBG Annual Report, as provided by DOSFEA compilers, is on a modified accrual basis. - Source data and assessment - Source data not adequate due to deficiencies in the accounting system. - No evidence the ongoing or planned accounting system is flexible enough to provide for: a complete balance sheet, accrual accounting, and valuation changes. - Accuracy of annual data is not routinely assessed; out-of-trend values and inconsistencies are questioned when observed. - Statistical techniques and documentation - Data compilation procedures limited to manual manipulations on spreadsheets. - Compilation procedures are not documented. - Validation and reconciliation - No checks for differences between net borrowing and changes in outstanding debt over the same period. - No checks with foreigners on external borrowing or grants. - No evidence of reconciliation with statistics in other sectors. - Revision studies and practice - Revised data only apply to preliminary data; absence of final audited data severely limits scope of revisions. - No revision studies are undertaken. - Revised data have not been reported in recent years (since 1991). - Periodicity and timeliness - Annual (not quarterly) central government transaction data disseminated to the public. - Annual data available after about 14 months. - Domestic and foreign debt totals of central government compiled monthly but only available to the public once a year. - Consistency - Sum of components equals series totals, but automated procedures ensuring consistency are not evident. - Data accessibility - Fiscal transaction data disseminated with the budget by DOSFEA roughly match GFSM 1986 but presentations are not the same as in GFSM 1986 or GFSM 2001. - No fiscal data accessible through an electronic database maintained by or on behalf of DOSFEA. - Metadata accessibility - No published documentation on concepts, practices, and procedures. - General use information such as brochures about fiscal data is not made available. - Assistance to users - Limited support for data users. - Annual budget report and the CBG annual report do not identify contact points for queries. - Materials to encourage awareness of fiscal data and catalogs of publications/services are not made available. ### Monetary statistics (1984 Monetary Statistics Guide assessment) - Concepts and definitions - Concepts and definitions follow the 1984 Monetary Statistics Guide. - Scope - Scope of the summary accounts of the CBG is in line with the 1984 Guide. - Other Depository Corporations Survey excludes deposit-accepting institutions such as the post office savings bank, village savings and credit associations, and credit unions. - Classification/sectorization - CBG principles broadly in line with the 1984 Guide. - Accounts of commercial banks do not provide adequate information to facilitate proper sectorization and classification. - Basis for recording - Basis for recording of CBG accounts consistent with the 1984 Guide. - Deviations exist regarding commercial banks’ accounts and IMF accounts which are not updated regularly. - Source data and assessment - Main sources: monthly CBG trial balance and monthly reports on commercial banks, submitted in hard copy. - Commercial banks’ information insufficient for proper sectorization/classification. - Accuracy of commercial banks’ data is routinely studied by the Financial Supervision Department/Money and Credit Unit (MCU) for underreporting/misreporting, but the same scrutiny is not applied to CBG accounts. - Statistical techniques - CBG applies aggregation, consolidation, and netting in line with the 1984 Guide. - Manual entry of commercial banks’ data increases risk of errors. - No seasonal adjustments are carried out. - Validation and revision - MCU occasionally performs cross-checking. - Insufficient mechanisms for validating intermediate data against other secondary sources. - Revisions tend to be small in magnitude; occasionally CBG conducts investigations into sources of problems arising from erroneous sectorization, classification, or lack of data from commercial banks. - Periodicity and timeliness - Current periodicity and timeliness do not meet GDDS recommendations because of delays in publishing the quarterly economic bulletin. - GDDS recommendations could be exceeded if weekly data were made available on the CBG website. - Consistency - Monetary statistics generally consistent within the dataset. - Data are not always reconcilable with other datasets; no reconciliation with fiscal data has been undertaken. - Revision policy and practice - No predetermined, well-established revision cycle for monetary accounts. - Occasionally revisions are explained in quarterly bulletins and the annual report. - Data accessibility - Statistical tables on the CBG website present information in a balance sheet format facilitating interpretation. - Data are released on an ad hoc basis, depending on delivery of the quarterly bulletin and annual report. - Metadata accessibility - Documentation published in The Gambia’s GDDS metadata on the IMF website (DSBB). - No comprehensive documentation meeting needs of different users. - Assistance to users - Knowledgeable service and support from the MCU on monetary statistics are available. - Publications on the CBG website do not contain contact points (telephone, fax, e-mail) for the public. *From: _cr05421 - 2. Methodological soundness* ### 5. Accessibility ### 5. Accessibility ### Concepts and definitions - The structure of the balance of payments statement presented during the mission was not consistent with the recommendations in BPM5. ### Scope - The scope and coverage of data are incomplete in many areas. - Goods for processing, a sizeable amount of re-exports, and private transfers are not included. ### Classification / sectorization - The classification of the balance of payments for The Gambia shows some significant deviations from the aggregates presented in BPM5. ### Basis for recording - The valuation principle is largely in line with the market price valuation principle. - The balance of payments statistics are generally recorded on a cash basis. ### Source data - The primary data sources used to compile the balance of payments statistics for The Gambia have significant deficiencies. ### Assessment of source data - The source data are not routinely assessed to ensure adequate coverage, nor to identify ways in which the data sources could be improved to address underlying problems. ### Statistical techniques - The data compilation techniques used by the CBG to compile the balance of payments statistics are largely inadequate. ### Assessment and validation of intermediate data and statistical outputs - The size of short-term capital flows, which include errors and omissions, is reportedly closely monitored and, when the figures are unexpected, they are reviewed by staff. ### Revision studies - No formal revision studies have yet been undertaken. ### Periodicity and timeliness - The balance of payments statistics are compiled on an annual basis and published both in the CBG Annual Report and the Quarterly Bulletin, in line with the recommendations of the GDDS. - Technical problems have held up the publications of the CBG documents since 2002. ### Consistency - Overall, the statistics are consistent within the datasets. - Balance of payments statistics are fully scrutinized for consistency by senior managers of the Economic Research Department (ERD) before they are cleared for publication. ### Revision policy and practice - Revisions of balance of payments statistics do not have an established schedule, although revised data are explicitly identified in the published statistics. ### Data accessibility - The presentation of balance of payments statistics disseminated to the public by the ERD does not facilitate proper interpretation. ### Metadata accessibility - Documentation of the methods used for compiling balance of payments statistics is not publicly available. ### Assistance to users - A specific contact person within the balance of payments area is not identified. ### Key recommendations (Balance of payments statistics) - Change the overall structure, classification, and definition of the balance of payments statistics of The Gambia, consistent with the recommended methodology in BPM5. - Expand data sources of balance of payments statistics by carrying out important surveys in areas such as re-export trade, travel, other services items (especially debit), and compensation of employees, and improve coverage of data to conform to the recommendations of BPM5. ### Related operational recommendations appearing in the authorities' responses and mission text - Use the results of the upcoming enterprise census to improve and extend the coverage of the national accounts. - The CSD should itself publish national accounts according to a preannounced schedule. - Implement as soon as possible, with adequate resources, a reliable and flexible automated accounting and fiscal control system, including a payroll system, consistent with compiling government transaction and balance sheet data in line with international statistical conventions. - Close government accounts through 2004, and ensure that an independent auditor, with adequate resources, audit as soon as feasible the stock and flow accounts of central government and disseminate aggregate quarterly data on central government after one month. - Adopt a plan to migrate in stages to GFSM 2001, including the adoption of classifications harmonized with that methodology. - Fully computerize the monetary statistics production process, including providing access to the internet to facilitate electronic data transmission. - Provide documentation of the concepts and definitions used by ODCs that deviate significantly from the MFSM guidelines, and clearly describe how they are treated in the compilation of monetary statistics. - Broaden the coverage of the ODCs and ensure proper data classification. *Source: _cr05421 - 5. Accessibility* ### 1. Data Quality Assessment Framework (July 2003): Summary of Results for ### Data Quality Assessment Framework (July 2003): Summary of Results for National Accounts ### 0. Prerequisites of quality — Key findings - Legal and institutional environment - The current Statistical Act (1972) does not specifically refer to national accounts but gives the Central Statistics Department (CSD) responsibility for collecting and analyzing the various components of GDP. - The CSD is accepted as having sole responsibility for compiling the national accounts. The proposed statistical bill (draft) gives the proposed Bureau of Statistics specific responsibility for compiling national accounts statistics. - Data-sharing and coordination: CSD consults with other government agencies; procedures covered by Article 4(d) of the Statistical Act (1972). - Confidentiality: Article 8 of the Statistical Act (1972) restricts use to statistical purposes and prohibits publication of individual returns without written consent. Article 9 prescribes penalties (fine not exceeding 2,500 dalasis (about US$90) and/or imprisonment not exceeding one year); CSD is not aware of any prosecution under this Article. Under the draft bill, penalty sizes can be varied. - Access to individual data restricted to processing staff. Individual returns are kept under lock and key and destroyed by burning when necessary; computer records are password protected. - Statistical reporting mandate: Article 5 gives CSD legal right to collect data (if no other public body has that right). Article 9 states fines not exceeding 500 dalasis (around US$18) and/or imprisonment not exceeding nine months for failure to supply required data; CSD has never invoked this right and prefers persuasion. - CSD seeks to avoid overburdening respondents; survey forms provide contact points; media used to explain data collection. - Resources - Only three members of staff are dedicated to national accounts compilation, including data collection such as the enterprise survey. - CPI team staff can assist at busy times. - Increased demand from PRSP-related surveys and data compilation has not been fully resourced. - Only one national accounts team member has extensive experience; loss of that person would have major impact. Another member has been in post for around two years. - Computer resources adequate for current workload (support from World Bank and the CBG), but computers are not networked because LAN connectors were not transferred to temporary accommodation. - New World Bank–financed office building expected early in 2006 and will be fully equipped. - NAPS lacks regular back-up procedures; recommendation for daily back-up with off-site weekly set. - Existing office is too small and poorly furnished (temporary situation). - Efficiency and management - No formal staff reviews; no internal reviews of work processes. - Technical experts have been brought in for methodology and data collection advice. - No regular costing exercise for individual statistical programs. - Relevance - No regular program for user consultation; consultations occurred for the new enterprise census financed by the World Bank. - Draft statistics bill provides for an annual conference of official statistics. - CSD active in international and regional organizations. - Quality management - No explicit processes to address quality; proposed Statistical Council should address quality improvements. - No processes to monitor quality of statistics. - No formal work program planning process; previous activities generally carried forward. Quality considerations influence special projects (e.g., new enterprise census). - Recommendations (Prerequisites) - Increase the number of staff working on the national accounts, by whatever means possible; - Instigate a regular program to back up data; - The CSD should investigate whether any other government department has a staff review system which they could use for their own staff; and - Ensure that the Statistical Council addresses the quality of the statistical programs. ### 1. Assurances of integrity — Key findings and recommendations - Professionalism - The Statistical Act (1972) does not explicitly guarantee professional independence of the director of CSD; no attempts reported to attack director's professionalism. - Under the draft bill, the professional independence of the Statistician General will be guaranteed. - Staff recruitment and promotion based on aptitude and experience; training opportunities provided; lack of resources means research is low priority. - Methodological independence and dissemination - CSD free to use available data sources; dissemination decisions mainly influenced by cost—CSD does not publish national accounts data itself. - Right to comment on misuse - Director of CSD has the right to respond to misinterpretation of statistics; little press coverage makes this issue rare. - Transparency - Statistical Law (1972) published and contains information on collection, processing, and dissemination. - Internal governmental access to statistics prior to release exists but details are not published. - Products clearly identified as belonging to CSD, even when published by another agency. - Advance notice is given of major changes in methodology, source data, and statistical techniques (example: new enterprise census). - Ethical standards - Some ethics statements included in appointment letters for new staff; no program of regular reminders to existing staff. - Recommendations (Assurances of integrity) - Encourage staff to undertake research, when resources permit; - Publish details of who has access to statistics prior to their release, for how long, and for what purpose; and - Produce a written statement on ethical standards and give this to all existing and new staff. ### 2. Methodological soundness — Key findings and recommendations - Concepts and definitions - The general framework is based on the 1968 System of National Accounts (SNA). When resources permit, CSD plans to adopt the 1993 SNA. - Scope - National accounts currently only cover GDP measured from the production approach, at current and constant prices. Some components of the expenditure approach are produced at current prices. - Household final consumption and changes in inventories cannot be derived directly and are calculated as a single residual series from total GDP (production approach). - NAPS plans to derive household final consumption from the recent Integrated Household Budget Survey (IHBS). - Special analyses produced for central government sector; no other sectoral statistics produced due to poor data and/or lack of resources. - GDP figures include activities of territorial enclaves in the rest of the world. No free zones in The Gambia. No statistics collected on activities of workers who spend part of the year in other countries. - Production and asset boundaries consistent with the 1968 SNA. Data for inventories are particularly poor and ignored in compiling production figures, so output figures actually represent sales. - Classification/sectorization - Production figures classified according to ISIC, third revision, with minor country-specific variations. - Central government figures analyzed using a country-specific classification similar to COFOG. - Basis for recording - Market output valued at factor cost (excluding production taxes and subsidies). Output for own use in agriculture valued at local market prices. - The Gambia does not have a value-added tax system; relevant sales taxes and excise duties included in intermediate consumption. - NAPS not aware of transfer pricing between subsidiaries. - Imports valued c.i.f., in accordance with the 1968 SNA. - Market transactions recorded on an accrual basis; central government transactions recorded on a cash basis. - Data collected from establishments are not specifically asked to record transactions with other establishments on gross or net basis. - Recommendations (Methodological soundness) - Use the new enterprise census to derive estimates for changes in inventories and, thus, proper output figures; - Produce the sequence of accounts for the total economy and the rest of the world; - Produce annual value-added components at current prices by industry, as soon as resources and source data allow; and - In the new enterprise survey, instruct establishments to record their transactions with other establishments in the same enterprise on a gross basis. *Data Quality Assessment Framework (July 2003): Summary of Results for National Accounts — extracted from the provided content unit.