Annex Two

How Good Is Our Data?

Data cleaning and validation

The quality of the data presented for analysis in this Aid Effectiveness Report is markedly improved. Trainings and consultations with Government staff and development partners has strengthened reporting capacity and CRDB staff have received dedicated training in data validation techniques that have significantly enhanced capacity for information management. The data presented here was validated for the 2008 Paris Declaration monitoring survey as well as for 2008 AER and is considered to be of high quality.

Structure of the ODA Database

The Cambodia ODA Database has been developed locally by a national IT expert. This allows it to be customised according to the needs of Government and other users. Since the 2007 AER improvements include serialised PIP/RGC numbers to link co-funded project records, an enhanced progress reporting facility, and help functions.

Notes on the data and the data collection exercise

The 2006 figures have been revised significantly (mainly due to the inclusion of IMF debt relief but significant improvements have also been made, including to reduce unclassified 'other' sector data). On the negative side, it is known that some partners do not report their support, resulting in some downward bias (Norway, GAVI, Ireland, OPEC Fund, India, Thailand), while others supporting regional initiatives or INGOs directly from their capitals are unable to provide comprehensive data. Disbursements reported here represent transfer of funds to project accounts so that the numbers recorded cannot be regarded as actual expenditure on development activity in a reporting year.

Comparison to data reported by the OECD/DAC Creditor Reporting System (CRS)

The information recorded in the Cambodia ODA Database includes NGOs own resources, which is not technically defined as ODA (this raises the total by approximately 50 million in 2006). Otherwise the figures reported in Cambodia appear to be much more comprehensive than those of the OECD, which only records resources provided by DAC members plus a very few others totalling USD 413.9 million in 2006 compared to the USD 663 million (net of NGOs) recorded in the Cambodia ODA Database.

Differences within/between Cambodia ODA Database and DAC data

The table above shows a USD 183 million discrepancy between 2006 DAC data and the national system (red), and USD 119 million between figures reported in 2007 to the Cambodia ODA Database for 2006 and revised in 2008 (blue). In conclusion, improvements in data validation indicate that the data is now likely to be more comprehensive and of much higher quality; at the very least it is robust for analysis when combined with other available evidence. Figures for 2008 are still provisional and estimates reported for 2009 and 2010 indicate that significant progress is being made by development partners in supporting the national planning and budgeting process¹⁴.

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