Consultant to assess the generation and exploitation of income generating funds at the Ghana Statistical Service

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1. Project Context

The Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) is established under the Statistical Service Law, 1985 (PNDCL 135) as an autonomous public institution mandated to produce official statistics for Ghana. This mandate was further strengthened by the Statistical Service Act, 2019 (Act 1003), which designates GSS as the central authority for coordinating the National Statistical System (NSS) and expands its role in the collection, processing, dissemination, and governance of statistical information across all sectors.

“The Statistical Service Act, 2019 (Act 1003) recognises internally generated funds as part of the Service’s financing framework, however, it does not explicitly regulate the retention and use of revenues generated through such activities.

As demands for timely, high-quality data continue to increase, there is growing interest in exploring sustainable financing mechanisms that can complement public funding while safeguarding statistical independence, integrity and public trust.

In this context, Income Generating Funds (IGF), are increasingly being considered by National Statistical Offices internationally as a means to strengthen institutional sustainability and reduce long-term reliance on external donor financing. Inspired by visits to, and exchanges of experiences and practices with Statistics Denmark (SD), GSS has expressed interest in exploring the potential applicability of IGF models within the Ghanaian context, subject to appropriate legal, institutional, and governance conditions. Accordingly, under the Strategic Sector Cooperation (SSC) between GSS, Statistics Denmark (SD) and the Embassy of Denmark, the parties have decided to contract a consultant to assess the feasibility and scope for IGF within GSS.

While Act 1003, the Service does not currently provide an explicit mandate for the retention of IGF revenues generated, the Act is under review, and a revised Act is expected to explicitly address the retention and use of funds generated through IGF activities.

 2. Objective of the assignment

This assignment constitute an initial analytical step in the exploration of IGF options for GSS. It purpose is to establish an informed, evidence-based foundation to guide decision-making and to support the planning of a subsequent scoping mission to Ghana by IGF experts from SD in Q2 of 2026. The findings of the assignment will inform the scope, focus, and feasibility of that mission, ensuring that any further engagement is grounded in a clear understanding of legal feasibility, institutional readiness, and strategic alignment.

Against this background, SD and GSS jointly seek to contract a consultant to assess the feasibility and scope for IGF within GSS, with particular emphasis on alignment with GSS’s public mandate, international statistical principles, and strategic ambition to strengthen financial sustainability and institutional independence.

The objective of the assignment is to provide a clear and evidence-based foundation for decision-making by:

• Clarifying the legal and regulatory framework governing IGF for GSS.
• Assessing whether existing or forthcoming legislation enables GSS to generate and retain income from IGF.
• Identifying feasible IGF models that align with GSS’s public mandate, international statistical principles, and strategic ambition to strengthen financial sustainability and reduce long-term reliance on international donor funding

3. Scope and content of the assignment

The assignment is divided into three parts:

a) Legal and regulatory clarification

1. Review of applicable IGF legislation, regulations, and policies currently governing GSS.
2. Analyze the Statistical Service Act, 2019 (Act 1003) and relevant provisions of the Public Financial Management Act to ensure proposed IGF options are legally compliant.
3. Identification of permissions, limitations, and institutional constraints related to IGF in Ghana.
4. Clarification of approval procedures, pricing mechanisms, revenue retention, and accountability requirements.

b) Assessment of potential Income generating funds

An assessment of feasible and potential IGF for GSS is required. The assessment shall be informed by an analysis of GSS’s institutional strengths and comparative advantages, as well as the most relevant market opportunities for IGF within the Ghanaian context.

It shall further rely on the findings of the legal and regulatory analysis set out in section 2(a), which will determine the extent to which such activities can be considered feasible within the existing or prospective legal framework.

c) Comparative and international good practice mapping

• Review of IGF practices among National Statistical Offices (NSOs) in Africa and/or comparable non-Western contexts.
• Identification of good practices, risks, and governance safeguards, with particular emphasis on models that support institutional sustainability and financial independence

4. Deliverables

The deliverables shall be based on thorough desk research combined with structured consultations, including in-person meetings, in-person interviews, and cross-examination of findings with relevant stakeholders in Ghana. These engagements are intended to validate legal interpretations, test analytical assumptions, and ensure that conclusions are grounded in institutional practice and the Ghanaian context.

Consultations are expected to include, as relevant, representatives from:

• Ghana Statistical Service (senior management and legal functions).
• The Data and Statistics Department of the Parliament of Ghana.
• Other relevant public institutions with mandates related to data governance, public finance or IGF.

The expected deliverables are: