By Chisomo Phiri
BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-The National Statistical Office (NSO) has embarked on an initiative to revolutionize its data collection systems, aiming to slash the soaring costs of household surveys and boost efficiency.
In an interview with Maravi Post,Commissioner of Statistics Shelton Kanyanda said the office is embracing cutting-edge technology, including administrative records, tablets, and web-scraping, to modernize data collection.
“We re on the cusp of launching a game-changing strategic plan that harnesses the power of technology in data collection and analysis,” said Kanyanda.
He said the plan, slated for release next month, will also focus on strengthening collaboration among data providers, producers, and users through the National Statistical System.
Kanyanda stressed the significance of transparency.
“We want data providers to have a clear understanding of how their information is utilized,” he said.
NSO is the main government department responsible for the collection and dissemination of official statistics in Malawi.
It has headquarters in Zomba and 300 employees, and operates under the 2013 Statistics Act.
The NSO also has regional offices in the major urban centres of Lilongwe, Mzuzu, and Blantyre.
