Methodology

The materials on this website provide information on how to develop and implement a national quality assurance framework (NQAF). A NQAF is a coherent and holistic system for statistical quality management which assures trust and quality of official statistics across the entire national statistical system.

Most materials and tools on this website such as the Manual and Self-assessment checklist have been developed by the Expert Group on National Quality Assurance Frameworks (EG-NQAF), with the support of the United Nations Statistics Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNSD/DESA) as its Secretariat. As part of its work program on quality assurance the Statistics Division maintains this website and develops or participates in the development of additional tools and guidance for the implementation of a national quality assurance framework (such as the e-learning module). In addition, the Statistics Division conducts training, technical assistance and capacity building activities on quality assurance, as its limited resources are permitting and typically in cooperation with other members of the Expert Group (see Meeting and Events).

The United Nations Expert Group on National Quality Assurance Frameworks (EG-NQAF) was established in 2012 and re-established in 2017. Membership is open to countries and regional and international organizations. Countries and international organizations participating in the Expert Group are listed in the attached files.

• Current membership
• Membership in 2012

The EG-NQAF developed the United Nations National Quality Assurance Frameworks Manual for Official Statistics (Manual) which was adopted in 2019, as well as its predecessor, the generic United Nations National Quality Assurance Framework template and guidelines (UN NQAF template and guidelines) adopted in 2012. The Experts Group supports countries in the implementation of a national quality assurance framework by assessing implementation and developing additional guidance and tools such as the generic quality assurance checklist.

Information about the mandate and work of the EG-NQAF and the work on quality assurance of official statistics at the United Nations Statistical Division is available in the respective reports to and decisions of the Statistical Commission (see Mandate and Background).

The Expert Group meets virtually, and if the need and opportunity arise in person. The Expert Group has a wiki platform on which it has been conducting its work. Access is restricted to members (see EG-NQAF login).

In March 2019, at its 50th session, the Statistical Commission in its decision 50/106 welcomed and adopted the United Nations National Quality Assurance Frameworks Manual for Official Statistics (Manual) and its recommendations contained therein and requested the Expert Group on National Quality Assurance Frameworks to finalize the implementation guidance taking into consideration the need for countries to conduct self-assessment. The Manual builds on and replaces the generic United Nations National Quality Assurance Framework template and guidelines (UN NQAF template and guidelines) adopted in 2012. Specifically, the United Nations National Quality Assurance Framework (UN NQAF) contained in Chapter 3 and Annex A of the Manual fully corresponds to and replaces the UN NQAF template and guidelines of 2012.

The development of the Template for a Generic National Quality Assurance Framework and the Guidelines to accompany the Template (UN NQAF) was undertaken by the Expert Group on NQAF in response to a request by the United Nations Statistical Commission at its forty-first session in 2010. The Template was intended to be used as a tool to provide the general structure within which countries that choose to do so can formulate and operationalize national quality frameworks of their own or further enhance existing ones.

At its forty-third session in 2012, the Statistical Commission fully endorsed the generic national quality assurance framework template and encouraged countries to use it. For the complete text of the decisions on national quality assurance frameworks, see decision 43/110 in the Report on the forty-third session (E/CN.3/2012/34).

• TEMPLATE for a Generic National Quality Assurance Framework (NQAF) -
  Arabic - Chinese - English - French - Russian - Spanish
• NQAF Checklist for the review of NQAF lines 1-19
• GUIDELINES for the Template for a Generic National Quality Assurance Framework (comprehensive background document, in English only, containing all NQAF-associated material except the online glossary and the online inventory of data quality references shown below).
• GLOSSARY
• DETAILED MAPPING OF THE NQAF TO OTHER FRAMEWORKS (alternate format)

For further information on the Expert Group on National Quality Assurance Frameworks (EG-NQAF) and the work on quality assurance for official statistics at the United Nations Statistics Division, please contact the Secretariat of the EG-NQAF:

• About
• Meetings and Events
• EG-NQAF login

• Manual for download
• Self-assessment Checklist
• Roadmap for implementation
• E-Learning
• NQAF Survey 2022
• References
• Terminology
• Global consultation 2024  NEW