Africa working towards delivering credible censuses during 2020 round, says ECA’s Muhwava

Abstract

The vast majority of African countries are preparing for or carrying out their national censuses as part of the 2020 round of census, raising the need for the continent to quickly address major challenges that can hinder delivery of results in an efficient and effective way, says Economic Commission for Africa’s (ECA) William Muhwava. Some of these challenges include mobilizing resources for census-taking activities, technology use, training and device availability, among others. The meeting seeks to enhance participant’s understanding of using new technologies to improve census data collection and dissemination. “To ensure the round’s success, it is vital that all key stakeholders remain committed to the process until its completion, particularly as the round is characterized by a number of emerging challenges, including those relating to the use of innovative technologies,” said Mr. Muhwava. The Economic and Social Council’s resolution on the 2020 World Population and Housing Census Programme urges member States to conduct at least one census during the round, taking into account international and regional recommendations. It underscores the need to set quality standards to ensure reliable and accurate results and emphasizes the importance of the program to the Sustainable Development Goals.