The 2010 Round of Population and Housing Censuses

1. The 2010 Round of Population and Housing Censuses The Second Forum on African Statistical Development (FASDEV II) 9 to 10 February, Addis Ababa by Dimitri Sanga Senior Statistician, Statistics Team Leader, ECA

2. Outline • Background • Issues and Challenges of the Region with Respect to the 2010 RPHC • Current Activities in Support of the 2010 RPHC • Planned Activities in Support of the 2010 RPHC • The Way Forward

3. Background • Approval of the the 2010 World Programme on Population and Housing Censuses by the 2005 UN Statcom • Establishment of the Expert Group (EG) on the 2010 RPHC with the following mandate: • To help countries to conduct at least one population and housing census during the period 2005-2014 • To produce an updated version of the United Nations Principles and Recommendations for Population and Housing Censuses (P&R); • To provide a platform for a comprehensive exchange of experiences, countries’ participation, technical assistance, information and data dissemination.

4. Issues and Challenges of the Region with respect to the 2010 RPHC • Main issues with respect to the participation of African countries in the 2010 RPHC: • Lack of financial resources vs high costs of censuses operations; • Inability to mobilize financial resources given the critical financial situation: deficits, debt burden; • Capacity building is required to mobilize and train staff; • Harnessing new technology in censuses operations; • Funding delays due to lack of financial discipline; • Many African countries have a high population, scattered over large areas. So fieldwork becomes difficult; and • Lack of capacity and infrastructure to support Census undertaking due to inadequate support to NSOs by Governments.

5. Current Activities in Support of the 2010 RPHC • Preparation of a paper: • On experiences and lessons learned on Census activities; and • Critical issues and new challenges in the region with respect to the 2010 round • Active participation in the work of the EG: • Drafting Group • Technical subgroup on standards, frameworks, and a core set of outputs • Active participation in the review and update of the P&R and the articulation of a regional position on the 2010 RPHC

6. Planned Activities in Support of the 2010 RPHC • ECA intends to take a leading role in: • Coordinating the regional review of the P&R governing the conduct of censuses in Africa; • Conducting expert group meetings and workshops in support of the implementation of the P&R; • Leading member States to build consensus on critical issues relating to the 2010 RPHC; • Assisting member States, in collaboration with other UN agencies, to prepare “Advocacy Strategies” aimed at sensitizing and creating interest in censuses undertaking among stakeholders; • Working with member States to sensitize international donors to the importance of valid statistics and census data in particular for the development of African countries;

7. Planned Activities in Support of the 2010 RPHC (Cont’d) • Supporting member States in the areas of capacity building/strengthening in the fields of data collection, utilization and dissemination; • Promoting South-South cooperation and supporting member States to share experiences at the regional level and sub-regional levels and facilitating the transfer of knowledge; • Assisting member States to conduct censuses on a regionally coordinated basis, e.g. jointly conducting preliminary preparations and the training of personnel; and • Promoting the use of new technologies in census operations.

8. The Way Forward • The planned activities are based on: • The willingness of African countries to be well prepared for the 2010 RPHC • Strong commitment from the Executive Secretary of the UNECA in support of the 2010 RPHC • Part of African countries-led initiative aimed at revamping ECA’s leadership in statistical development in the region

9. Thank you!