Table 1 Indicators of policy unit institutionalisation

1. Existence of an institutional framework (the policy unit’s mandate from government)

• Law/regulation providing a mandate for the policy unit

• Institutional home identified for the policy unit

• Protocols/public norms set out for data or information production

2. Consistent production of data and preparation of reports

• Explicit process designed for data gathering, compilation and transmission for decision-making

• Policy unit activities are regular and ongoing

• Protocol exists for validating reports

• Minimum set of globally agreed data is produced

3. Adequate financial and human resources, and infrastructure capacity to routinely produce and make use of data in policymaking

• The policy unit has an annual plan of action

• Government budget is earmarked for the policy unit’s activities

• Sufficient material and human resources are available for the policy unit’s activities

• The unit’s annual action plan is at least half funded