UNFPA Explanation For educational purpos

UNFPA

1. Population and Housing Censuses Population and Housing Censuses
Towards Funding StabilityTowards Funding Stability
Richard LeeteRichard Leete
Technical and Policy DivisionTechnical and Policy Division
June 2000June 2000
United Nations
Population Fund

2. PARIS 21 Initiative
Foundation for Good Governance Foundation for Good Governance
Population-based data and indicators
crucial for national and sectoral policies
and plans, for development frameworks,
for CCAs/PRSPs, for RBM, and tracking
progress towards IDGs
Censuses a unique data source for
meeting a good proportion of these
needs - if combined with surveys for
most

3. PARIS 21 Initiative
Value of CensusesValue of Censuses
Completeness of coverage; continuity of
statistics; inter-relating population and
household characteristics; details about
individuals in local areas/sub-groups; base for
population projections; comparability across
countries
No other data source meets these needs or
allows for such detailed gender analysis of
population-based indicators
Without a recent census data gaps inevitable.
Outdated sampling frame. Planning based on
unreliable statistics with possible serious
policy and resource allocation distortions

4. PARIS 21 Initiative
2000 Round of Censuses2000 Round of Censuses
Censuses should be held every 10 years as part
of strategy for sequenced information. Mid-way
through, apparent that 2000 census round
comparing less favourably than 1990 round
Several countries postponed census increasing
interval since previous census to more than 10
years
Serious funding constraints. High costs,
shrinking public sector budgets, cut-backs in
international development assistance

5. PARIS 21 Initiative
Rising Costs of CensusesRising Costs of Censuses
Censuses largest and most costly data
collection activity of Statistical Offices –
10-15 % of budget over entire decade
Censuses need to be more cost-effective.
But will remain costly despite low-cost
computer technology
Unless sufficient resources available at each
stage quality of entire of census jeopardised

6. PARIS 21 Initiative
Main Census Costs
Census Maps. Accurate maps provide basis
for enumerator assignments, ensuring
completeness of coverage etc
Population Enumeration . Most expensive
since each individual must be enumerated
within short time span. Costs depend on
method of enumeration; source of
enumerators and number of questions
Data Capture and Processing . Computers
used in almost every phase of census. But
modern IT and skills to handle it frequently
not available

7. PARIS 21 Initiative
Cost Saving StrategiesCost Saving Strategies
Sampling Reduces Costs - at enumeration reduces
field, training and processing costs, and enhances
quality of additional sample information. Care
needed in sample selection and implementation to
avoid biases
Cost-saving Strategies Beyond Sampling . Sharing
experiences between countries. Sharing activities
with neighbouring countries. Common census
year, core questionnaire, sharing manuals,
training, processing and dissemination activities
Such strategies supported by UNFPA in Pacific,
Central Asia, and parts of Africa. Success requires
political commitment and donor support

8. PARIS 21 Initiative
International SupportInternational Support
Technical assistance key factor in success of past
censuses. Many countries unable to hold censuses
without support, esp. in post-conflict situations.
UNFPA’s policy to limit support to countries taking
first or second census - but insufficient
Sometimes unrealistic amounts allocated for
censuses - expectation that donors will provide
balance. But outcome of donors’ meetings not
always successful. Meanwhile census time-schedule
advances
Funds often allocated just prior to enumeration
leading to compromises in decisions with impact on
quality of census

9. PARIS 21 Initiative
Need for Timely SupportNeed for Timely Support
From a supply and demand perspective,
census data largely a public good – limited
potential support from private sector
Continuing need for technical assistance for
censuses. Limited technical and managerial
capacities compound institutional
weaknesses
Pooling of donor resources could be cost-
effective strategy for meeting diverse
demands

10. PARIS 21 Initiative
A Way ForwardA Way Forward
Establish Working Group of interested
parties, under PARIS 21 umbrella, to
consider how to improve census funding and
management
*Assess problems in current round, from
perspectives of developing countries and
donors
*Research into what practical measures can be
taken to reduce census costs
Initially WG could discuss key issues
virtually. UNFPA would be pleased to
moderate

11. A Full-Fledged ProposalA Full-Fledged Proposal
Finalisation meeting to agree modality to
*Assist countries in advocating need for
conducting regular censuses and securing
funding
*Provide technical assistance in eg census
management , cartography and sampling,
and if required, financial resources
*Support regional workshops and initiatives
enhancing national capacities in census-
taking
PARIS 21 Initiative