Bridging the gap: Gallup’s role supporting the official statistics ecosystem

Abstract

The global data ecosystem is changing rapidly. New demands are increasingly being placed on National Statistical Offices (NSOs) worldwide to collect data to track a growing array of indicators. However, many NSOs lack the capacity to collect frequent, representative and high-quality data on even core metrics of national progress, such as food security. In response to this, there has been a growing number of partnerships between NSOs, international organisations such as the United Nations, and private sector organisations to address the data gap, which was only accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Using Gallup, the global research and analytics firm, as an example, this paper highlights a number of areas where the private sector can provide value to the realm of official statistics. By adhering to globally recognised statistical protocols with a firm commitment to the principles of rigour, transparency, and respondent confidentiality, organisations such as Gallup play an important role in supporting the collection of official statistics. They can also bridge key data gaps related to the most pressing challenges of our time, and drive accountability on key issues of national and global development.