* ### 3.1 Source data ### _cr05421 - 3.1 Source data ### Source data collection and surveys - Existing business register is "very poor" and cannot be used to design truly representative samples; staff rely on their own knowledge when constructing samples. - A comprehensive enterprise listing exercise (funded by the World Bank) is planned/near implementation: - A visual survey of the whole of The Gambia to identify all businesses—however small—including street traders. - Only identification data will be recorded: name, address, nature of business, number of employees, and nationality of owners. - Headquarters will allocate each business to its appropriate 4-digit level of ISIC Rev. 3. - Enumerators will then collect more comprehensive data from a stratified sample; questionnaires will be specifically designed by industry and enterprise size. - Current enterprise survey coverage: - All the large (over 20 employees) and some of the medium-sized (5–19 employees) enterprises are covered; missing returns are interpolated based on growth in other related enterprises. - Response rates are generally unsatisfactory, especially for small (less than five employees) enterprises, despite simplified questionnaires. - Small enterprises account for around 30 percent of value added. - Methodology principally applied to manufacturing, hotels, and banks. - The CBG does not supply its own data; commercial bank details must be surveyed by NAPS. - Agriculture and other administrative sources: - Agriculture data from the planning unit of the Department of State for Agriculture, Fisheries, and Natural Resources (DOSA) with comprehensive coverage, including production for own consumption by household farmers. - Fishing industry covered by a sample of relevant fish landing sites and grossed up; excludes catches for own consumption. - Department of Geology Unit provides quantities and prices for each type of mineral. - Public utility provides data on electricity and water supply. - Water and air transport from annual reports of The Gambia Port Authority, The Gambia Civil Aviation Authority, and questionnaires to airlines and agents. - Comprehensive central government data available but subject to revision; local government data not obtained despite NAPS efforts. - Coverage gaps and extrapolations: - Forestry, trade, restaurants, business services, and other services are poorly covered by enterprise survey; historical benchmarks (of 12 or more years) are extrapolated forward using trends from the 1983 and 1993 population censuses. - Construction and real estate extrapolated using trend data from the housing censuses of 1983 and 1993 (use of stock of buildings from censuses). - The new enterprise census is expected to provide more reliable figures and allow allocation to ISIC 4-digit level. ### Household and price data - IHBS (Integrated Household Budget Survey) undertaken over 2003 and 2004: - Two-stage approach: sample of enumeration areas, then random sample of households; selected households were changed over the two-year period. - Households restricted to the civilian non-institutionalized population. - Previous IHBS in 1998 and 1992; those prior surveys were designed to assess poverty and were not considered suitable for national accounts. - Plan to use 2003/04 IHBS to derive figures for household final consumption. - New enterprise survey should provide figures for changes in inventories; may allow independent GDP from the expenditure approach. - No producer price index; CPI used to deflate value added for a number of industries: - Often total CPI is used when a component would be more suitable (e.g., CPI for goods for retail/wholesale trade). - Breakdown of CPI for services is very limited but expansion is hoped for. ### Definitions, scope, classifications, and valuation - Source data reasonably approximate required definitions, scope, classifications, valuation, and time of recording. - Time of recording issues: - Enterprises report according to their accounting year; NAPS allocates each enterprise to the calendar year in which their accounting year starts, which may introduce bias. - Suggested better allocation: assign returns to calendar year covering the majority of the accounting year (example rules provided in source). - Coverage gaps include local government, work in progress, and poor coverage of small enterprises; believed these gaps account for less that 20 percent of total value added. - Value added calculated for only 12-industry groups currently; new enterprise census will allow more detailed industry breakdown. ### Timeliness, consistency, and dissemination - Source data are generally timely, but some enterprises submit late; NAPS has tried deadlines without effect; late returns from large enterprises are chased up. - GDP estimates: - Compiled annually, in conformance with the GDDS. - Provisional GDP figures are available within six to seven months of the end of the reference year, in line with the General Data Dissemination System (GDDS). - GDP estimates are fully consistent since 1996; prior to that they related to fiscal (July to June) rather than calendar year. - Internal consistency is maintained as far as possible, noting no independent expenditure measure is available. - Dissemination issues: - CSD has not published GDP figures itself since 1996; figures appear in the CBG’s Annual Report (not produced for the last two years) and in the budget speech (estimates produced in November of the reference year). - Figures are not released on a preannounced schedule; CSD does not control publication timing or simultaneous release to all users. - Only figures are published for the 12-industry breakdown of GDP. - NAPS has produced a six-page methodological guide; GDDS metadata exists but has not been updated for some years. - Contact points are not publicized; catalogs and publication information are not generally available. ### Statistical techniques, adjustments, and constant price estimates - Data processing based on spreadsheets; meets current needs of NAPS. - Imputation and grossing: - Missing enterprise data imputed by applying growth for related enterprises to previous year’s figures. - Grossing factors for small enterprises are many years old; enterprise census will provide a reliable benchmark and probably require past data adjustments to avoid a break in GDP series. - Informal activities: - Estimates derived on a case-by-case basis using IHBS details; recommended review after enterprise census incorporation. - Agriculture and services: - Value added for agriculture and certain services derived by applying historical ratios to output; these factors can be up to 20 years old. - Agriculture accounts for more than 25 percent of GDP. - Intention that enterprise census will cover agriculture to rectify problem. - Imputed rent: - Derived by applying average rent (collected for CPI) to government figures for housing stock; CPI figures relate to urban areas and are from low-income households. - Inventories and holding gains: - Changes in inventories are not currently derived; holding gains cannot be estimated. - Enterprises may treat inventories as current prices, FIFO, or LIFO; enterprise census should ask for method used. - Consumption of fixed capital derived using the perpetual inventory method, as recommended in the 1993 SNA. - Central government figures: - No adjustments made to convert from cash to accrual basis, though taxes and subsidies could potentially be adjusted using delay information. - Constant price estimates: - Derived directly from value added rather than separately from output and intermediate consumption. - Methods applied only to 12-industry breakdown. - In some cases volume indicators are used where price indices would be more appropriate (example: business services extrapolated using change in population instead of services CPI component). - Taxes less subsidies are not deflated because GDP measured at factor cost. - Constant price trade margins deflated using total CPI; goods component would be more appropriate. - Base year is currently 1976/77 and considered far too old; updating base year is feasible but may require technical assistance. - Expenditure approach limitations: - Central government final consumption, gross fixed capital formation, exports, and imports derived independently. - Household final consumption, final expenditure of nonprofit institutions serving households, and changes in inventories are not available and form the residual from production-side GDP; consequently these residual-based figures are not of much use and no constant price estimates are produced. ### Validation, assessments, and revisions - Routine assessment and validation practices: - Data from large enterprises checked against previous returns and related enterprises. - Imports of building materials used to verify construction production figures. - Growth in number of tourists used to check hotel production. - Budget data routinely checked; unusual figures queried with respondents. - Any discrepancies in intermediate data are investigated and resolved. - Limitations in validation: - Supply and use tables are not available; cannot be used to investigate discrepancies. - No independent expenditure measure of GDP; size of discrepancies between approaches is not known. - Revisions: - Revisions do occur, particularly in the year following first production; across-the-board revisions one year on, thereafter only occasional changes. - No study into the size and direction of revisions has ever been undertaken; such a study could identify bias in preliminary figures. - When published, revised figures are individually indicated in the tables, but no public analyses of revisions currently exist. ### Recommendations (from Source) - From Section 3.5: 1. Negotiate with the CBG to obtain data for financial institutions from them, rather than having the NAPS survey such enterprises; 2. Pursue the collection of data for local government; 3. Allocate enterprise returns to the calendar year containing the majority of their accounting year; 4. Review the methods used to estimate informal activities once the results of the enterprise census have been incorporated into the accounts; 5. Use the enterprise census to increase the industrial breakdown of the production estimates; 6. Ask enterprises how they treat inventories in their accounts; 7. Investigate the possibility of converting the government data on taxes and subsidies from a cash to an accrual basis; 8. Once the results of the enterprise census have been incorporated into the accounts, review the methods used to derive constant price estimates and update the base year; and 9. Instigate a regular program to analyze revisions to the data. - From Section 5.3 (Accessibility recommendations): 1. As a matter of urgency, start publishing the GDP estimates as an information release and make this available to all users at the same time; 2. Preannounce the publication date on a regular basis; and 3. Include a contact point in the release. *Source: _cr05421 - 3.1 Source data (IMF staff report content provided in the supplied PDF excerpt).* ### 2.2 Scope ### _cr05421 - 2.2 Scope ### Scope and recording conventions - Only GDP from production approach is fully compiled; output does not include changes in inventories. - Central government figures are on a cash basis. ### Classification / sectorization - Classification/sectorization: X (practice indicated in source). ### Accuracy and reliability — source data and processing - Source data: - Extensive use of historical benchmarks; no data for local government; poor coverage of small enterprises. - Use the results of the 2003/04 His to derive independent estimates for household final consumption (short term). - Assessment of source data: X (practice indicated). - Statistical techniques: - Grossing factors for small enterprises are many years old; weaknesses in source data adversely affect many data adjustments. - Assessment and validation of intermediate data and statistical outputs: - No supply and use tables and no independent expenditure measure. - Supply and use tables will be developed (medium term). - Revision studies: - No revision studies. ### Serviceability - Periodicity and timeliness: X (practice indicated). - Consistency: X (practice indicated). - Revision policy and practice: - No published revision studies. ### Accessibility and metadata - Data accessibility: - CSD does not itself publish the data; there is no preannounced schedule; data only regularly supplied to government users - others have to ask for figures. - Metadata accessibility: - Only GDDS metadata published and this is out-of-date. - Documentation on sources and methods will be published (short term). - Assistance to users: - No contact points are published and no general catalogue is available. ### Government Finance Statistics — Prerequisites of quality (summary findings and recommendations) - Legal and institutional environment: - No specific law mandating the collection of government finance statistics (GFS) on the general government or broader public sector as part of a macroeconomic statistical framework. - Summary budget outturn data of the central government are made available. - The Government Budget Management and Accountability Act (2004), passed in August 2004, promotes fiscal transparency, mandates publication of budget execution progress and annual statements of government accounts, and replaces the independent Accountant General’s Office with a Treasury Directorate under the Department of State for Finance and Economic Affairs (DOSFEA) Permanent Secretary. Instructions to implement this Act were being finalized in February 2005. - Within DOSFEA, the Economic Management and Planning Unit (EMPU) alone has the authority to compile fiscal statistics on the budgetary central government. - No evidence that DOSFEA accepts responsibility for compiling GFS for the general government (including local governments) or the public sector (which also includes public enterprises). - Recommendation: - Issue a DOSFEA mandate for compiling and disseminating GFS monthly for the budgetary central government and quarterly or annually for the general government. - Data-sharing and coordination: - Informal procedures mainly in place for ECMU and EMPU collection of data from the Treasury Directorate and other sources for budgetary central government GFS. - No procedures in place for collection of data on local governments; no data collected on the social security fund