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

2. 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.

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. Expert Group Meeting on SDMX for MDG
An EGM on SDMX for MDG indicators was held in October 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