Published on Data Blog

Botswana confronts challenges head-on in transition to digital data collection and management

This page in:
Botswana confronts challenges head-on in transition to digital data collection and management Sunset at the Okavango River bridge in Botswana, Africa / Photo: Shutterstock

Botswana is making notable strides to modernize its data collection and management processes, and to strengthen data exchange across its National Statistical System (NSS). This effort is part of the new Power of Data Country Plan, developed since Botswana joined the Power of Data initiative in September 2023. This initiative, co-led by the United Nations, the World Bank, and the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data, aims to advance the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by building political support, creating national data partnerships, mobilizing investments in national data systems, and harnessing data and technology. 
 

In 2024, Botswana became one of the first countries to convene a national dialogue on the Power of Data initiative to leverage its data for inclusive and sustainable development. Statistics Botswana has now taken steps, in collaboration with the National Planning Commission, to address the data gaps that undermine the efforts to monitor Botswana’s National Vision 2036, National Development Plans (NDP), and SDGs. Together, they are leading the integration of the Power of Data Country Plan with the NDP-12. 


Building data collection systems with standards and protocols across the NSS

To address data gaps, Statistics Botswana has engaged with various ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) within the NSS to review and harmonize data collection tools and methods. The data collection and processing needs of these MDAs are diverse, ranging from crime and incident data documentation to wildlife surveys, events attendance, and project implementation data. Despite the diversity, the requirements for accuracy, rapid data availability, multi-source collection, electronic transmission, central coordination, security, privacy and standards of exchange, are common across all MDAs. 


Previously, each MDA developed its own data collection systems, with different components, standards and protocols, leading to inefficiencies and difficulties in data management and sharing. Differing systems require additional data processing for data conversion and harmonization, and complicate interagency data use. In addition, common security and privacy standards are largely absent.


To help tackle these challenges, Statistics Botswana and the World Bank organized a training workshop to facilitate knowledge exchange, modernize and streamline data collection across the NSS, and introduce participants to Survey Solutions – the World Bank’s open-source software platform for large-scale survey and census data collection and management. Participants also learned to implement electronic questionnaires for data collection online and using tablets.

Image Over 50 representatives from 23 ministries, departments and agencies in Botswana participated in the workshop. / Photo: World Bank


Survey Solutions: A platform for high-quality and efficient data management

Statistics Botswana—an experienced user of Survey Solutions—shared the benefits of using the platform for several data collection operations, such as the Botswana Demographic Survey (2016-17), the Quarterly Multi-Topic Survey (since 2019), the National Energy Use Survey (2022-23), and the Botswana Information Communication Technology Survey (2023-24). The users of the platform highlighted that it “saves time, makes surveys more efficient and ensures higher quality data. It provides real-time monitoring and facilitates supervision. It also has great potential for administrative data collection.”

Some of the most appealing features of Survey Solutions for the workshop participants were: 

  • A wide array of customization options to cater to different types of questionnaires. 

  • Electronic data transmission, to avoid circulating paper records when connectivity is not available.

  • Multimodal data collection (face-to-face, phone-based, web-based, mixed modes). 

  • Standardized data export, suitable for interagency exchange.

  • Application Programming Interface (API) automation and integration with systems.

  • Local deployment under full ministry/agency control, while being suitable for cloud facilities.

  • Open-source availability (critical for security review and customization). 

Over 50 representatives from 23 MDAs participated in the training workshop, gaining a fundamental understanding of the software, possible applications, and questionnaire design techniques. 
 

Moving forward

The knowledge gained from the workshop is helping Botswana advance in modernizing its data collection and management processes. While some NSS members need more time to transition, every small step propels Botswana forward. The goal is for all NSS members to move from paper-based to electronic systems, improve data quality, security, interoperability, reduce implementation costs, build local capacity and enhance collaboration and data exchange between government branches. 
 

This transition will not happen overnight and will require additional efforts and resources. However, investing in modernization will ensure compliance with the 2021 Data Protection Act, provide unprecedented flexibility and efficiency in NSS processes, and strengthen data for better development outcomes.


Botswana’s commitment to confronting data challenges head-on and transitioning to digital data collection and management is a significant step towards achieving its development goals and ensuring sustainable progress. 

 

This workshop was partially funded by a grant from the World Bank’s Global Data Facility (“SADC Regional StatCap and Botswana – Technical assistance to support  enhancement of statistical systems”), which in turn was financed by the United Kingdom’s Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office with the objective of strengthening countries’ statistical capacities and addressing critical data gaps.  

  


Carolina Diaz-Bonilla

Senior Economist, Poverty and Equity Global Practice, World Bank

Sergiy Radyakin

Senior Economist, Development Data Group

Join the Conversation

The content of this field is kept private and will not be shown publicly
Remaining characters: 1000