MAKING CENSUSES IN AFRICA COST EFFECTIVE

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MAKING CENSUSES IN AFRICA COST EFFECTIVE

• SUGGESTIONS FOR REFLECTION

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I.   INTRODUCTION

• There is a need for data on monitoring
  indicators for national programmes and
  international frameworks.
• The census is the major source of national data.
• The 1996 UNECA/UNFPA Expert Group Meeting on
  Post-ICPD Needs in Basic Data Collection,
  Analysis, Dissemination and Research was one of
  the responses to data need.

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II.  ISSUES IDENTIFIED

• Lack of a comprehensive census plan(from initial
  planning to analysis, dissemination and
  utilization)
• Constraints to census taking (such as limited
  human and financial resources, as well as lack of
  sharing census costs)
• Cost effectiveness (in terms of collecting data
  that are relevant, required by the users and can
  generate results at lower geographical units)
• Gender mainstreaming
• Storage and maintenance of census materials and
  equipment and extended data processing period

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III. RECOMMENDATIONS (1)

• Adopt a global vision of the census right from
  the beginning
• Recognize the interdependence of the census
  phases and its position in the integrated
  national data collection system
• Advocate for government commitment to provide
  equipment and human resources through temporary
  reallocation
• Advocate for government commitment to provide
  financial resources

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RECOMMENDATIONS (2)

• Use a multidisciplinary team to prepare the
  project document and involve the analytical team
  in the whole conception of the census operation
• Include in the project document a comprehensive
  budget and work plan covering all phases of the
  operation

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RECOMMENDATIONS (3)

• Adopt the use of short and long questionnaires
  except in small nation situations where a single
  sufficiently short questionnaire can be used
• Involve female personnel in all the census stages
  and let female respondents give answers to
  questions that concern them

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RECOMMENDATIONS (4)

• Accelerate data processing by a) making detailed
  planning and testing, b) using intensive dialogue
  with other specialists and users, c) adopting use
  of new technologies and new simplified methods,
  d) providing extensive training of data
  processing specialists, and e) making timely
  acquisition and appropriate maintenance of
  equipment to be used

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RECOMMENDATIONS (5)

• Carry out data evaluation and analysis in an
  analytical workshop
• Train all categories of personnel well in advance
  (using IFORD, RIPS, CST Advisors, etc.)
• Use UNFPA/UNECA Regional Advisors to carry out
  on-the-job training activities

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RECOMMENDATIONS (6)

• Strengthen collaboration and co-ordination among
  national institutions, among nations and among
  international donors
• For the donor community, let UNFPA use its
  comparative advantage to co-ordinate donor
  assistance to the census

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IV CONCLUSION

• The issues and recommendations raised reflect
  major concerns on data collection, analysis and
  databases/information management
• The current International Expert Group Meeting is
  timely and deserves our unlimited support.

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THANK YOU!