SDMX sponsoring organizations wish to increase and formalise the participation of the SDMX User Community (statistical offices, central banks and other national and international organisations dealing with statistics) in the management and development of the SDMX Technical Standards. The SDMX Technical Standards Working Group (SDMX TWG) is meant to provide the forum for this active participation.

Mandate and process

1. The management and development of the SDMX Technical standards is owned by the SDMX sponsoring organisations. The SDMX TWG provides the forum for active participation of the SDMX User Community in this process.

2. The TWG reports to the SDMX Secretariat and, ultimately, to the SDMX Sponsors Group.

3. The TWG focuses on improving and extending the SDMX Technical Standards based on input from the SDMX user community.

4. The TWG owns the public SDMX technical standards issues list, into which bugs and proposals for enhancements of the technical standards are being reported by SDMX users and ensures that it is properly maintained. The SDMX technical standards issues list is published on the SDMX Website. Only issues that are properly documented will be reviewed and acknowledged by the TWG to be put onto the public list.

5. The TWG reviews the technical standards issues list on a regular basis and decides on priorities for working on reported issues. The work program of the TWG, i.e., the list of work items, is published on the SDMX Website.

6. Based on the work program the TWG works with the appropriate external SDMX consultants to prepare a proposal for a revised version of the standard to be approved by the SDMX sponsors, which is then posted for public comment in the form of a SDMX release package.

7. The public comment period may lead to a new iteration of issues and work items.

8. The TWG oversees a set of SDMX reference tools, e.g., conversion tools, registry implementation, tools for metadata management etc., that are made available free of charge to the SDMX community. The cost of supporting these tools and updating them with each release is shared by the sponsoring organisations.

9. Information about the TWG and its activities should be posted to the SDMX Users Forum and the SDMX website on a regular basis to increase awareness among the SDMX User community about the role and function of the TWG.

10. The TWG cooperates with the SDMX Statistical Working group as required.

Membership

1. Membership of the TWG is open to:

  • Representatives of the SDMX sponsor organisations.
  • Representatives of national statistical offices, national central banks or other national and international organisations dealing with the production of official statistics.
  • Representatives of other organizations (other than those mentioned in the two preceding points) with proven contributions to the development of the SDMX standard and/or to its implementation.

2. Membership to the TWG is subject to the following constraints:

  • An organisation will have a seat in the TWG and can nominate a maximum of two representatives, full member and alternate member. Both members have a say in the meetings, but each seat counts for one vote.
  • At least three SDMX Sponsor organizations should be represented in the TWG at any meeting.
  • Membership of the TWG is limited to a maximum of 25 seats to keep it efficient and functional.
  • The number of representatives of other organizations appointed as members of the TWG should never represent more than a 20% of the total number of seats of the TWG.
  • Each member is responsible for communicating with subject-matter experts in their institutions on TWG proposals during the review process, and to disseminate the information when a proposal is published.

3. Members of the TWG are expected to provide around one person-month per year for TWG-related activities.

4. The TWG may invite non-member experts to its (virtual or physical) meetings as observers in cases where expertise in a specific area is needed.

5. Each Member is expected to actively contribute in the activities of the TWG. Active contribution implies participation to virtual and physical meetings and contributions to task forces and projects. The Secretariat, in consultation with the Chair, may request a member to withdraw if such requirements are not respected.

6. Every two years, or in case of less than 15 seats being occupied in the TWG, the SDMX Secretariat will launch an open call for membership applications to the TWG. Spontaneous requests for membership may also be sent at any time to the SDMX Secretariat (secretariat@sdmx.org). In order to keep a good balance between new and senior members in the TWG, a maximum of 7 seats will be renewed every two years.

7. The SDMX Secretariat reviews and either approves or rejects membership requests. A geographical and organisational balance of participation should be ensured to the extent possible.

8. The list of members of the TWG is made publicly available on sdmx.org.

Operational Procedures

1. The TWG meets physically up to two times per year depending on the needs. Participation to meetings of the TWG will be at participants’ organisations own cost. Virtual meetings should be held on a regular basis. Additional meetings can also be organised should a need for these arise.

2. The TWG designates a chair and deputy chair with a term of office of two years. Serving multiple terms is possible. When circumstances allow, the preference is for a national organisation member as chair, and an international organisation member as co-chair. In case the TWG is unable to designate a chair and/or deputy chair from its current members, the Secretariat may issue an open call for the position. Preference for a suitable candidate for chairing the TWG will be given to a current or former member of any of the governance bodies (TWG, SWG, Secretariat, Sponsors’ Committee) membership term of at least 2 years. Further requirements are defined in the specific Terms of Reference for the TWG Chair.

3. The TWG operates and prepares its proposals on a consensus basis and defines its detailed working procedures as required.

4. The TWG uses a technical collaboration platform to undertake the tasks in its work programme. The funding for this infrastructure, which should be shared with the SWG, should be agreed by the SDMX sponsors.

5. Specific tasks may be delegated to, or undertaken jointly with, other members of the statistical community, as necessary. Specific tasks can also be outsourced to consultants, subject to funding agreements with the SDMX sponsors or other members of the SDMX community.