Development of integrated programmes of surveys general, technical and organizational problems

Abstract

In the past, African countries conducted household surveys mostly on an ad-hoc hoc basis and such surveys suffered from several basic weaknesses. For example, the surveys were limited to specific purposes, e.g. collection of data on household expenditure for preparing price indices, collection of demographic data for studying fertility, etc. Naturally these surveys could give snap-shots of specific issues but did not yield a comprehensive picture of the socio-economic situation as a whole. Since the surveys were limited to specific purposes their scope, coverage s design, concepts and definitions also varied, lastly, as soon as the specific purposes were met, the whole infrastructure of survey organization was dismantled without any attempt to build up on the past experience. It is to remove some of these drawbacks that the AUSCP has recommended an integrated programme of surveys.