or public enterprises. - Limited evidence of ongoing working relationships among data-compiling agencies; committee established to reconcile monetary and fiscal data but no recent meetings or findings identified. - Confidentiality and use: - Public corporations release income statements and balance sheets to The Gambia Divestiture Agency (GDA) of DOSFEA on an annual basis. - Selected limited data on these enterprises are released to the public in comments of the Secretary of DOSFEA in the annual budgetary document. - To permit compilation of government balance sheets consistent with GFSM 2001, data on the aggregate of the market value of equity of these enterprises are needed; it is understood valuations for some time would be based on book values and not on market value. - Legal measures to ensure reporting: - The Local Government Act (2002) calls for central government collection of data on local governments; DOSFEA officials indicated willingness to collect data on these eight entities. - Recommendation: Issue instructions—with appropriate classification formats and enforcements—for collecting transactions and balance sheet data for all general government units, with the understanding that, over time and with adequate training, classifications, including expenditure by function, would need to conform to central government budgetary classifications. ### Resources, systems, and capacity - Staffing and organization: - Two members of EMPU assigned to compile GFS; not adequate resources; not authorized to collect all fiscal data from all general government entities and assigned to tasks other than GFS compilation. - General qualifications of statistical compilers are adequate but a need for specialized training in GFS exists. - Salary levels do not seem consistent with efforts to avoid turnovers. - Computing and accounting systems: - Wang computer and its peripherals for the accounting system are seriously inadequate. - No accounting entries have been made in the accounting system for the budget outturn since January 2002. - Only rough estimates of budgetary data for 2002 and 2003 were made from manual manipulations of Centralized Vote Service Book data in 2500 spreadsheets. - Without an operational general ledger, there can be no budgetary control or accurate fiscal statistical reporting. - Projects and timelines: - Ongoing World Bank Capacity Building Project started in 2002, designed to build an operational integrated financial management system by 2006; objective unlikely to be achieved on schedule and may not be reached for many years. - Current schedule calls for contract bidding for the computer and accounting systems during February 2005. - As an interim measure, authorities outlined treasury plans to purchase an accounting system, including a payroll system, in which accounting entries can be recorded from 2005. - The Wang system is described as a 30-year old Wang system. - Recommendation: - Authorize and establish soon, with adequate managerial, staffing, and computer resources, a reliable and flexible automated accounting and fiscal control system, including a payroll system, consistent with compiling government transaction and balance sheet data in line with international statistical convention. ### Efficiency, relevance, and quality management - Measures to ensure efficient use of resources: - Selected but limited measures are taken to ensure efficient use of staff; no formal performance assessments are conducted. - Antiquated computing resources insufficient as evidenced by lack of general ledger entries since January 2002. - Relevance: - No prior survey of users; limited evidence of responsibility to keep needs of nonofficials in mind. - Authorities have cooperated with enhanced HIPC initiative and PRS data needs. - Fiscal data compilers have not conducted studies to identify new and emerging data requirements. - Quality assurance: - Only limited processes in place to focus on quality; limited evidence of training programs that emphasize data quality. - Only minimal processes established to monitor the quality of the statistical program; no periodic reviews to identify steps needed to ensure quality. - Only minimal processes employed to deal with quality considerations in planning the statistical program; feedback from users is not sought. ### Assurances of integrity, professionalism, and transparency - Professionalism: - Appointments made in accordance with General Orders (Orders 02102 and 02103); recruitment based in part on aptitude; promotions largely based on length of service. - On-the-job training and seminars provided to accountants for cash accounting. - Recommendation: Encourage professionalism through training in accounting and public finance, including GFS training provided by the Fund. - Choices of sources and dissemination: - Only fiscal data publicly available are in the annual DOSFEA Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure and in the Central Bank of The Gambia’s (CBG) Annual Report, last published in 2001. - Decisions to disseminate fiscal data are based on legal requirements for the budget, rather than statistical considerations. - Right to comment on misuse: - Data compilers can provide explanatory materials in response to questionable interpretations with the approval of the Permanent Secretary; no examples currently available and no well-established policy to deal with data misinterpretations. - Transparency: - No information is available to the public, except for the budget law and inadequate GDDS information, about the terms and conditions under which fiscal data are compiled and disseminated. - The public is not informed of when officials have access to data prior to dissemination. - Budget data available to the public are identified as being from the DOSFEA; DOSFEA does not request attribution when fiscal data are reproduced. - Advance notice was provided to all stakeholders when the transaction classifications were changed for 2004 data. *Source: _cr05421 - 2.2 Scope (IMF country report content).* ### 1.3 Ethical standards ### 1.3 Ethical standards ### Ethical standards — findings - Guidelines for staff behavior are embedded in the General Orders, which concerns the conduct and discipline of public officials. - Some guidelines for maintaining ethical standards exist (for example, Order 03103, which concern data leaks). - The extent to which these guidelines are known by accountants and data compilers is unclear. - No formal examples of periodic reminders of ethical standards to the staff are available. - A significant DOSFEA culture for maintaining ethical standards discourages interference with data compilation. ### Methodological soundness — overview - The data ROSC assessment for The Gambia is based on the methodology embedded in A Manual on Government Finance Statistics (GFSM 1986). - Disseminated data on actual budgetary transactions are based mainly, but not completely, on GFSM 1986. - Concepts and definitions used in the budget documents differ somewhat from those in GFSM 1986, which only concerns cash transactions and debt. - Linkages between series reported in both the DOSFEA budget report and the CBG Annual Report and reporting in GFSM 1986 are not always straightforward. ### Concepts and migration to GFSM 2001 — findings and guidance - The distinction between domestic and foreign financing and debt is based on the residency criteria in accordance with the IMF’s Balance of Payments Statistics Manual, fifth edition (BPM5), 1993; the same residency criteria is also followed by GFSM 1986. - Substantial difficulties exist with the current accounting system; the establishment of a migration path to introducing the GFSM 2001 is not yet planned. - GFSM 2001 creates an integrated framework for reporting comprehensive general government stocks and flows, where transactions are reported on an accrual basis, and summary data on transactions on a cash basis in a statement of sources and uses of cash are made available. - The mission described fundamental aspects of GFSM 2001 and recommended establishing a documented migration path to implement aspects of GFSM 2001 in nationally determined stages over many years (for example, establishing classifications consistent with GFSM 2001 and compiling selected data for a balance sheet). - The mission directed the authorities to material explaining links between GFSM 1986 and GFSM 2001 classifications and noted the GFSM 2001 reporting system can accommodate accounting records based only on cash records. - The mission noted the need, over time, for reporting, in line with GFSM 2001, data on certain memorandum items such as arrears (which the authorities indicated arise when payments are not completed within 90 days of due dates). Such reporting was conducted in the past and could be resumed. Recommendation: - Following the establishment of closer alignments with concepts and definitions embedded in GFSM 1986, adopt a plan to migrate in stages to implement GFSM 2001, including the adoption of classifications harmonized with that methodology. ### Scope — findings - Fiscal data disseminated in The Gambia cover only the budgetary central government and do not include data on local governments nor the social security fund. - A Fund/Bank report estimates that local government expenditure is roughly 4 percent of general government expenditure. - If scope could be extended to include adequate accounting data for local governments and the social security fund, and central government data improved, consolidated fiscal data for general government could be compiled for tables observed in GFSM 1986. - Ten public enterprises, owned by the central government, exist; the net worth of these enterprises will be important to identify the value of these financial assets in general government data, since at least their book values need to be included in the balance sheet of the central government. - Only annual summary data on central government domestic and external debt are disseminated. - Selected detailed transaction data on transactions of the Consolidated Fund are available in the DOSFEA annual report. - Debt data by instrument and by counterparty, as based on DOSFEA available data, can be compiled and disseminated routinely. - Provisional data through 2003 are being made available in February 2005; data based on closed accounts are available only through 1999. No audited data, and thus no final data, are available since the release of the audited 1991 data. - No tables on outstanding debt of the central government are provided in the DOSFEA annual report, although selected summary debt data are available in the text of the budget. - Compilers collect no fiscal data for transactions or debt of local governments. ### Classification/sectorization — findings - Underlying classifications and sectorization of transactions conform mainly to those of GFSM 1986. - Most differences in aggregates can be resolved by reviewing bridging links between detailed national classifications and GFSM 1986. - Revenue, expenditure, financing, and other transaction data disseminated with the annual budget document of the central government roughly compare with most transaction classifications in Chapter IV of GFSM 1986. ### Basis for recording — findings - Market prices of transactions and nominal values of debt are used in line with GFSM 1986. - Transactions in foreign currency are converted to local currency using the midpoint exchange rate prevailing in the market at the moment the transactions take place. - Recording by the treasury and in the DOSFEA annual budget report occurs on a cash basis. - Statistical reporting in the CBG Annual Report, as provided by DOSFEA compilers, is based on modified cash accounting. - The authorities have not yet considered a migration plan to introduce accrual recording of transactions in line with GFSM 2001. - The Consolidated Fund records do not include records of nationally termed below-the-line-transactions: (1) payments from the DOSFEA to other central government units where subsequent use for expenditure is approved by the treasury and entered into accounting records for the budget outturn; and (2) own-account transactions where receipts for government products are used for related expenditure but not conducted through the Consolidated Fund (identified in DOSFEA records and not included in provisional budget outturn data, but expected to be included in final audited data). - Transactions are shown appropriately on a gross basis, except for borrowing/amortization; properly corrective transactions (e.g., refunds of taxes) are netted. ### Accuracy and reliability — source data findings - Data collection programs for budgetary central government operations and debt exist but are inadequate due to lack of an appropriate and operational accounting system for the budget. - The chart of accounts is adequate for linking to transaction classifications in GFSM 1986; adequate bridge tables are embedded in selective spreadsheets but are not embedded in the accounting system or documented for compilers. - Reported accounting data of the treasury do not cover all transactions, including domestic financing transactions for which the source is the CBG. - Available accounting data for budgetary operations extend only through 2001. - The Directorate for the Loans and Debt Management Department (LDMD) has data on net foreign borrowing and external debt. - The Gambia Divestiture Agency monitors selected data on all ten public enterprises and approves their expenditure; GFS compilers do not collect these data. - Since new classifications were established beginning in 2004, the accounting software in the Wang system will need to be revised if a new accounting system is not available by the time data entry for the 2004 accounts and account closing for 2004 can take place. - Local government data are not collected; local governments have transaction data but the Department of State for Local Governments and DOSFEA compilers have not yet collected the data nor classified them in conformance with national budget classifications. Recommendations (from source): 1. Record in 2005 all entries for the 2002–2004 periods in the accounting system, close financial accounts for 2002–2004 periods, and submit budgetary accounts for audit; 2. Establish in early 2005 an interim automatic system for processing check payment vouchers for central government approval prior to check issuance, where proper classifications are embedded and classified data on checks issued are reported daily; 3. Ensure that an independent auditor, with adequate resources, will audit as soon as feasible the stock and flow data of central government through 2004; and 4. Following the establishment of a closer alignment between the GFSM 1986 and budgetary classifications, collect local government and social security data on transactions and debt, establishing report forms that conform to national budget classifications, thus permitting the compilation of consolidated data on general government. ### Source data assessment — timing and quality - Source data for the annual budget roughly match the definitions and scope of GFSM 1986; source data for local governments do not match central government classifications. - Annual provisional data for the 2003 fiscal year were compiled in about ten months and were presented to parliament in December 2004; these data were expected to be disseminated to the public in February 2005. - Preliminary data on selected monthly aggregates (not based on government accounting data) are available one month after the reference period but are not disseminated. - Compilers employ follow-up procedures with the Treasury Directorate and with the CBG for selected records to ensure timely reporting for monthly budget data. - The accuracy of annual data is not routinely assessed. The accuracy of monthly reports (aside from shortcomings due to absence of recent accounting data) is reviewed. - Automated procedures are not employed as part of routine assessments. Out-of-trend values and data inconsistencies, when observed, are questioned through direct contacts with reporting entities. ### Compilation techniques and validation - Data compilation procedures are currently limited to manual manipulations of data on spreadsheets. - Compilation errors and budget control shortcomings can only be overcome with an adequate automated accounting system. - Discrepancies between monthly data (not currently released to the public) and provisional annual data are not adjusted to ensure