The United Nations Population Fund (UNFP) has noted that the housing and population data that is collected during the national census exercise is important for the formulation of policies and planning in all sectors of the economy.
UNFP Country Representative Gift Malunga says in an interview with Money FM News that planning cannot be done without the availability of the demographic and socio-economic data.
Ms. Malunga therefore says the exercise in not for government alone but requires the help of partners to ensure that it meets international standards.
“You might be aware that the population and housing census will generate demographic and socio-economic data which is very important for policy formulation, for planning and even to inform programs”.
“All sectors in the country they use population data to plan, without knowing who is where, how many schools, how many hospitals are there, how do you plan?” she wondered.
The rolling out of the national mapping exercise was due to start after the pilot mapping ended in February 2019, but has been delayed to a lack of funding, according to the Central Statistical Office (CSO).