Botswana: Technical Assistance Report-Report on National Accounts Mission

IMF Staff Country Reports, February 24, 2020

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Canonical URL: Botswana: Technical Assistance Report-Report on National Accounts Mission

This paper presents the Technical Assistance report National Accounts Mission in Botswana.
As a result of recommendations made during the previous mission, Statistics Botswana (SB) revised the release date for the rebase of national accounts estimates from March 2020 to December 2020 and updated the workplan accordingly.
SB has made progress in finalizing the statistical frame and associated weights to compile gross value added (GVA) estimates for industries in the economic survey and estimates of GVA for the other industries.
Once the business frame is determined, SB will have to reconcile the establishments that responded to the economic census ensuring that there is good coverage of industries as well as size of establishments.
The previous mission strongly recommended that the release date for the rebased estimates be revised given the workload in rebasing the national accounts.
The two temporary staff that have been with the national accounts for approximately 18 months as reported by the previous mission have been extended for a further two years.

Release date change:
- Original release date: March 2020
- Revised release date: December 2020
Statistical compilation:
- Progress in finalizing the statistical frame and associated weights to compile GVA estimates for industries covered by the economic survey.
- Progress in producing GVA estimates for other industries.
Business frame and census reconciliation:
- Once the business frame is finalized, SB must reconcile census respondents to ensure adequate industry coverage and establishment size representation.
Staffing:
- Two temporary national accounts staff had been with the unit for approximately 18 months and have had their contracts extended for a further two years, noted as positive given their understanding and willingness to build capacity.

Revise timelines:
- Strong recommendation (from previous mission) to revise the release date for rebased estimates due to the rebasing workload.
Ensure comprehensive coverage:
- Reconcile establishments from the economic census with the business frame to assure coverage across industries and establishment sizes.
Capacity building:
- Maintain extended staffing to support the rebasing effort and institutional capacity building in national accounts compilation.