2.2 Linking the FPOS to related modern instruments

2.2.1 The UN National Quality Assurance Framework (UN NQAF) and the FPOS

The UN NQAF consists of 19 principles organized across four levels: managing the statistical system (1–3), institutional environment (4–9), statistical processes (10–13), and statistical outputs (14–19), with 87 requirements and 356–357 “elements to be assured” supporting the implementation of NQAF principles.

The FPOS is the basis of the UN NQAF

The UN NQAF is developed on the basis of the FPOS. Tables 2.2 and 2.3 summarize the connections between the quality assurance recommendations of the 2019 UN NQAF and the FPOS.

Table 2.2 Origins of the recommendations on quality assurance for official statistics

Origins of the recommendations on quality assurance for official statisticsa
Recommendations	GA resolutions	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
Overarching recommendations
#1 Integrate Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics into the legal and institutional frameworks	★
#2 Include the requirement for quality assurance in the statistical legislation		★
#3 Establish an NQAF; commit to quality assurance		★
#4 Base or align the NQAF with international or regional quality frameworks		★	★
#5 Implement the NQAF comprehensively		★
Recommendations that aim at the implementation of specific Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics
#6 Be impartial and follow professional considerations		★	★
#7 Present data properly and provide metadata				★
#8 Address erroneous interpretation and misuse					★
#9 Include adequate rights to access data from all sources for statistical purposes						★
#10 Ensure statistical confidentiality							★
#11 Make the laws and regulations under which the NSS operates public								★
#12 Take measures to ensure the proper coordination of the NSS									★
#13 Use international concepts, classifications and methods										★
#14 Participate in bilateral and multilateral cooperation											★

^a Resolutions 68/261 on the Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics and 71/313 on the work of the Statistical Commission pertaining to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Table 2.3 UN NQAF Principles and supporting FPOS

United Nations National Quality Assurance Framework quality principles and supporting Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics
Quality principles	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
Level A: Managing the statistical system
1: Coordinating the national statistical system								★
2: Managing relationships with data users, data providers and other stakeholders	★				★			○		○
3: Managing statistical standards									★
Level B: Managing the institutional environment
4: Assuring professional independence	○	★					○
5: Assuring impartiality and objectivity	★	○	○	○	○		○
6: Assuring transparency			★				○
7: Assuring statistical confidentiality and data security						★
8: Assuring commitment to quality		★
9: Assuring adequacy of resources	○
Level C: Managing statistical processes
10: Assuring methodological soundness		★			○				○	○
11: Assuring cost-effectiveness					★				○
12: Assuring appropriate statistical procedures		★			○
13: Managing the respondent burden					★
Level D: Managing statistical outputs
14: Assuring relevance	★		○		○
15: Assuring accuracy and reliability	★				○
16: Assuring timeliness and punctuality	★				○
17: Assuring accessibility and clarity	★		○
18: Assuring coherence and comparability	★		○						○
19: Managing metadata			★						○

Legend
★ Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics (usually one) providing very strong support
○ Additional supporting Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics (subject to differing views)

Implementing the UN NQAF Supports Adherence to the FPOS

The UN NQAF (its 19 principles and their associated requirements and “elements to be assured”) provides a practical and comprehensive way to translate the high-level principles of the FPOS into concrete practices and procedures within national statistical systems, including the following key aspects.

1. Alignment with FPOS: The UN NQAF is explicitly designed to align with and reinforce the FPOS. Its principles and requirements directly correspond to and elaborate on the FPOS, providing a practical implementation framework.

2. Comprehensive quality management: The UN NQAF provides a coherent and holistic system for statistical quality management. This comprehensive approach ensures that relevant aspects of the FPOS are addressed systematically throughout the statistical production process.

3. Institutional strengthening: By emphasizing aspects like professional independence, impartiality, and adequacy of resources, the UN NQAF helps strengthen the institutional environment necessary for upholding the FPOS

4. Standardization and coordination: The UN NQAF promotes common statistical standards and coordination across the national statistical system, supporting FPOS principles related to coherence and international cooperation.