consistency. - Compilation procedures are not documented. - Bridge tables linking budgetary data with selected aggregates that roughly approximate GFSM 1986 are embedded in spreadsheets. No adjustments are made for the budgetary source data. Recommendation: - Document compilation procedures with the identification of all links between the budget classifications and classifications of an appropriate international statistical convention. ### Reconciliation and consistency checks — findings and recommendation - The process of validating the accuracy of detailed classified accounting data used in reports is not well established. - The sum of expenditure and lending by economic type and the sum of these payments by function match and are consistent. - There are no documented checks for differences between net borrowing and changes in outstanding debt over the same period. - A committee was established to reconcile monetary and fiscal data, but no documentation of minutes or results is available; the authorities indicated reconciliation was impossible given lack of comprehensive recorded data. - There is no evidence of routine data checks with foreigners on external borrowing or grants. - No evidence of consistency checks of fiscal with national accounts or balance of payments data was made available. Recommendation: - Routinely reconcile fiscal data with data in other macroeconomic statistical areas and periodically document status of reconciliation. ### Revision practices — findings - No revised data exist in recent years (since 1991). Fiscal data are not archived and, since revisions have not taken place for a number of years, differences between revisions are not assessed. - Studies on how much, and in which way, provisional data differ from final data are not conducted, and results of such analyses are not utilized to improve statistical processes. ### Serviceability — periodicity and timeliness findings - Periodicity assessments occur in the context of GDDS. - No data on general government (which includes the entire central government and local governments) are disseminated. - Compilers do not collect or disseminate social security or local government transaction data. - Provisional annual data, but not quarterly data, on budgetary central government transactions are available with the budget report. - Monthly aggregate data for the central government—and the budget outturn data—are available in DOSFEA but not disseminated to the public. - Annual accounting data have been finalized only up through 1999. The authorities indicated annual accounting data through 2004 could be finalized by end-2005 if sufficient resources (essentially two workstations and a printer) are allocated and prioritized. - Domestic and foreign debt totals of the budgetary central government, while compiled monthly, are only available to the general public once a year with the annual budget report. No breakdown by instrument or counterpart claimant is disseminated, even though such details are available in DOSFEA. - The GDDS recommends timeliness of 6–9 months for central government operations. - Annual data on budgetary central government transactions are available to the public with the budget report about 14 months following the end of the fiscal year. - Monthly aggregated data on the transactions of the budgetary central government are available in DOSFEA after about one month but are not disseminated to the public. - The feasibility of disseminating quarterly data on central government aggregates in line with international statistical conventions was addressed and positively endorsed, pending the availability of quarterly social security data. - Domestic and foreign debt totals of the central government are available to the public through the speech of the secretary of DOSFEA on the annual budget report for the parliament. - Monthly debt data, including detailed debt data, are available in DOSFEA in the month following the recording date. Recommendation: - Disseminate, one month after the reporting period, quarterly transactions and debt data on the budgetary central government in line with presentations in GFSM 1986, and later those in GFSM 2001. *Source: _cr05421 - 1.3 Ethical standards (IMF PDF chapter).* ### 4.2 Consistency ### 4.2 Consistency ### 4.2 Consistency: findings on internal and cross-framework coherence - Statistics are consistent within the dataset. - Concepts, definitions, and classifications of budget outturn data for monthly data (not disseminated to the public) and annual data are quite similar. - No steps are taken to ensure that the annual sum of monthly transaction data equals the reported annual data. - Steps are not taken to ensure that changes in domestic and foreign debt are consistent with net domestic borrowing and net foreign borrowing. - The sum of components of data series is found in several examples to equal data in the series, but there is limited evidence that an automated procedure ensures consistency. - The annual debt data released are not necessarily for the end of the fiscal year (for example, debt data for November 2003 were released in the DOSFEA 2004 annual report; the fiscal year is the calendar year). - The reporting of central government time series in various budget reports is consistent over periods of five years. - When the new classifications were employed for 2004, a historical series was not reconstructed; methodological notes explaining these new classifications were limited in scope. - Central government transactions reported in fiscal data should be largely consistent with national accounts and with monetary and financial statistics, but: - This consistency is not reviewed for national accounts. - The DOSFEA uses the CBG data on its accounts, and the authorities, given available data, found it impossible to reconcile inconsistencies with monetary statistics. ### 4.3 Revision policy and practice: summary of practice and limitations - There is no revision cycle for disseminated provisional data, since budget reports present only one year of outturn data for cash transactions and revised data have not been reported in recent years. - No documented policy exists for revisions or explanations. - Users are informed in annual budget reports of the provisional character of transactions data; the understanding is that the provisional identification would be deleted when data are finalized. - Debt data are not identified to be either provisional nor final. - Revisions have not taken place in recent years; lack of revisions between preliminary and final data means: - Revisions could not be measured, assessed, nor explained in data reporting. - Users are not informed of an analysis of differences between provisional and final data. ### 5 Accessibility: data accessibility — presentation, dissemination, schedule, and availability - Presentation and comparability - Fiscal transactions data disseminated with the budget by the DOSFEA (in Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure 2004) roughly match that in GFSM 1986, but the presentation is not the same as in GFSM 1986 or GFSM 2001. - Budget reports have significant details that permit analysts to understand better the aggregate data, and the fiscal data in the budget are useful to budget reviewers. - The DOSFEA annual report has shortcomings: - Lending by government is included under expenditure rather than under the GFSM 1986 series of lending minus repayments. - The surplus and financing signs are opposite those in GFSM 1986. - Surplus data do not match financing data. - There is no identification of domestic amortization or the use of cash balances—items to be included under financing. - There is no definition of net surplus, which is the difference between surplus and financing. - No summary listing of all major transactions is provided. - It is noteworthy that the total of expenditure and lending by economic type matches that for expenditure and lending by function. - Functional classifications reporting follows COFOG only to the extent that existing budgetary classifications by organization permit. - The presentation of government transactions in the CBG Annual Report (last issued in 2001) resembles GFSM 1986 more closely than the DOSFEA annual report, but also falls short of conforming to international statistical conventions: - It does not identify the use of cash balances. - It has an adjustment line for so-called float, but it is really the sum of a residual series for discrepancies as well as the float. - In financing, it mixes transactions by instrument with transactions by counterpart sector. - No debt tables are provided to the public, although totals of foreign and domestic debt for one date have been made available in the text of the annual budget report. - Dissemination media and format - Fiscal data are not disseminated in ways that sufficiently facilitate subsequent dissemination in the media. - More comprehensive and detailed data are provided, but definitions and explanations of links among disseminated tables are not provided in the budget report. - No fiscal data are accessible through an electronic database maintained by or on behalf of DOSFEA. - Recommendations (data dissemination) - Following the compilation of fiscal data on general government based on accurate accounting data, disseminate in hard copy tables with available transaction and debt data that conform to international statistical convention and reflect improvements in tables and graphs. - Enter frequently fiscal statistics, including monthly or quarterly data in one or more official websites. - Release schedule and simultaneity - Fiscal data are not released according to any schedule; no schedule with release dates for fiscal data is available. - The annual budget report is presented to the parliament in November of each year, but the release date for the (revised) annual report is not scheduled. - Once approved, the annual budget report for release to the public—the 2005 release—is expected in mid-February 2005. - The annual budget report—the major fiscal data report available to the public—is released to all nonofficials at the same time; however this release follows the dissemination of the annual report to officials by more than two months. - Recommendation: Release annual fiscal outturn data to the public at the same time that they are released to the parliament. - Data on request - In addition to fiscal data released in the annual budget report, other fiscal data, including customized tabulations, have been made available on request. - The availability of additional fiscal data and the procedures for obtaining them are not identified and made known to the public. ### 5.2 Metadata accessibility: availability and adequacy - No comprehensive documentation on concepts, practices, and procedures is published. - While comprehensive fiscal data are provided in the annual budget report, there is limited information on concepts, definitions, classifications, data sources, compilation methods, and other methodological aspects. - The GDDS metadata are reviewed on occasion, but not updated regularly; the last update was in 2003. - GDDS metadata are available only through the Fund website, but not through any sources in The Gambia such as statistical publications and data releases. - Different levels of metadata detail are not made available to meet users’ requirements. - General users’ information such as brochures about fiscal data is not made available to the public. - Background papers and working documents are not made available. - Recommendations (metadata) - Document and publish a guide on concepts, practices, and procedures for GFS compilation. - Disseminate GDDS metadata in local publications of fiscal statistics and on the website, update these metadata regularly, and compile comprehensive and updated explanations and other metadata for all disseminated fiscal statistics in publications and on a website. ### 5.3 Assistance to users: contact points, catalogs, and user support - Contact points for each subject field are not publicized: - The DOSFEA annual budget report and the CBG Annual Report do not identify specific contact points, e.g., names with telephone numbers or email addresses, for queries. - Materials to encourage awareness of fiscal data and their interpretations are not made available. - Access points for users to obtain fiscal data information are not advertised. - Any assistance for data users are not monitored nor periodically reviewed. - Recommendation: Identify specific contacts for GFS in official publications and websites. - Catalogs of publications, websites, documents, and other services are not made available to data users. ### Summary table highlights (Data Quality Assessment Framework, July 2003) - No specific mandate for disseminating GFS on general government. - Accounting system is inadequate; accounting system to be improved (IFMIS). - No survey of users prior to mission. - Limited processes to focus on quality. - Limited evidence of research papers; training of DMSDM staff noted. - Official access to data not identified. - No reminders of ethical standards. - No migration path to GFSM 2001; integrate recurrent and development budgets recommended. - No data on local governments. - Compiling procedures not documented. - No routine assessment of data accuracy. - No checks for differences between net borrowing and changes in debt. - No recent revisions of provisional data. - No quarterly data on central government. - Little evidence of automated procedures; accounting system to be improved (IFMIS). - Presentation not quite according to GFSM 1986 or GFSM 2001; no scheduled release dates. - No metadata brochures made available; GDDS metadata to be improved. - No catalogs of publications/websites. ### Monetary statistics: Prerequisites of quality (introductory points) - Legal mandates for monetary statistics compilation include: - Central Bank of The Gambia Act (1992), Article 38. - Financial Institutions Act, 2003, article 24. - Anti-Monetary Laundry Act (2003). - The Kindle Banking System (BankMaster), introduced in 1999, provides a platform for data-sharing within the CBG. - Trial balance generated by BankMaster is converted into Lotus 1-2-3; a bridging table links the trial balance to the central bank survey table. - These data manipulations are done manually and are prone to data-entry errors. - ERD compiles aggregated information from commercial banks and other financial institutions; consolidation is done in a simple excel program and disseminated in the CBG’s Quarterly Bulletin, Annual Report, and on the website. - Confidentiality is guaranteed under the CBG Act (Articles 63, 64) and the Financial Institutions Act (Article 60); penalties exist for disclosure. - Statistical reporting is ensured through legal mandate and other measures; Article 63 allows sanctions and penalties for noncompliance. - MCU staffing and resources: - The Money and Credit Unit (MCU) has a total of six full-time staff, only one of whom is exclusively devoted to compiling monetary statistics. - Five of the staff have at least college degrees in economics, and one has a graduate degree. - Two staff are currently pursuing their degree training abroad: one doing an undergraduate degree in econometrics in the UK and the other a master’s degree in the U.S. - Only two staff members have participated in specialized courses in monetary statistics. - MCU has acquired two new computers with standard software; one is connected to the overall CBG network via the BankMaster. - The officer in charge of compiling monetary statistics does not have direct access to the Internet; data submission to IMF’s Statistics Department (STA) is not automated. - The SU also has two old computers, shared by statistical assistants. - The IMF staff assessment is that the MCU needs more computers and appropriate software; MCU staff need training in the use of spreadsheet and other statistical software. - Workspace, equipment, and working environment are adequate and are currently being upgraded. - The budget for monetary statistics is reviewed in December of each year within the context of the overall CBG budget; required appropriations are usually granted. - Performance reports are conducted every quarter for the MCU, but there is no specific process to measure resources used to compile monetary statistics vis-à-vis those employed for other macroeconomic data. *Source: _cr05421 - 4.2 Consistency (IMF staff report content provided in the PDF).