Data Quality Assessment Framework Factsheet

The IMF Data Quality Assessment Framework (DQAF) identifies quality-related
features of governance of statistical systems, statistical processes, and statistical
products. It is rooted in the UN Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics and
grew out of the Special Data Dissemination Standard (SDDS) and General Data
Dissemination System (GDDS), the IMF’s initiatives on data dissemination. The
DQAF incorporates their good practices and is the result of intensive consultations.
The DQAF provides a structure for assessing existing practices against best practices,
including internationally accepted methodologies. It has proved to be valuable for at
least three groups of users.
? To guide IMF staff on the use of data in policy evaluation, preparing
the data module of Reports on the Observance of Standards and
Codes (ROSCs), and designing technical assistance.
? To guide country efforts e.g., to prepare self-assessments.
? To guide data users in evaluating data for policy analysis, forecasts,
and economic performance.