Official data about Sao Tomé and Principe’s economy, society, and environment are produced by the National Statistics Institute (Instituto Nacional de Estatstica, or INE), an arm of the government. Independent of other government agencies, it answers only to the President of the Republic of Sao Tomé and Principe.
In 1992, it was founded to serve as a trusted source of information for the nation’s decision-makers, scholars, and businesspeople. The institute’s goal is to provide the government with timely, relevant, and high-quality official data that may be used to make more informed decisions and better plan for the future.
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INES objectives
The INE’s primary roles are:
Data collection
The information used comes from a wide range of sources, such as surveys, censuses, and administrative records. To create official statistics on numerous aspects of the economy, society, and environment, it collects data from a wide range of sources and then analyzes and compiles that data.
Publication of statistics
It publishes and distributes official statistics in a variety of formats, including reports, publications, and online databases.
Coordinates statistical efforts
It oversees and coordinates the statistical efforts of other government agencies and private sector groups to guarantee the reliability and comparability of official statistics across the country.
Team building
Improving staff and other stakeholders’ competence in statistical methodology and data analysis is a priority, hence the organization offers training and technical help to do just that. When it comes to research, planning, and policymaking in Sao Tomé and Principe, the INE is an indispensable resource.
Partners in the INE
As part of its mission to provide official statistics and encourage the use of statistical information in Sao Tomé and Principe, the National Statistical Institute (INE) works with a wide variety of partner organizations. These are some of its most important affiliated groups:
Ministry of planning and finance
To guarantee that policymakers and planners have access to high-quality data, it collaborates closely with other government organizations like the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Planning and Finance.
International organizations
To secure financial and technical help for statistical projects the INE works with international organizations like the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the World Bank, and the African Development Bank.
Research institutions
Universities and other think tanks are two examples of research institutions that the INE collaborates with to further its mission of increasing the use of statistics in academic research and creating novel statistical methodologies and approaches.
Civil society organizations
When it comes to advocating for change and creating public awareness, it works hand-in-hand with civil society organizations including NGOs and community groups to spread the word about the value of statistics.
Commercial sector
Regarding the commercial sector, the INE collaborates with businesses and trade groups to better understand their data needs and create useful statistical products and services.
In general, the INE’s partnerships and collaborations increase the accessibility and use of statistical information in Sao Tomé and Principe, which in turn aids in the use of such data in evidence-based policymaking and planning.
Challenges facing INE
The National Statistical Institute (INE) of Sao Tomé and Principe, like many other NSIs around the world, faces a variety of obstacles in its quest to create and disseminate reliable government statistics. The INE must deal with several significant difficulties, including:
Limited resources
Constraints in Financial, Human, and Technical Resources hinder the INE’s ability to do its job. The institute’s ability to gather, collate, evaluate, and communicate official statistics to stakeholders may be hampered by these constraints.
Data collection
Data gathering is a complex procedure, but it is challenging in a country like Sao Tomé and Principe, where there are significant logistical problems in accessing outlying locations. Moreover, INE could encounter pushback from survey respondents who are hesitant or unable to give honest answers.
If the INE is understaffed or lacks the necessary technology, ensuring the accuracy of official statistics is difficult. Errors in data collecting, missing data, or inconsistencies in data sources are just a few examples of what might lead to poor data quality.
Because of limited resources and complicated logistics, the INE sometimes struggles to release official statistics promptly in Sao Tomé and Principe. The value of official data to policymakers and other stakeholders is diminished if they are delayed in production.
To gather data and generate official statistics, the INE needs to work in tandem with other government departments and interested parties. Disagreements over data collection methods or the interpretation of statistical results can make this cooperation more difficult.
Timeliness
The INE places a premium on protecting the privacy and anonymity of survey participants. While this is an area the institute should focus on, it may be difficult if survey participants are worried about their data being shared or used.
Coordination with other agencies
To develop and transmit official statistics that are accurate, reliable, and timely, the INE must deal with a wide variety of obstacles. It will need a lot of money, expertise, and cooperation from other groups to overcome these obstacles.