* ### 1. Computerize the monetary statistics production process, including access to the ### _cr05421 - 1. Computerize the monetary statistics production process, including access to the ### Immediate operational recommendations - Computerize the monetary statistics production process, including access to the internet to facilitate electronic data transmission to the STA of the IMF, as well as receipt of electronic data from other depository corporations (ODCs) and other financial corporations. - Ensure personnel dedicated to the compilation of monetary statistics are not assigned other duties outside the scope of monetary statistics, which could divert them from collecting, processing, and compiling monetary statistics. ### Relevance and user feedback - The CBG does not have a proactive policy of regularly consulting users to obtain feedback on the quality and the relevance of its monetary statistics; input from the general public is limited. - Feedback on relevance and practicality is generally received during the course of responding to specific data requests. - Regular participation by CBG staff in courses and seminars (other central banks, the IMF, WAMI, and ECOWAS) helps assess relevance, but: - staff do not work only on monetary statistics and therefore have no opportunity to implement what they learn; - there are no established mechanisms for staff to anticipate emerging requirements. ### Quality management and controls - The CBG recognizes the importance of high-quality official statistics and has decided to participate in the General Data Dissemination System (GDDS). - There are no formal processes to promote the quality of official statistics. - Established procedures for quality control: - ERD, in collaboration with the FSD, routinely verifies that banks’ reporting practices follow CBG guidelines and conducts routine checks on raw data input into the computer. - The CBG balance sheet and other financial statements are externally audited every year by an internationally reputed firm. - All depository corporations are required to publish their annual balance sheets and income statements under the Financial Institutions Act. - Historical context and corrective actions: - Following The Gambia’s incidence of misreporting of data to the IMF in 2002 and irregularities in the foreign exchange department, Deloitte and Touche (SA) carried out a special audit of the accounts of the CBG in 2004. - Corrective measures from the audit report and implementation of STA technical assistance mission recommendations from 2001 and 2003 should help improve quality of statistics. - Trade-offs: - Trade-offs between data accuracy, periodicity, and timeliness are recognized, but evaluations are constrained by the overall CBG budget. - CBG management does not hold regular meetings to review existing data or identify emerging data requirements. ### Integrity — Professionalism - Statutory provisions under which the CBG compiles monetary statistics are adequate to support its independence. - Staff recruitment and training: - Most ERD staff are recruited as statistical assistants and provided on-the-job training; after a 3–5 year exposure, promising staff are sent abroad for undergraduate degrees in economics and relevant areas. - Staff are encouraged to attend seminars, pursue post-graduate studies, and participate in meetings with other central banks and international organizations. - Constraints: - ERD generally lacks a clear vision of its mission and is unable to foster a supportive work environment to build and deepen analytical skills in monetary statistics compilation. - CBG management formally recognizes and financially rewards high professionalism via promotions and scholarships. - Data compilation principles: - Monetary statistics are compiled from the CBG’s and ODCs’ accounting data; statistical techniques are not used in compilation. - Data sources, methods, and definitions are based solely on methodological considerations (e.g., MFSM). ### Integrity — Transparency and ethical standards - Terms and conditions for collection, processing, and dissemination are published in the CBG Act (1992), the Financial Institutions Act (2003), and the Anti-Money Laundering Act (2004), but public awareness is limited because only a small number of users know the CBG’s website. - No formal government representative (except the government’s representative member on the CBG’s Board of Directors) has access to monetary data before public release; internal government access prior to release is not publicly acknowledged. - Monetary statistics are clearly identified in CBG publications and reports; publications contain names of departments and individuals responsible. - No advance notice is given of major changes in methodology, source data, and statistical techniques; changes are announced and explained when new data are published. - Ethical framework: - The Central Bank of The Gambia’s Service Rules, updated in April 2004, provide comprehensive ethical guidelines (Code of Conduct in Section 5; sanctions in Section 6). - All new staff receive the Code of Conduct and copies of the rules. ### Concepts, definitions, and migration to MFSM - Current frameworks: - The central bank survey (CBS) and the depository corporations survey (DCS) follow the 1984 Monetary Statistics Guide. - Authorities have adopted and are implementing a plan to migrate to the MFSM by end-2005. - Monetary survey structure: - Consolidates accounts of the CBG and commercial banks. - Key aggregates: net foreign assets, net domestic credit (to central government and nonfinancial public enterprises, and the private sector), monetary liabilities (M1, M2), nonmonetary liabilities, capital and reserves, and other net unclassified assets. - ODC accounting issues: - Accounts of ODCs do not follow a common accounting system or chart of accounts. - Many ODCs’ accounts may be inconsistent with International Accounting Standards (IAS), especially regarding accrual accounting. - ODCs’ accounting data do not provide adequate information to sectorize resident and nonresident sectors, or to classify holders and issuers of financial assets/liabilities. - Dissemination: - Deviations from MFSM concepts and definitions are not clearly identified or stated in CBG publications because the Bank has not yet started publishing data based on the new framework. - Recommendation: - Ensure that the concepts and definitions used by the ODCs in compiling monetary statistics are consistent with the MFSM guidelines. ### Scope, coverage, and recommended expansions - Current coverage: - Central bank summary accounts align with the MFSM; summary accounts of deposit money banks do not broadly conform to MFSM guidelines. - Gambian financial system components: (1) central bank (Central Bank of The Gambia); (2) ODCs, comprising six commercial banks, 11 the Post Office Savings Bank, 63 village savings and credit associations (VISACAs), and about 84 credit unions; and (3) other financial corporations (insurance companies, foreign exchange bureaus, finance companies). - Current CBG practice: - Monetary data based on the 1984 Monetary Statistics Guide: (1) summary accounts of the CBG; (2) summary accounts of deposit money banks (commercial banks but excluding the Post Office Savings Bank, VISACAs, and credit unions); and (3) the monetary survey (consolidating the CBG and commercial banks) disseminated quarterly and annually on the website, in the Quarterly Bulletin, and the Annual Report. - Although CBG recently acquired authority to supervise insurance companies, there are no immediate plans to produce a financial corporations’ survey. - Footnotes and special cases: - Continent Bank, under liquidation, is not reported in the monetary statistics; Continent Bank stopped submitting reports three years ago. - Registration and supervision of credit unions fall under the Department of Cooperatives; they are largely self-regulated under NAACUG and supervised by the CBG’s Department of Microfinance. - Recommendation: - Broaden the coverage of the depository corporations by including the Post Office Savings Bank, VISACAs, and credit unions in accordance with the MFSM guidelines. ### Classification and sectorization - MFSM sectorization should follow subsectors in the 1993 SNA: (1) central bank; (2) ODCs; (3) other financial corporations; (4) central government; (5) state and local government; (6) public nonfinancial corporations; (7) other nonfinancial corporations; and (8) other resident sectors. - CBG current sectorization: - Distinguishes: (1) central government; (2) rest of the public sector (social security, local government, other nonfinancial enterprises); (3) financial institutions; (4) households; (5) nonprofit institutions serving households (embassies and international organizations); and (6) nonresidents. - Instrument classification divergence: - CBG classification: (1) gold and SDRs; (2) currency and deposits; (3) securities other than equity; (4) loans; (5) equity and paid-in capital; (6) insurance technical reserves; (7) financial derivatives; and (8) other accounts receivable/payable. - In the CBG trial balance, transactions with nonfinancial public enterprises and local government are not clearly identified; deposits of, and advances to, nonfinancial public enterprises are reported under central government. - Recommendation: - Ensure that data reported by commercial banks follow all classification and sectorization principles needed for the compilation of reliable monetary statistics. ### Basis for recording, valuation, and accounting practices - Valuation principles (MFSM general recommendation): - Financial assets and liabilities should be valued at market prices or fair values; loans are an exception and should be registered at book values (outstanding principal plus any accrued interest). - Stocks and flows in foreign currency should be converted at market exchange rates prevailing at transaction time and balance date; holding gains/losses should be recorded in a revaluation account. - CBG practices: - Generally compiled in accordance with MFSM valuation principles: market prices for financial assets/liabilities except loans at current book values; valuation adjustments included in revaluation accounts; foreign currency conversions at transaction or end-of-period exchange rates with valuation gains/losses included in profit/loss accounts. - Exception: SDR allocations were not regularly updated. - Commercial banks report loans and advances on a net basis, excluding provisions for expected loan losses. - One commercial bank reported a small portfolio of untraded shares valued at historical (book) value rather than at fair value as MFSM prescribes. - Actions to align reporting: - FISD, in collaboration with the National Accounting Association, is working on a plan to adopt the International Accounting Standards (IAS) during 2005 and to develop a new chart of accounts. - Deviations from MFSM key concepts and definitions are not clearly identified in CBG publications. - Accrual recording: - CBG and commercial banks follow MFSM accrual principles in their own accounts, but accrued interest is still being reported in accounts receivable/payable rather than included in the underlying financial instrument. - Recommendation: - Include interest accrued in the corresponding instrument and sector. - Grossing/netting: - CBG assets and liabilities are compiled on a gross basis and aggregated without consolidating interbank positions. - Commercial banks and other financial institutions report on a net basis in monthly returns; these are adjusted and netted out and presented consolidated as “other items net” in surveys. - Reciprocal positions between the CBG and commercial banks and claims among commercial banks are included indistinguishably in “interbank flows,” under other items (net). *Central Bank of The Gambia — Monetary Statistics assessment (excerpt).* ### 3. Accuracy and reliability ### 3. Accuracy and reliability ### 3.1 Source data - Main source data: - (1) monthly CBG trial balance sheet electronically provided to the ERD through the CBG’s BankMaster. - (2) monthly reports on commercial banks available to the FISD in hardcopy and entered manually by the MCU. - Processing: - Information is processed through the MCU’s computer program, using Excel for aggregation and consolidation with the commercial bank accounts and with those of the CBG. - The resulting monetary survey is sent to CBG management for approval and subsequent publication in the quarterly bulletin and posting on the CBG website. - Limitations: - CBG source data do not provide sufficient information to derive accounts according to MFSM definitions, scope, classifications, valuation, and time of recording. - Outputs do not provide comprehensive information with a logical structure, making quality and accuracy assessment difficult. - Data collection programs at the FSD and FISD are not flexible to accommodate methodological and technological changes or an increase in reporting institutions. - Standard monthly information from commercial banks lacks detail to permit classification by economic sector or by residency. - Commercial banks use a single report form that has not been updated to be consistent with the MFSM guidelines. - Commercial bank information is not sent by electronic interface; accounts are transmitted by hand to the FSD 14 days after the reference period. - MCU aggregates and consolidates data from the two sources to produce a monetary survey, which is disseminated to management within a maximum of three months of the reference date. - Recommendations: - Recommendation: Revise the report form used by ODCs for reporting balance sheet data to the CBG to be consistent with the broad MFSM guidelines. - Recommendation: Move quickly to ensure that monetary data are compiled in accordance with the MFSM and regularly reported to STA on Standardized Report Forms (SRFs) that are generated automatically from underlying accounting records. ### 3.2 Assessment of source data - Routine assessment practices: - Accuracy of commercial bank data is routinely studied by the FSD/MCU for underreporting/misreporting and consistency prior to processing into a DCS. - FSD/MCU contacts banks directly for clarifications; inconsistencies and out-of-value trends are checked and discussed with reporting institutions. - CBG automated procedures ensure internal account accuracy with built-in checks for internal consistency. - Limitations: - Current process for assessing source data should be reviewed to ensure adequate identification of source-data deficiencies. - Recommendation: - Recommendation: Review the current process for assessing source data to ensure that processes function adequately in identifying deficiencies with source data. ### 3.3 Statistical techniques - Compilation techniques: - CBG and MCU employ sound statistical compilation techniques, applying principles of aggregation, consolidation, and netting in accordance with the MFSM. - BankMaster reduces processing time and errors (coding, editing, tabulating). - FISD verifies CBG’s raw data prior to BankMaster posting. - Commercial bank reports are checked for errors/inconsistencies by FSD/MCU and returned if missing/incomplete; final data are subject to automated control checks and accounting consistency verification. - Limitations: - Manual entry of commercial banks’ hardcopy data increases error risk. - Seasonal adjustments are not carried out. - CBG rarely employs statistical techniques to adjust for missing balance sheet items or to make projections on broad credit aggregates. ### 3.4 Assessment and validation of intermediate data and statistical outputs - Validation practices: - Main intermediate data are not normally validated against other secondary sources. - Occasionally MCU crosschecks monetary data against balance of payments and fiscal accounts (e.g., central bank survey vs. public sector liabilities/deposits; stocks of foreign assets vs. international reserves in balance of payments). - Discrepancy assessment: - Series behavior is crosschecked by MCU with related series/indicators; statistical discrepancies and unusual movements are investigated. - Internal checks in BankMaster detect unusual variations. - Flows are not regularly checked against corresponding stock data. - Large discrepancies and other potential indicators in statistical outputs are routinely investigated; MCU staff must explain unusually large data fluctuations. - Large discrepancies between monetary data and GFS are not fully investigated. - Recommendation: - Recommendation: Identify and minimize any sources of discrepancies between the monetary data and GFS. To this end, the CBG and Department of State for Finance and Economic Affairs (DOSFEA) should establish formal procedures for reviewing regularly the consistency of the two datasets. ### 3.5 Revision studies - Practice: - Revisions tend to be small because discrepancies are addressed before final publication. - Investigations are conducted occasionally to evaluate problem sources (e.g., erroneous sectorization). - When errors/omissions are corrected, data are revised and considered final for publication on the CBG website. - At times data remain preliminary for a long period owing to lack of full reporting by commercial banks or pending investigation. - Limitations: - No systematic documentation of revision studies. - Recommendation: - Recommendation: Establish procedures for systematic documentation of revision studies, analyze, and publish results. *Source: _cr05421 - 3. Accuracy and reliability* ### 1. Assurances of integrity 1.1 Professionalism ### _cr05421 - 1. Assurances of integrity 1.1 Professionalism ### Assurances of integrity — Monetary statistics (selected findings) - Lack of clarity in work assignments hinders staff to develop and deepen skills in monetary compilation. - Public is not formally informed in advance of revisions or modifications. Instead, this is done at the same time as the changes. - Ethical standards: X (marker present in source). ### Methodological soundness - Concepts and definitions are broadly consistent with the 1984 Monetary Statistics Guide. The CBG is implementing a plan to migrate to the MFSM. - The MCU plans to fully introduce the standard report forms and report forms for monetary statistics from ODCs are being modified accordingly. - Need to include Post Office Savings Bank, VISACAs, and credit unions in coverage of depository corporations. - Commercial bank reports need more detail for classification/sectorization (including identification of nonresidents). - Commercial banks net out provisions from loans. ### Accuracy and reliability - ODCs’ returns do not provide comprehensive information to properly sectorize and classify accounts. - Planned action: Redesign ODCs’ returns in accordance with the SFR format in the future. - Because of the manual procedure used for entry of both the CBG’s balance sheet and ODCs’ returns, the data are not generated automatically from underlying accounting records. - Planned action: Explore mechanisms to receive ODCs’ returns electronically in 2005. - Manual entry of commercial banks’ data increases the risks of errors. - No well-established cycle for monetary statistics; occasionally, revisions/changes are explained in quarterly bulletin. - No revision studies are regularly conducted (only on ad hoc basis). ### Serviceability - Monetary statistics are released to the public with a long lag (the published quarterly bulletin is for the first quarter of 2002). - MCU plans to release data on the CBG website. - Data are not reconcilable with other datasets, especially with GFS. - Revision studies are not regularly conducted (only on an ad hoc basis). ### Accessibility - Data are released on an ad hoc basis, depending on the delivery of the CBG’s publications. - Metadata information are only available on the DSBB website at the IMF. - Planned action: Provide metadata information in the CBG’s Quarterly Bulletin and on the CBG’s website. - No catalog of publications is available. *Italic: Source: _cr05421 - 1. Assurances of integrity 1.1 Professionalism (Central Bank of The Gambia; IMF data quality assessment excerpts).* --- ### Balance of Payments Statistics (selected sections) ### 0. Prerequisites of quality — Institutional arrangements and data sharing - The Central Bank of The Gambia (CBG) is the agency responsible for compiling balance of payments statistics for the Republic of The Gambia. - Within the CBG, the Balance of Payments Unit (BPU) of the Economic Research Department (ERD) has the primary responsibility of compiling and disseminating balance of payments statistics. - The legal authority of the BPU to collect balance of payments data is limited under the CBG Act (1992) and the Financial Institutions Act (2003) since it extends only to financial data. - The revised CBG Bill awaiting presentation to parliament: Article 64 would give the CBG the sole responsibility of compiling balance of payments statistics in The Gambia. - Data-sharing and coordination arrangements among the key producers/suppliers of balance of payments data in The Gambia are largely inadequate. - Main data-producing agencies include: Customs Department (Customs); LDMD of the Department of State for Finance and Economic Affairs (DOSFEA); Tourism Unit of the Central Statistics Department (CSD); Department of State for Trade, Industry, and Employment (DOSTIE); CBG; The Gambia Ports Authority (GPA); The Gambia Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA); The Gambia Investment Promotion and Free Zones Agency (GIPFZA); Department of State for Agriculture, Fisheries, and Natural Resources (DOSA); United Nations Development Program (UNDP). - Balance of Payments Technical Committee (BOPTC) established in 2001 meets on an ad hoc basis; membership includes CSD, DOSFEA, The Gambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry, GDA, GIPFZA, DOSTIE, Register of Companies, and CBG (CBG serves as Secretariat). - Recommendation: The BOPTC could be an important body for improving both the coverage and quality of balance of payments data if its meetings are revitalized to take place more regularly and its advisory role expanded to include aspects of data quality. ### 0.1.3 Confidentiality and aggregation - CBG Act (1992) and Statistical Act (1972) provide confidentiality provisions; no explicit law specific to balance of payments confidentiality, but CBG staff are bound by Service Rule 503: “An employee shall not divulge, directly or indirectly, any information of confidential nature to anyone outside the Bank, unless compelled to do so by law in the exercise of his duties.” - Aggregation rules, password protections, and limited password-holders (three BPU officers) protect individual data. ### 0.1.4 Legal mandate and enforcement - Article 38 (1) of the CBG Act (1992): CBG may demand financial information from licensed persons; noncompliance: fine of D1,000 dalasis. - Article 38 (2): noncompliance liable to fine not exceeding twenty thousand dalasis or imprisonment for two years, or both. - Revised CBG Bill (draft Article 64): noncompliance liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding fifty thousand dalasis or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or both; continued offence: further fine not exceeding one thousand dalasis for every day on which the offence is continued. ### 0.2 Resources — staffing, facilities, computing, financing - BPU staff establishment: four economists and one statistical assistant. - At mission time: none of the economists were in post; unit head on secondment; two economists on study leave abroad; one economist position yet to be filled on a permanent basis. - Current functions undertaken part-time by an economist temporarily transferred from the Money and Credit Unit (MCU) lacking sufficient skills on balance of payments compilation methodology. - Computer hardware: modern but software inadequate. Only one fully equipped computer suitable for BOP functions is shared with the deputy director of the ERD. Data-entry activities take place in his office. - Data back-up systems: inadequate — disappearance of historical series occurred during transfer between computers. - Physical/financial resource gaps: - No external telephone line for the unit; no Internet connection for extracting/transmitting balance of payments data. - Budget insufficient for essential equipment (software, flash drives, modern statistical software). - Lack of financial resources to finance essential surveys. - No separate operational budget for BPU’s recurrent and special activities; ERD annual budget features salaries and training only; other activities are in the CBG’s pooled recurrent expenditure budget. - Recommendation: Adequate staffing and a separate operational budget for the BPU’s survey activities could significantly improve the quality of balance of payments statistics for The Gambia. ### 0.2.2 Efficiency of resource use - No major effort to ensure efficient deployment of resources in BPU. - Examples of inefficiency: - More than two months to get a technician to repair malfunctioning computers. - Lack of external telephone and slow internet connection causing collection/transmission inefficiencies. - Poor planning of staff training abroad leading to concurrent departures and loss of institutional memory. - Temporary replacement assigned multiple responsibilities unrelated to BOP compilation. - Suggested improvements: better planning of staff training and better human resource management to allow BPU staff sufficient time to focus on balance of payments compilation. ### 0.3 Relevance - No formal procedures to obtain users’ views on usefulness of balance of payments statistics. - Recommendation: Periodic seminars involving key balance of payments data producers and users to sensitize public to usefulness of good balance of payments statistics. ### 0.4 Other quality management - No evidence of processes specifically focusing on quality for balance of payments statistics. - No adequate processes to monitor quality of BPU’s statistical programs; limited past activities: - A private sector capital flows survey in 2002 (financed by UK DFID). - A questionnaire to obtain data on remittances. - Lack of documented periodic reviews to maintain quality requirements. - Survey results underutilized: 2002 capital flows survey provided detailed data (direct investment flows, trade credits, currency and deposits) but components not reflected correctly (direct investment data not disaggregated between inward and outward investments). - GDDS metadata indicated planned activities (new annual surveys on external transactions of commercial banks, insurance companies, hotels, travel agents, embassies, international organizations; expand surveys to NGOs, joint venture organizations, nonbank enterprises; compile/disseminate BOP data quarterly; revise CBG Act); most plans are behind schedule due to lack of human and financial resources. - BPU reported plans to conduct another private capital flows survey with DFID funding. ### Key recommendations (explicit) - Elevate the profile of the BPU by providing it with sufficient and fully dedicated resources—human, computing, physical, and financial—to be able to operate effectively and efficiently in carrying out its responsibilities for compiling balance of payments statistics for The Gambia; - Improve the management of human resources to ensure continued institutional memory in the BPU; - Provide the BPU with a separate operational budget given its special nature of activities, in particular, annual surveys including transport for data collection; and - Revitalize and expand the role of the BOPTC to play a more active role in the supply of balance of payments statistics as indicated in 0.1.2. ### 1. Assurances of integrity — Balance of payments professionalism - 1.1.1 Statistics are produced on an impartial basis. - The BPU compiles balance of payments statistics without any external interference. - CBG staff are not required to submit balance of payments statistics or questionnaires to any civil servants or Secretaries of State for approval prior to release. - Professionalism promoted by: (a) hiring highly qualified graduate economists appointed by the Board of Governors of the CBG; (b) funding post-graduate training of economists abroad; (c) sponsoring professionals for specialized courses abroad or in regional institutes. - CBG Service Rules require staff to refrain from participating in political activities. - 1.1.2 Choices of sources, techniques, and dissemination decisions are based solely on statistical considerations. - 1.1.3 CBG staff are entitled to comment on erroneous interpretation and misuse of statistics; director of ERD and deputy ensure data released to media are properly certified. CBG Service Rules require staff to obtain clearance before speaking to the press. *Italic: Source: Balance of Payments Statistics section and related findings from _cr05421 - 1. Assurances of integrity 1.1 Professionalism (IMF country report excerpts). ### 1.2 Transparency ### 1.2 Transparency ### 1.2.1 Terms and conditions for statistics collection, processing, and dissemination - CBG statistical questionnaires are required to cite the legal authority, confidentiality, and obligation under which statistics are collected. - For surveys not covered by the CBG Act, surveys are conducted jointly with CSD and cite the relevant statistical acts of the two agencies. - Copies of the CBG Act are distributed to all banks and other financial institutions. ### 1.2.2 Internal governmental access prior to release - Apart from the CBG Annual Report (usually published within three months after the end of each year) and the Quarterly Bulletin, there are no other periodic publications in the CBG. - No published procedures for data release exist. - Senior managers of the CBG sometimes quote balance of payments statistics in public speeches before those statistics are in the public domain. - Internal access to statistics prior to their release is not publicly identified. ### 1.2.3 Identification of statistical products - The CBG Annual Report includes tables with balance of payments data and is identifiable as a CBG document by its logo. - Statistics compiled by other institutions within the report are appropriately attributed, indicating which institution has the mandate to compile and disseminate balance of payments statistics. ### 1.2.4 Advance notice of major methodological or data changes - No fundamental changes in the balance of payments compilation system in recent years were identified. - The balance of payments statement made available during the mission contained footnotes, but there is no evidence a formal effort was made to alert users to changes in methodology, source data, or revisions. Recommendations (from Transparency section): - Publish regularly the release dates for balance of payments statistics; and - Provide users of balance of payments statistics with comprehensive information on changes in methodology, source data, and statistical techniques whenever new data are disseminated. --- ### 1.3 Ethical standards ### 1.3.1 Staff behavior guidelines - The Code of Conduct in the Service Rules of the CBG provides broad ethical guidelines covering professionalism, conflicts of interest, outside jobs, disclosure of information to the media, etc. - New staff are required to sign a contract committing to maintain strict ethical standards and to abide by the Service Rules of the CBG. --- ### 2. Methodological soundness ### 2.1 Concepts and definitions Findings: - Concepts and definitions used include recommendations in BPM4 and BPM5, with the CBG wishing to be in full compliance with BPM5 in the near future. - Significant deviations from BPM5 were identified: - The structure of the balance of payments statement was not consistent with BPM5. - Services are divided into “factor service balance” and “non-factor service balance.” The “factor service balance” records interest income rather than services. - “Non-factor service balance” records services as “remittances,” “freight and insurance,” “other transportation,” “travel income,” and “other services.” - Remittances of technical assistance staff are recorded in “remittances” though they should be classified as other services categories in BPM5 (other business services and government services n.i.e.). - “Other services” include nongovernment interest and dividends that should be recorded under income. - “Freight and insurance,” “travel income,” and “other services” include receipt data only. No further breakdown of services data is provided as recommended in BPM5. - Current account does not include income as an independent subcategory. - Capital account includes part of financial account items such as foreign direct investment, commercial loans, and supplier’s credit. - Currency and deposits are not included in the balance of payments statistics. - Financial account is not defined; “financing” is recorded as a balancing item and includes changes in reserve assets, repurchases/repayments, and