5. Transparency and accountability: Implementing the UN NQAF enhances transparency in statistical processes and promotes accountability, reinforcing FPOS principles on openness and ethical standards.

6. Continuous improvement: The UN NQAF provides a basis for ongoing quality assessment and improvement, helping statistical agencies continually enhance their adherence to the FPOS.

Thus, countries are encouraged to align their quality assurance frameworks (QAF) with the UN NQAF. Adopting the UN NQAF ensures that the principles and requirements of their QAF serve as an operational backbone for the FPOS, guaranteeing that the ethical and professional standards established by the FPOS are incorporated into every aspect of statistical production, from legal frameworks and institutional coordination to methodology, confidentiality, and international cooperation.

Table 2.4 shows a mapping that illustrates how the UN NQAF principles can help identify practices and procedures for implementing the FPOS.

Table 2.4. Mapping of NQAF principles in support of the FPOS

NQAF PRINCIPLE

FPOS	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19
1		X			x									X			X
2				X	X			X		X		X			X				X
3		X				X						X			X	X	X	X
4		X				X				X							X
5		X	X					X	X	X	X		X		X	X
6							X
7	X			X		X	X
8	X								X			X						X
9			X							X								X
10		X	X															X	X

This mapping is explained in Table 2.5 below:

Table 2.5 How NQAF Supports Implementation of the FPOS

FPOS Principle	Supporting UN NQAF Principle(s)	Explanation
1. Relevance, impartiality & equal access	• 2 (Stakeholder relationships) • 5 (Impartiality & objectivity) • 14 (Relevance) • 17 (Accessibility & clarity)	UN NQAF principles ensure that statistics meet user needs, are produced objectively, and are accessible and understandable to all without discrimination.
2. Professional standards & ethics	• 4 (Professional independence) • 5 (Impartiality & objectivity) • 8 (Quality commitment) • 10 (Methodological soundness) • 12 (Appropriate procedures) • 15 (Accuracy & reliability) • 19 (Metadata)	UN NQAF principles set professional and ethical standards for independence, sound methods, quality, and accountability.
3. Accountability & transparency	• 2 (Stakeholder relationships) • 6 (Transparency) • 12 (Appropriate procedures) • 15 (Accuracy & reliability) • 16 (Timeliness & punctuality) • 17 (Accessibility & clarity) • 18 (Coherence & comparability) • 19 (Metadata)	UN NQAF principles offer clear guidelines on transparency, open communication, output clarity, and publishing metadata for independent review.
4. Prevention of misuse	• 2 (Stakeholder relationships) • 6 (Transparency) • 10 (Methodological soundness) • 17 (Accessibility & clarity)	UN NQAF principles promote clear communication of sources, methods, and interpretations to reduce the risk of misinterpretation or misuse.
5. Sources of official statistics	• 2 (Stakeholder relationships) • 3 (Statistical standards) • 8 (Quality commitment) • 9 (Adequacy of resources) • 10 (Methodological soundness) • 11 (Cost-effectiveness) • 13 (Respondent burden) • 15 (Accuracy & reliability) • 16 (Timeliness & punctuality)	UN NQAF principles promote the efficient use of various data sources while balancing cost, burden, and timeliness.
6. Confidentiality	• 7 (Confidentiality & data security)	UN NQAF principles operationalize confidentiality protections through data governance, secure systems, and legal adherence.
7. Legislation	• 1 (Coordination of NSS) • 4 (Professional independence) • 6 (Transparency) • 7 (Confidentiality & data security)	UN NQAF principles promotes legislative safeguards for independence, coordination, transparency, and data protection.
8. National coordination	• 1 (Coordination of NSS) • 9 (Adequacy of resources) • 12 (Appropriate statistical procedures) • 18 (Coherence & comparability)	UN NQAF principles formalize coordination mechanisms that promote appropriate statistical procedures and coherence, as well as resource-sharing arrangements within the statistical system.
9. Use of international standards	• 3 (Statistical standards) • 10 (Methodological soundness) • 18 (Coherence & comparability)	UN NQAF principles specify adopting and applying global classifications, definitions, and methods to improve comparability.
10. International cooperation	• 2 (Managing relationships) • 3 (Statistical standards) • 18 (Coherence & comparability) • 19 (Managing metadata)	UN NQAF reinforces cooperation through shared standards, harmonized methods, and comparable outputs.

