The Ministry of National Development Planning has disclosed that delivering a 2020 census questionnaire which meets the full expectations of the data user community will not be practical or financially viable
Ministry Permanent Secretary for Development Planning and Administration Chola Chabala says that government wants to determine the kind of data that will be essential for policy, business and administration purposes in the public and private sectors.
Mr. Chabala says this is as consultations towards the 2020 census for housing and population progress.
He says government will seek to deliver a questionnaire that meets the majority of user needs, whilst working with various stakeholders to ensure that the design of the questionnaire meets the needs of small population groups.
The Permanent secretary was speaking speech at the launch of the questionnaire consultative process for the 2020 national census on population and housing in Lusaka today.
He has further noted that “the Central Statistical Office (CSO) will be reviewing the current content of the questionnaire to be sure it reflects the desired contents and that it meets the aspirations (fit for purpose) of users and stakeholders”.
Speaking at the same event, the United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA) Country Director Gift Malunga has noted the importance of data on population dynamics to guide investment of development resources.
“This year, as we join the rest of the world in commemorating the 25th anniversary of the (International Conference on Population and Development),ICPD, we note that key areas for future action call for more systematic, inclusive participation for all populations; good governance and systems of accountability that ensure that quality data and knowledge are accessible to the public and all decision makers; and use of data on population dynamics to guide investment of development resources”.
She adds that “the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development has placed the highest priority on ensuring that “no one is left behind”, calling on national statistical systems to disaggregate national indicators, monitor and redress inequalities as a matter of human rights.”
And CSO Acting Director for Census and Statistics Goodson Sinyenga has reiterated that so far, the pilot mapping and listing and questionnaire adaptation are activities that have been undertaken in preparation for the census.
He says “pilot mapping was conducted in Lusaka and Chongwe districts in the first quarter of 2019, and the results are now available.
The next step on the census mapping is to roll-out the exercise to all the provinces.
the 2020 draft census questionnaire was adapted from the 2010 census questionnaire and was pre-tested in February 2019.”