purchases/loans from/to the IMF. - Payments by international organizations and foreign embassies to Gambians are not recorded as compensation of employees; similarly, Gambian embassies’ payments to local staff abroad are not recorded as compensation of employees. - Errors and omissions are included together with “short-term capital” and not presented as a separate item. ### 2.2 Scope Findings: - Balance of payments statistics cover cross-border transactions of The Gambia, but scope and coverage are incomplete in multiple areas. Goods: - Only general merchandise is included. Goods for processing and repairs are not compiled. - Some goods procured in ports by carriers (exports) are captured but misclassified as “other transportation” under “non-factor service balance.” - Goods transacted but not physically passing the border are not recorded (considered insignificant). - Authorities are aware that significant reexport trade—primarily by land—is not included in Customs data. - CSD collects exports data from six major export enterprises to complement Customs data; BPU estimates groundnuts exports not in Customs or CSD data. - The CBG includes an estimation on reexport trade based on 35 percent of total imports. - CBG, CSD, and DOSTIE plan a survey on reexports to ascertain a more realistic magnitude; the ratio of reexports against total imports will be reviewed after the survey. Services: - Only receipts for “freight and insurance,” “other transportation,” and “travel income” are recorded. - “Other transportation” includes goods procured in ports by carriers (exports) but should be classified under goods. Income: - Compensation of employees is not compiled. - Dividends are misclassified into “other services.” - Interest receipts include interest earnings on reserves only. - Direct investment income and portfolio investment income, except dividends, are not recorded. - Reinvested earnings are not shown separately. Current transfers: - “Official transfers” includes receipts of development grants, technical assistance, and program aid; debit data and other government current transfer items are not included. - “Private transfers” do not include workers remittances; scope of “private transfers” is unclear. Other omissions: - Portfolio investment, currency and deposits, and travel debit are not compiled. Portfolio investment is noted as insignificant, but currency and deposits could be significant and are obtainable from commercial banks due to CBG legal authority. ### 2.3 Classification / sectorization Findings: - Classification shows similarities to analytical presentation but deviates significantly from BPM5 aggregates. - Current account consists of exports f.o.b., imports f.o.b., trade balance, factor service balance, non-factor service balance, service balance, private transfers, current account excluding official transfers, official transfers, and current account balance including official transfers. - “Factor service balance” records interest income rather than services. - “Remittances” are included in “non-factor service balance” though they should be broken down into BPM5 service categories. - “Other services” include nongovernment interest and dividends that belong to income. - Insurance services are merged with freight. - Capital and financial account items are not presented separately. - Direct investment, commercial loans, and supplier credit are classified under “private capital” rather than into BPM5-defined sectors. ### 2.4 Basis for recording Findings: - Goods valuation: - Customs values goods at price actually paid or payable; when declared price is deemed incorrect, Customs uses the Brussels Definition of Values. - Exports are recorded f.o.b.; imports recorded c.i.f. and f.o.b. Imports are converted by ERD to f.o.b. - Customs provides monthly customs clearance data to CSD. - CSD collects monthly exports data from six major resident exporters; CBG occasionally collects groundnuts export data from major companies. - Export values from major exporters are based on prices actually paid or payable in U.S. dollars and converted into dalasis with average market exchange rate for the relevant period. - Other transactions reported to ERD in dalasis; conversion methods from foreign currencies to dalasis not documented by BPU. - Recording basis: - Balance of payments statistics are generally recorded on a cash basis, not accrual. - Grossing/netting: - Current account items are recorded on a gross basis, but many items lack debit data (except goods). - Official loans are recorded on a net basis in line with BPM5 recommendations. - Assets and liabilities figures of foreign direct investment are netted out. Recommendations (from Methodological soundness): - Make the overall structure of the balance of payments presentation in line with BPM5 (current account, capital account, and financial account); - Review classifications under each account, definitions of each balance of payments item, and terminology to be consistent with BPM5; and - Divide foreign direct investment into assets and liabilities, rather than netting out assets and liabilities figures. --- ### 3. Accuracy and reliability ### 3.1 Source data Findings on primary data sources and deficiencies: Goods - Primary source: monthly trade data from CSD based on Customs records processed using the Automated System for Customs Data Management and transmitted to the Trade Unit of the CSD using EUROTRACE. - Exports coverage is incomplete; CSD estimates coverage at about 70–75 percent of total exports. - Exports are adjusted with monthly submissions from six major resident exporters (groundnuts, cotton, fish, fruit and vegetables, hides and skins). - Customs data include imports and reexports of equipment temporarily imported for specific activities (e.g., dredging equipment). This recording practice differs from balance of payments treatment and causes significant discrepancies (Customs recorded 199 million dalasis reexports in 2004 vs. balance of payments 2,002 million dalasis). - CBG estimates reexports at 35 percent of total imports, creating differences with Customs. Services-related items - “Freight and insurance” are calculated by multiplying c.i.f. imports data with fixed rates of 12.4 percent and 1.9 percent, respectively. BPU believes these rates should be reviewed as they were set a long time ago. - “Other transportation” compiled from reports by GPA and GCAA including values of fuel purchased by nonresidents and miscellaneous port/airport services provided by Gambians to nonresidents; only credit data are included. - No data on transportation debit are obtained (considered insignificant). - Fuel purchases by nonresidents should be included in goods. - “Travel income” sources: number of charter visitors from Customs and survey on out-of-pocket expenditure by CSD. Number of visitors includes charter passengers only; out-of-pocket expenditure data are considered underestimated. No travel debit data sources obtained. - “Remittances” calculated from (a) UNDP survey (official remittances) and (b) data from Bank Supervision Department of CBG compiled from a quarterly survey questionnaire. Income-related items - Interest receipts from FISD. - Interest payments on private capital estimated using stock capital data at the beginning of 1985/86, with assumptions that stock grows in line with private capital flows and interest rate equals three months LIBOR; these methods need review based on private sector capital flow survey. Other data sources - “Official transfers” data obtained from UNDP and DOSFEA (noted elsewhere to have a lag). - Foreign direct investment planned investment source: GIPFZA, complemented by ad hoc information from resident investors; loan data between affiliated enterprises from FISD. - Loans: data from FISD (interest and principal payments) and LDMD. - Reserve assets: data provided by FISD of the CBG. Timeliness and coverage: - Most source data are timely, except “official transfer” data from UNDP which have a time lag of approximately two years. - Many problems in scope and basis for recording reflect source data deficiencies. ### 3.2 Assessment of source data - Large exports (notably groundnuts) and significant aggregate changes are investigated and verified by CBG staff with reporters, leading to improved data. - Source data are not routinely assessed for coverage, sample error, response error, and nonsampling error; assessment results are not routinely monitored or made available to guide statistical improvements. - An enterprise survey was facilitated in 2002 with believed high coverage to support balance of payments compilation. DFID agreed to fund follow-up surveys expected to be conducted soon. ### 3.3 Statistical techniques 3.3.1 Data compilation techniques - Compilation techniques can be improved. - Source data often received in hard copy and input manually. - Estimation of “Travel income” is carried out by BPU. - Manually inputted data are usually not checked by other staff, except financial data co-used with MCU. - Detailed data compilation procedures of BPU are not well documented; lack of institutional memory impedes progress when experienced staff are absent; succession of knowledge from predecessors is unsatisfactory. 3.3.2 Other statistical procedures - Unrecorded exports in Customs records are complemented by: - monthly submissions from the six major exporters; - information on produce and values of groundnuts; - estimation of reexport trade. - No other adjustments are made for unrecorded trade or other methods inconsistent with BPM5 recommendations. *Source: _cr05421 - 1.2 Transparency* ### 3.4 Assessment and validation of intermediate data and statistical outputs ### _cr05421 - 3.4 Assessment and validation of intermediate data and statistical outputs ### 3.4 Assessment and validation of intermediate data and statistical outputs — findings - 3.4.1: Intermediate results are validated against other information, where applicable. - The BPU assesses export data for groundnuts against information on production and prices obtained from DOSA, as well as from individual exporters. - Export data are also validated with the relevant import data of neighboring countries, in particular, Mali and Senegal. - 3.4.2: Statistical discrepancies in intermediate data are assessed and investigated. - No formal procedures for assessing discrepancies in intermediate data are employed. - 3.4.3: Statistical discrepancies and other potential indicators of problems in statistical outputs are investigated. - The size of “short-term capital flows,” which include errors and omissions, is reportedly closely monitored and, when the figures are significant, data are reviewed by staff. - Consistencies within the balance of payments statement are crosschecked; nonetheless, inconsistencies still persist. ### 3.5 Revision studies — findings and practice - Revisions are made on the balance of payments statistics; however, no formal revision studies have yet been undertaken. ### 3.4–3.5 Recommendations (explicit) - Expand further data sources, including those for: - reexports, - repair on goods, - services-related transactions, - compensation of employees, - investment income, - current transfers, - in order to compile balance of payments statistics in line with recommendations in BPM5. - Introduce more sound and efficient statistical techniques, including: - data transmission via electronic form, - more comprehensive checking procedures for inputted data and intermediates. ### 4 Serviceability — periodicity, timeliness, and consistency (findings) - 4.1.1: Periodicity - Balance of payments statistics are compiled on an annual basis and published both in the CBG Annual Report and the Quarterly Bulletin, in line with the recommendations of the GDDS. - 4.1.2: Timeliness - Balance of payments statistics are disseminated annually through the CBG Annual Report with a time lag of one quarter. - Since 2003, the Annual Report has not been published owing to delays in auditing the CBG’s accounts. - There have been delays in publishing the Quarterly Bulletin due to problems associated with the tendering process. - 4.2.1: Internal consistency - Balance of payments statistics had minor human errors but were overall consistent within datasets. - Statistics are fully scrutinized for consistency by senior managers of the ERD before clearance for publication. - Aggregation of net errors and omissions and short-term capital flows makes it difficult to analyze consistency over time. - The BPU is working to present these items separately. - The Gambia does not compile international investment position to facilitate comparison between flows data and stocks. - 4.2.2: Consistency over time - Published annual series were available up until 2002. - No evidence that changes in source data, methodology, or techniques led to reconstruction of historical data series, with cited exceptions: - The 2002 survey on private capital flows enhanced availability of data on foreign direct investments and trade credits but did not lead to reconstruction of historical data series. - Availability of data on single and big transactions, such as purchase of generators, have resulted in reconstruction of historical data series. - Impact of unusual changes (e.g., closure of The Gambia-Senegal border) is explained in CBG commentary. - 4.2.3: Consistency with other datasets - Balance of payments data differ from foreign trade, monetary statistics, and external debt data. - Trade data used for balance of payments differ from those produced by the trade section of the CSD: the CSD underreports reexport trade, which the CBG imputes based on 35 percent of total imports. - Overall balance of payments position usually differs from the change in net foreign assets of the monetary authorities. - BPU data on government and government-guaranteed external debt differ from LDMD data: LDMD records debt transactions on a cash basis, while BPU compiles debt transactions supposedly on a due for payment basis. ### 4.3 Revision policy and practice — findings - 4.3.1: Revisions do not follow a well-established revision cycle. - Revisions normally take place at the time of producing a new issue of the CBG publication. - New source data are incorporated as they become available; reasons for such revisions are not disseminated in sufficient detail. - 4.3.2: Identification of preliminary and revised data - Balance of payment tables in the CBG’s Annual Report and Quarterly Bulletin clearly identify whether data reported are forecast, estimates, or revised. - Reasons behind the status of data series are not given. - 4.3.3: Public studies of revisions - There are no formal studies on data revisions. - Revised data series are identified in published tables, but reasons for revisions are not adequately documented. - Explanations and analyses of revisions are only available in footnotes appended to the tables and are not accompanied by comprehensive analysis. - Tables do not identify the specific items affected by revisions. ### 4.3 Recommendations (explicit) - Compile balance of payments statistics in disaggregated form to facilitate investigation of data discrepancies and improve consistency within datasets and with other datasets (monetary and external debt statistics). - Document and disseminate detailed notes on data revisions to allow better assessment of the reliability of estimated data. ### 5 Accessibility — dissemination, metadata, and user assistance (findings) - 5.1.1: Presentation and interpretability - Balance of payments statistics are disseminated in a format that does not facilitate proper interpretation. - CBG disseminates balance of payments statistics in one official summary table with classifications different from those in BPM5, hampering interpretation and analysis. - Presentation includes a mixture of BPM4 and BPM5 formats, with data classifications different from those in either manual. - Other shortcomings: aggregation of net errors and omissions with short-term capital flows, lack of attribution of transactions to respective sectors, delays in revising statistics upon receipt of new information. - 5.1.2: Dissemination media and format - Statistics are disseminated in highly aggregated format, hampering further analysis and redissemination. - CBG publishes balance of payments statistics in its Annual Report and Quarterly Bulletin and posts a very aggregated table on its website; the online data are not updated regularly. - The CBG disseminates data during important press conferences, especially during the