Abu Dhabi, 10th September 2024: The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) has achieved the emirate’s highest level of statistical maturity in the 5th cycle of the “Statistical Maturity Index” project during 2023. The index measures the ability of Abu Dhabi’s government entities to produce and publish statistics that are consistent with the standards and methodologies adopted by the Statistics Centre – Abu Dhabi (SCAD). The Agency’s rate of 97.98 percent is the highest classification level (maturity stage) in the field of statistical data quality.
The Statistical Maturity Index is measured based on two main axes: the extent of government entities’ compliance with the basic legislation and laws regulating the management of statistical work in the emirate of Abu Dhabi, and their level of commitment to the standards of data quality, processes and outputs approved in accordance with the best international standards and practices.
The index is also based on two main pillars: the first of which determines the extent of government entities’ commitment to basic statistical legislation and institutional arrangements, while the second pillar measures the extent of commitment to the center’s quality standards and procedures. These two pillars are divided into four main evaluation areas, which include statistical system management, inputs, processes and outputs, which, in turn, include 14 different criteria based on which participating entities are evaluated. The results of the Statistical Maturity Index help government entities identify areas that require development in order to reach the highest levels of quality and accuracy in official statistics for Abu Dhabi.
Her Excellency Dr. Shaikha Salem Al Dhaheri, Secretary-General of EAD, expressed her pride in this new achievement made by the Agency in the field of investing in high-quality data, which is collected through the implementation of scientific and research studies and projects. This data helps support decision makers and policymakers with accurate, updated and reliable statistics and analyses that are consistent with the highest international standards and practices, to support the efforts made by the UAE and the Abu Dhabi government to meet the requirements of the national agenda and global competitiveness indicators.
Her Excellency said: “The Abu Dhabi Government and the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi recognise the importance of providing the latest data and statistics that present the state of the environment in a scientific and accurate manner, to guide policies and decision-making in the field of environmental management. While environmental information and graphic statistics is the main pillar on which the efforts made by the Agency to preserve and protect the environment depend, the statistics also help us understand the potential impacts of decisions that are not directly related to the environment.”
Her Excellency Dr. Shaikha Al Dhaheri added: “Since its establishment, the Agency has been collecting and analysing data and preparing detailed statistics and reports in order to enhance our comprehensive knowledge of the state of the emirate’s environment, and the human pressures causing environmental change. This increased environmental knowledge also enables the Abu Dhabi government to develop policies in response, in order to ensure the achievement of sustainable development goals."
His Excellency Abdulla Gharib Alqemzi, Director General of Statistics Centre – Abu Dhabi, said: “SCAD has developed the Statistical Maturity Index as part of its strategy to improve the quality of data and accuracy of official statistics produced by relevant government entities in the decentralised system for managing statistical work in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. This index’s mission is to ensure the application of the best standards and practices to produce accurate and reliable statistics that decision-makers rely on in formulating future policies and plans.”
His Excellency added: “SCAD is committed to supporting government entities participating in the Statistical Maturity Index to achieve its objectives by enhancing their capabilities in managing statistical work in accordance with basic legislation and in a manner that ensures objectivity, transparency, confidentiality, and security of data to produce modern, high-quality statistics based on appropriate scientific methodologies.”
The Agency has participated in the index since its inaugural cycle in 2017. After an initial score of 70.42 percent, it has gradually progressed each year and, during 2023, has achieved the highest level of maturity. The Statistical Maturity Index is an important tool for ensuring the quality of data and the accuracy of official statistics provided by government agencies in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, with an annual assessment conducted by SCAD and submitted to relevant government agencies and external companies.