Overview of activities

The IHSN program of activities is proposed by the IHSN Secretariat and approved by the IHSN Management Group. This is done on an annual basis and in accordance with the IHSN objectives. The IHSN activities include:

• The development and maintenance of tools and guidelines for better management of survey and census microdata. Our objective is to provide data producers with tools and guidelines related to all phases of survey implementation, from planning and budgeting to microdata dissemination and preservation. Our website is the main media we use for sharing these tools and guidelines, but some products are also made available in the form of publications, CD-ROMs and others.
• The improvement of survey methods and harmonization of international guidelines, in partnership with lead agencies and stakeholders. The IHSN facilitates the work of experts and specialized task forces. The IHSN activities related to the improvement of survey methods also include the development and maintenance of a Question Bank, a central repository of survey guidelines. The Question Bank is the product of a broad collaboration between the IHSN Secretariat, the IHSN member agencies and other survey specialists. Its objective is to provide easy access to international survey guidelines, and the related concepts and indicators definitions, interviewer's instructions, and classifications.
• The maintenance of survey and census catalogs, with the objective to inform data users about the existence of data. The IHSN does not distribute microdata, but contributes to make these data more accessible by providing data documentation, cataloguing and dissemination tools and recommendations to agencies who own such data.
• The development and maintenance of an Information System on Planned Surveys and Censuses, as a tool to foster improved coordination of internationally-sponsored survey programs.

For more information on how these main activities translate into our work program, see our on-going activities.

Comments and suggestions on our activities are most welcome: contact us