Illustrations of how the UN NQAF requirements and “elements to be assured” offer concrete practices for FPOS implementation and adherence are presented in Chapters 3-12.

2.2.2 The Generic Statistical Business Process Model (GSPBM), the Generic Activity Model (GAMSO) and the FPOS

The Generic Statistical Business Process Model (GSBPM) and the Generic Activity Model for Statistical Organizations (GAMSO) are comprehensive frameworks that play a crucial role in supporting the implementation of the Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics (FPOS). These models have made significant contributions to the modernization of statistical systems and the harmonization of processes within and between statistical organizations.

The Models

GSBPM:Enhancing Statistical Production The GSBPM provides a structured approach to statistical production, encompassing eight high-level phases from specifying needs to disseminating and evaluating statistics. Its key contributions include:

• Common Language: Facilitates communication between statisticians and IT professionals.

• Process Harmonization: Supports the standardization of methods, tools, and metadata across statistical organizations.

• Continuous Improvement: Encourages innovation and the identification of best practices.

• Adaptability: Enables statistical organizations to enhance their production processes in response to the evolving data landscape.

GAMSO:Strengthening Organizational Management GAMSO offers a broader perspective on statistical organization management, focusing on:

• Strategic Development: Guides long-term planning and organizational growth.

• Governance: Ensures adherence to international standards and best practices.

• Support Services: Facilitates resource allocation and performance monitoring.

This model enables statistical organizations to maintain and enhance their capacity for producing high-quality official statistics while operating effectively and efficiently.

Integration with FPOS Implementation Guidelines

Integrating GSBPM and GAMSO into the FPOS Implementation Guidelines represents an innovative approach to statistical governance. This integration:

1. Provides a unified framework for guiding statistical processes and organizational management.

2. Ensures alignment with the UN National Quality Assurance Frameworks (UN-NQAF) standards. In 2024-2025, additional aspects of quality assurance have been addressed, including:

   • Module for QA when using Administrative and other Data Sources to Produce official Statistics

3. Embeds the Fundamental Principles at every stage of statistical work.

4. Enhances transparency, reliability, and impartiality of statistical outputs.

5. Fosters an environment conducive to sharing best practices and innovations.

Impact on Statistical Organizations

The combined use of these models in implementing FPOS offers several benefits:

• Holistic Adoption: Encourages the permeation of FPOS throughout all aspects of an organization’s operations.

• Professional Standards: Promotes the adoption of ethical practices and professional standards.

• Public Trust: Strengthens confidence in official statistics through improved quality and transparency.

• International Collaboration: Facilitates sharing methodologies and best practices among statistical organizations globally.

Challenges and Future Directions

While the integration of GSBPM and GAMSO with FPOS implementation offers numerous advantages, it also presents challenges:

• Implementation Complexity: Organizations may need to invest significant resources in training and system updates.

• Cultural Shift: Adopting these frameworks may require a shift in organizational culture and mindset.

• Continuous Adaptation: These models need regular updates to remain relevant as the data landscape evolves.

Future directions may include:

• Developing more detailed guidelines for implementing these integrated frameworks in diverse statistical contexts.

• Creating assessment tools to measure the effectiveness of FPOS implementation using GSBPM and GAMSO.

• Exploring the potential of emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, in enhancing these frameworks.

By leveraging the strengths of GSBPM and GAMSO in implementing the Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics, statistical organizations can significantly improve their processes, outputs, and overall effectiveness in producing reliable and trustworthy official statistics.