The integration of socio-economic and agricultural surveys by national statistical offices: The case of the Uganda Harmonized Integrated Survey1

Abstract

Since 2009, the Socio-Economic Directorate of the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) has been implementing the Uganda National Panel Survey (UNPS). In 2017, the Agriculture and Environment Statistics Directorate (DAES), started implementing the Annual Agricultural Survey (AAS). Similarities and disparities in the design of the two surveys have led, on the one hand, to the duplication of part of the collected information, and, on the other, to the different methodologies inevitably returning different estimates. This has resulted in issues around reconciling and communicating the differences in some agriculture indicators and statistics retrieved through the two different surveys. In integrating the two survey programs under the 50 × 2030 Initiative, UBOS has found a way to improve efficiency by avoiding duplication, reducing costs, and aligning methodologies and results. This paper documents the process of integrating the two surveys. On the whole, the extent of methodological, logistical, and institutional integration exemplified by the UHIS may be aspirational in the short term for many NSOs in low- and middle-income countries and can help when establishing long-term strategies and implementation plans to move towards similar goals.

Integrated sampling design for agricultural and socio-economic households surveys: Overview and application in Uganda Harmonized Integrated Survey

“…The integration required developing a survey calendar suitable for the consumption and agricultural data requirements; harmonizing survey instruments, concepts and definitions; and developing a sampling design that addresses the peculiarities of both surveys. A more detailed introduction of the UHIS including discussions of its cost efficiency can be found in [23].…”