bi-monthly Monetary Policy Committee meeting. - Since 1997, The Gambia has not disseminated data for publication in the Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook (BOPSY). - 5.1.3: Advance release calendar - There is no preannounced schedule of release of balance of payments statistics. - 5.1.4: Equal access - The CBG does not release balance of payments statistics simultaneously to all users. - Anecdotal evidence indicates some users can receive preliminary data from the BPU on request before public release. - 5.1.5: Non-routinely disseminated data availability - Nonpublished but nonconfidential balance of payments subaggregates are made available upon demand, often to ECOWAS and staff of international organizations. - No specific reference is made in publications on the availability or terms and conditions for nonpublished subaggregates. - 5.2.1: Metadata availability - Documentation of methods used for compiling balance of payments statistics is not publicly available, except for the summary methodology published in the BOPSY and footnotes attached to the statement. - Aside from The Gambia’s metadata posted on the DSBB, no other information on concepts, definitions, classification, methodology, data sources, and techniques is prepared and disseminated to the public. - The Gambia’s metadata posted on the DSBB is not updated regularly. - 5.2.2: Level of detail for audiences - No brochure is available in the CBG with information about balance of payments statistics, components, and usefulness to different categories of people. - 5.3.1: Contact points - No specific contact person is given to respond to users’ enquiries on balance of payments; DSBB contact details have not been updated since posting. - 5.3.2: Catalogs and information on charges - The CBG does not provide information on its publications; it is generally understood in The Gambia that the CBG is the only source of balance of payments statistics. ### 5.1–5.3 Recommendations (explicit) - Disseminate balance of payments statistics simultaneously to all users once they have been vetted by the ERD. - Provide updated contact details of the person identified to answer users’ enquiries. - Provide comprehensive metadata on balance of payments statistics covering: - data sources, - concepts, - definitions, - classifications, - compilation methodology, - statistical techniques. ### Data Quality Assessment Framework — selected summary assessments (July 2003) - Key summary findings (from Table 4 assessments): - 0.1 Legal and institutional environment: marked X for concern — data-sharing and coordination among data producing agencies is loosely defined; a new CBG Act has been prepared to give the CBG legal authority and responsibility to compile balance of payments statistics. - 0.2 Resources: marked X — resources allocated for collection, compilation, and dissemination are substantially inadequate. - 0.3 Relevance: marked X — feedback on relevance is not actively sought; BPU plans to conduct users’ surveys in the near future. - 0.4 Other quality management: marked X — no adequate processes to monitor quality of BPU’s statistical programs/activities. - 1.1 Professionalism: marked X — practice of professionalism evident despite CBG Act not explicitly addressing professional independence. - 1.2 Transparency: marked X — apart from the CBG’s Annual Report, there are no published procedures for data release at the CBG. - 2.1 Concepts and definitions: marked X — structure of the balance of payments statement was not consistent with BPM5. - 2.2 Scope: marked X — scope and coverage incomplete; a survey on reexports is planned in collaboration with CSD and DOSTIE. - 2.3 Classification/sectorization: marked X — significant deviations from BPM5 aggregates. - 2.4 Basis for recording: marked X — statistics are generally recorded on a cash basis. - 3.1 Source data: marked X — primary data sources include significant deficiencies; DFID approved a follow-up enterprise survey to the 2002 survey, expected to be conducted possibly this year. - 3.2 Assessment of source data: marked X — source data are not routinely assessed to ensure adequate coverage. - 3.3 Statistical techniques: marked X — data compilation techniques are largely inadequate. - 3.4 Assessment and validation of intermediate data: marked X — no formal procedures for assessing discrepancies in intermediate data are employed. - 3.5 Revision studies: marked X — no formal revision studies have yet been undertaken. - 4.1 Periodicity and timeliness: marked X — since 2003, the Annual Report covering balance of payments data has not been published owing to delays in auditing the CBG’s accounts. - 4.2 Consistency: marked X — balance of payments data are not fully reconciled with foreign trade, monetary sector, and external debt. - 4.3 Revision policy and practice: marked X — revisions do not have an established schedule. - 5.1 Data accessibility: marked X — presentation does not facilitate proper interpretation; data are disseminated in highly aggregated format. - 5.2 Metadata accessibility: marked X — documentation on methods and concepts is not publicly available. - 5.3 Assistance to users: marked X — no specific contact person within the balance of payments area is identified to assist users. *Source: _cr05421 - 3.4 Assessment and validation of intermediate data and statistical outputs* ### 0.1 Legal and institutional ### _cr05421 - 0.1 Legal and institutional ### Prerequisites of quality - Environment supportive of statistics: - 0.1.4 Statistical reporting is ensured through legal mandate and/or measures to encourage response. - Resources: - 0.2.1 Staff, facilities, computing resources, and financing are commensurate with statistical programs. - 0.2.2 Measures to ensure efficient use of resources are implemented. - Relevance: - 0.3.1 The relevance and practical utility of existing statistics in meeting users’ needs are monitored. - Quality focus: - 0.4.1 Processes are in place to focus on quality. - 0.4.2 Processes are in place to monitor the quality of the statistical program. - 0.4.3 Processes are in place to deal with quality considerations in planning the statistical program. ### Assurances of integrity and professionalism - Professional principles: - 1.1.1 Statistics are produced on an impartial basis. - 1.1.2 Choices of sources and statistical techniques as well as decisions about dissemination are informed solely by statistical considerations. - 1.1.3 The appropriate statistical entity is entitled to comment on erroneous interpretation and misuse of statistics. - Transparency and public information: - 1.2.1 The terms and conditions under which statistics are collected, processed, and disseminated are available to the public. - 1.2.2 Internal governmental access to statistics prior to their release is publicly identified. - 1.2.3 Products of statistical agencies/units are clearly identified as such. - 1.2.4 Advance notice is given of major changes in methodology, source data, and statistical techniques. - Ethical standards: - 1.3.1 Guidelines for staff behavior are in place and are well known to the staff. - Principle: The principle of objectivity in the collection, processing, and dissemination of statistics is firmly adhered to. ### Methodological soundness - Concepts and definitions: - 2.1.1 The overall structure in terms of concepts and definitions follows internationally accepted standards, guidelines, or good practices. - Scope and classifications: - 2.2.1 The scope is broadly consistent with internationally accepted standards, guidelines, or good practices. - 2.3.1 Classification/sectorization systems used are broadly consistent with internationally accepted standards, guidelines, or good practices. - Basis for recording: - 2.4.1 Market prices are used to value flows and stocks. - 2.4.2 Recording is done on an accrual basis. - 2.4.3 Grossing/netting procedures are broadly consistent with internationally accepted standards, guidelines, or good practices. ### Accuracy and reliability - Source data: - 3.1.1 Source data are obtained from comprehensive data collection programs that take into account country-specific conditions. - 3.1.2 Source data reasonably approximate the definitions, scope, classifications, valuation, and time of recording required. - 3.1.3 Source data are timely. - Assessment of source data: - 3.2.1 Source data—including censuses, sample surveys, and administrative records—are routinely assessed, e.g., for coverage, sample error, response error, and nonsampling error; the results of the assessments are monitored and made available to guide statistical processes. - Statistical techniques and validation: - 3.3.1 Data compilation employs sound statistical techniques to deal with data sources. - 3.3.2 Other statistical procedures (e.g., data adjustments and transformations, and statistical analysis) employ sound statistical techniques. - 3.4.1 Intermediate results are validated against other information where applicable. - 3.4.2 Statistical discrepancies in intermediate data are assessed and investigated. - 3.4.3 Statistical discrepancies and other potential indicators or problems in statistical outputs are investigated. - Revisions: - 3.5.1 Studies and analyses of revisions are carried out routinely and used internally to inform statistical processes (see also 4.3.3). ### Serviceability (periodicity, consistency, revisions) - Periodicity and timeliness: - 4.1.1 Periodicity follows dissemination standards. - 4.1.2 Timeliness follows dissemination standards. - Consistency: - 4.2.1 Statistics are consistent within the dataset. - 4.2.2 Statistics are consistent or reconcilable over a reasonable period of time. - 4.2.3 Statistics are consistent or reconcilable with those obtained through other data sources and/or statistical frameworks. - Revision policy and practice: - 4.3.1 Revisions follow a regular and transparent schedule. - 4.3.2 Preliminary and/or revised data are clearly identified. - 4.3.3 Studies and analyses of revisions are made public (see also 3.5.1). ### Accessibility, metadata, and user assistance - Data presentation and impartial access: - 5.1.1 Statistics are presented in a way that facilitates proper interpretation and meaningful comparisons (layout and clarity of text, tables, and charts). - 5.1.2 Dissemination media and format are adequate. - 5.1.3 Statistics are released on a preannounced schedule. - 5.1.4 Statistics are made available to all users at the same time. - 5.1.5 Statistics not routinely disseminated are made available upon request. - Metadata: - 5.2.1 Documentation on concepts, scope, classifications, basis of recording, data sources, and statistical techniques is available, and differences from internationally accepted standards, guidelines, or good practices are annotated. - 5.2.2 Levels of detail are adapted to the needs of the intended audience. - User assistance: - 5.3.1 Contact points for each subject field are publicized. - 5.3.2 Catalogs of publications, documents, and other services, including information on any charges, are widely available. ### Users’ Survey of Official Macroeconomic Data — The Gambia (February 2005): survey scope and key statistics - Survey administration: - Questionnaire sent to 53 users; completed by 22 respondents (41 percent received). - Responses by type of respondent (Total Sent / Total Received / In % Received): - Government: 3 / 3 / 100 - State-owned agencies (enterprises): 9 / 4 / 44 - Banks: 3 / 2 / 66 - Other enterprises: 20 / 8 / 40 - Embassies: 3 / 1 / 30 - Universities (researcher): 3 / 0 - Media: 2 / 1 / 50 - NGOs: 3 / 2 / 66 - International Organizations: 7 / 1 / 14 - Regular use of official statistics (number of responses): - National accounts (NA): 9 - Prices: 13 - Government finance statistics (GFS): 11 - Monetary statistics (Monetary): 13 - Balance of payments (BOP): 7 - Other: 7 (breakdown: Production indices 2; Labor market 3; Merchandise trade 6; International reserves and foreign currency liquidity 4; External debt 4; International investment position 2; Other 1) - Sources of official statistics (number of responses): - Official press releases and publications: 13 - Private sector summaries and analyses: 9 - Official policy papers: 10 - Publications from international organizations about the country: 9 - Other sources: 3 - Use purposes (number of responses): - Analysis of current developments for short-term decision making: 15 - Analysis of trends for longer-term policy formulation: 14 - Econometric model building and forecasting: 4 - Economic research: 6 - Comparison with other countries: 6 - General economic background: 13 - Other: 3 - Accessibility and methodology awareness: - Respondents who refer to official descriptions of sources and methods: Yes 9; No 10 - Ways respondents access official statistics (number of responses): - Official releases: 15 - Hard copy publications: 10 - Data specifically requested: 9 - Official website: 3 - E-mail requests: 1 ### Users’ evaluation highlights (selected counts and summary assessments) - Coverage and detail (per subject area; counts of Yes / No): - National accounts (NA): coverage Yes 4 / No 4; detail Yes 4 / No 4 - Prices: coverage Yes 8 / No 9; detail Yes 9 / No 7 - GFS: coverage Yes 5 / No 13; detail Yes 6 / No 12 - Monetary: coverage Yes 13 / No 2; detail Yes 12 / No 3 - BOP: coverage Yes 9 / No 2; detail Yes 9 / No 2 - Other: coverage Yes 2 / No 1; detail Yes 2 / No 2 - Periodicity and timeliness (selected counts): - Frequency satisfaction (Yes / No) — NA 4 / 3; Prices 10 / 5; GFS 6 / 8; Monetary 9 / 5; BOP 7 / 5; Other 3 / 1 - Timeliness satisfaction (Yes / No) — NA 1 / 5; Prices 5 / 11; GFS 4 / 9; Monetary 6 / 6; BOP 3 / 5; Other 2 / 1 - Dissemination practices (selected counts): - Knowledge of a public release calendar (Yes / No) — NA 1 / 9; Prices 1 / 16; GFS 12 / 1; Monetary 16 / 1; BOP 10 / 4 - Release on announced dates (Yes / No) — NA 1 / 4; Prices 1 / 9; GFS 1 / 9; Monetary 1 / 9; BOP 1 / 8 - Information about revisions (Yes / No) — NA 1 / 5; Prices 2 / 11; GFS 2 / 7; Monetary 5 / 9; BOP 1 / 7 - Accessibility (selected counts): - Can easily access official statistics (Yes / No) — NA 5 / 3; Prices 11 / 5; GFS 7 / 8; Monetary 10 / 7; BOP 6 / 7; Other 1 / 1 - Can easily access explanatory/methodological information (Yes / No) — NA 5 / 3; Prices 7 / 10; GFS 6 / 6; Monetary 7 / 8; BOP 4 / 6; Other 1 / 1 - Methodology clarity adequate (Yes / No): 11 / 5 - Overall assessment (selected counts): - Methodology sound and appropriate (Yes / No) — NA 4 / 2; Prices 4 / 10; GFS 7 / 5; Monetary 8 / 5; BOP 6 / 4; Other 3 - Statistics unbiased and accurate (Yes / No) — NA 4 / 3; Prices 6 / 7; GFS 7 / 7; Monetary 10 / 3; BOP 7 / 3; Other 1 - Comparative quality with region (Better / Same / Worse) — NA 1 / 2 / 1; Prices 4 / 2 / 3; GFS 3 / 3 / 3; Monetary 1 / 3 / 4; BOP 2 / 3 / 4; Other 1 - Overall quality rating (1 poor to 5 excellent): NA 3; Prices 3; GFS 4; Monetary 3 ### Users’ comments and recurrent concerns (summary of Box 1) - Accessibility and dissemination: - Statistics often provided on request; official electronic access limited because official websites are not developed. - Tendency not to release much information without official clearance; when statistics are available, explanations are often missing. - Calls for creation of an official website, publication dates to be announced, expansion of circulation lists, and electronic mailing groups to ensure timelier access. - Timeliness and frequency: - Need for improvement in timetable adherence, timeliness, and frequency of updates; monthly or more frequent releases desired. - Monetary statistics are collected and compiled on time and frequently, but dissemination is slow; GFS and BOP data are infrequent and often delayed. - Quality and methodology: - Mixed views: some respondents consider quality good and relatively satisfactory regionally; others view quality as below standard, biased, or inaccurate with discrepancies. - Need for further improvements in methodology and specific domains: employment statistics, investment data, re-export trade, industrial statistics, inflation, and trade data. - Public information: - Recommendation to create public awareness about available publications and where to obtain national statistics; national statistics should be made public through public and private media. *Source: IMF staff mission materials and users’ survey summarized in Appendix III (February 2005).* --- _Source: https://www.imf.org/-/media/websites/imf/imported-full-text-pdf/external/pubs/ft/scr/2005/_cr05421.pdf_