1. OBJECTIVES

1.1 Overall Objective

To strengthen the capacity of the Bureau of Statistics (BOS) to design, develop and communicate official statistics through the use of modern data visualisation and infographic techniques, enabling staff to analyse statistical data and present results through professional dashboards, charts and infographics for both technical reporting and public communication.

1.2 Specific Objectives

By the end of the training, participants should be able to:

• Understand and apply the principles of effective data visualisation and statistical storytelling.
• Select the most appropriate chart types for different statistical indicators and avoid common visualisation mistakes.
• Design attractive, accessible and publication-ready infographics and statistical graphics, applying principles of colour theory, typography and layout.
• Independently produce dashboards, charts and infographics suitable for public dissemination, using the 2026 Population and Housing Census (PHC) preliminary results or, should these not yet be available, the Labour Force Survey (LFS) results as the primary case study.
• Develop reusable templates and a common set of visualisation standards for BOS statistical publications, ensuring consistency and quality across public-facing statistical products.
• Export visual products for different communication channels (print, presentations, websites and social media) and critically review existing BOS reports and publications to identify opportunities for improvement.

2. TARGET PARTICIPANTS

Expected number of participants: 20.

The training is intended for Bureau of Statistics (BOS) staff involved in data analysis, statistical reporting, census dissemination, statistical publications, communication, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and spatial statistics.

Participants shall meet the following requirements:

• Possess basic computer literacy and be familiar with spreadsheet software (e.g. Microsoft Excel), allowing the training to focus on data visualisation rather than basic data management skills.
• Bring their own laptop with all required software installed and tested prior to the first day of the training.
• BOS shall confirm, prior to the training, whether the preliminary PHC results will be available and authorised for use during the practical exercises. Should this not be the case, BOS shall designate the Labour Force Survey (LFS) dataset as the primary training dataset and provide the trainer, sufficiently in advance, with real or realistic sample data (anonymised where necessary) to ensure that the practical exercises are directly applicable to BOS dissemination activities.
• Complete a short pre-training survey or assessment to evaluate participants' current tools and skill levels, enabling the trainer to tailor the training accordingly.
• Complete a practical post-training assessment consisting of the production of a dashboard and an infographic from a given dataset, demonstrating their ability to apply the knowledge and skills acquired independently.

Certificates of participation shall be awarded to all participants who successfully complete the training.

3. DURATION, SCHEDULE AND VENUE

The training will be delivered over five consecutive working days, from 14 to 18 September 2026, in Leribe.

The training modules presented in Section 6 are indicative. The detailed agenda shall be developed by the selected trainer in consultation with BOS and the Project Team.

4. TRAINING METHODOLOGY

The training shall be highly practical. Theoretical sessions shall be limited to the introduction of key concepts, while the majority of the training time shall be dedicated to guided practical exercises, individual and group work, and applied case studies.

The trainer shall use real or anonymised BOS datasets—namely the 2026 PHC preliminary results, if available at the time of the training, or otherwise the Labour Force Survey (LFS) results—together with existing BOS publications and administrative datasets. The training methodology shall combine plenary presentations, group exercises, case studies, individual practical assignments, one-to-one coaching, and daily practical assessments.

Participants shall work on their computers throughout the training and, by its completion, shall be able to independently use the selected software tools to produce dashboards, charts and infographics from a statistical dataset.

5. SCOPE OF THE TRAINING

The training shall cover, at a minimum, the following modules (indicative only; the final content shall be agreed between the selected trainer, BOS and the Project Team).

Module 1: Fundamentals of Data Visualisation
-    Importance of data visualisation; human perception and visual communication.
-    Storytelling with data; principles of graphical excellence; common visualisation mistakes.
Module 2: Choosing Appropriate Charts
Participants should learn when and how to use: bar/column charts, line and area charts, scatter and bubble charts, dot plots, histograms, heat maps, treemaps, Sankey diagrams, population pyramids, choropleth maps, small multiples, and tables with visual enhancements.
Module 3: Designing Effective Infographics
-    Layout design, visual hierarchy, colour palettes, typography, icons and illustrations.
-    Accessibility considerations and branding requirements.
-    Designing for print, web and social media.
Module 4: Statistical Reporting
Participants should learn how to transform analytical findings into: statistical briefs, census highlights, policy briefs, factsheets, posters, infographics, executive summaries and presentation slides.
Module 5: Practical Sessions
Participants should produce a census infographic, a statistical factsheet, a ministry statistical report, a dashboard-style visual report, and a social-media statistical card.
Module 6: Quality Assurance
-    Reviewing visualisations and avoiding misleading graphics.
-    Data integrity, confidentiality considerations, and official statistical standards.

6. SOFTWARE AND TOOLS REQUIREMENTS

The training should use software that is sustainable, easy to maintain and affordable for Government institutions. Dashboards and interactive charts for statistical dissemination are most commonly produced today using Microsoft Power BI, now the dominant commercial dashboarding tool among national statistical offices and development partners in the region (including for SDG and census dissemination products), owing to its relatively low entry cost, integration with Excel/Office, strong GIS capabilities, and ease of use for non-programmers. As the scope of this training also covers infographic design specifically (Module 3), Canva is recommended as the complementary tool for producing public-facing infographics, given its ease of use and wide adoption by statistical offices and communication teams. The trainer should be comfortable with Excel, which remains the most widely available statistical reporting tool within Government, and should also be able to use one or more of the tools below:

-    Microsoft Power BI (Pro), under license. It will be provided by the Project
-    Canva (Teams/Business), under license, for infographic and public-communication material design. It will be provided by the Project
-    Power BI Desktop, Free
-    R (ggplot2, plotly, Quarto), free/open source
-    Python (Matplotlib, Seaborn, Plotly, Altair), free/open source

7. EXPECTED OUTPUTS AND DELIVERABLES

7.1 Expected Outputs

-    Participants able to produce high-quality statistical infographics and publication-ready charts.
-    Dissemination materials prepared in support of the 2026 PHC preliminary results, or, if these are not yet available, comparable materials based on the Labour Force Survey results.
-    Visual reports suitable for decision-makers, and presentation materials for BOS.
-    Reusable BOS visualisation templates, and visualisation standards applied in future publications.
-    Each participant produces at least one complete infographic and one statistical brief using the PHC preliminary results or, failing their availability, the Labour Force Survey results.

7.2 Trainer Deliverables

-    Training programme and detailed agenda, submitted before the start of the training.
-    Training manual, practical datasets, exercise files and templates.
-    Software installation guidance and practical assignments.
-    Pre-training and post-training assessments, and daily evaluation reports.
-    Final training report (within 5 working days of the end of the training), including attendance, an assessment of skills acquired, and recommendations for follow-up support.
-    Electronic copies of all training materials.