SDMX for MDG Indicators Learning Centre: Country Practices in SDMX New York, 22 February 2010 SDMX for MDG Indicators United Nations Statistics Division

Exchange of MDG data and metadata The SDMX standards provide technical specifications for exchanging statistical data and metadata based on a common information model. Using SDMX will greatly facilitate the exchange of MDG data within a country and between countries and international agencies.

IAEG work on SDMX for MDG indicators In 2007, the Inter-Agency and Expert Group (IAEG) on MDG indicators created a Task Team to study SDMX requirements from agencies. The Task Team held various meetings and has been working mainly on defining the Data Structure Definition (DSD) and Code Lists for MDG indicators. 3

Creating a DSD for MDG indicators The set of MDG indicators is diverse and covers many social sectors. The challenge was to construct and agree on a DSD and Code Lists that could accommodate this diversity. The SDMX Task Team of the IAEG created a DSD that is flexible enough to allow agencies to report MDG data using SDMX. This DSD could also be used as the basis for data exchange between countries and international agencies. 4

Data Structure for MDG indicators DIMENSIONS ATTRIBUTES Frequency Series Unit Location Age Group Sex Reference area Source Type Time period Unit multiplier Time period details Nature of the data point Source details Footnotes 5

SDMX and exchange of MDG information To facilitate exchange of data and metadata on indicators for the global monitoring of MDG. MDG Database S E I C N G A SDMX REGISTRY Other Databases DSD CODE LISTS AGREEMENTS Initial step for future collection of statistical information from countries using SDMX. COUNTRIES

Expert Group Meeting on SDMX for MDG An EGM on SDMX for MDG indicators was held in October 2009. There participating countries and international organizations discussed options and possible areas of technical cooperation that will help implementing SDMX for the exchange of data on MDG indicators at the country level. Among the main recommendations of this EGM were to: Organize workshops for identifying priority areas within social or MDG indicators for creating Data Structure Definitions, Produce more web-based training tools, Start implementation projects in National Statistical Offices. 7