Ethiopia will set out the 4th Housing and Population Census in the coming few weeks. Unlike the previous counts, this one is expected to be carried out throughout the country in a similar duration of time.
Unarguably, the count is decisive to have the accurate data of the population that are essential to devising sound policies and programs and the overall planning process and the management of national affairs. According to Assistant Professor Terefe Degefa, Population Study Lecturer at Addis Ababa University, housing and population census gives a complete and comprehensive picture of the size, composition and distribution of the population, which is a basis for evidence-based decision making, development planning, and good governance.
“Population data, if undertaken properly, can be used as a guiding resource to solve every political, social and economic challenges of the country” Government that has no real data of its population cannot devise proper national planning. And in order to realize development plans fairly across the country, the size, density, demography and other variables of the community should be known. “Having accurate population data is more valuable than having surplus resources.
Thus, in the fourth National Housing and Population Census, government and all stakes should work to get the reliable data of the population.” Sharing Terefe’s supposition, Hailu Rafera, Statistics Instructor at Addis Ababa University, for his part said that population census is critical to accomplish various purposes.
As to him, the analysis obtained from the count will give the vivid picture of the population on the basis of age, ethnicity, levels of education, occupation economic and social statistics, giving the size and density of each composite division.
The result, in turn, can be used as a guiding tool to devise public based policies, strategies and development plans by the government by identifying the interests and limitations of a given community. In this regard, having quality census data is vital. “The information collected will give an accurate picture of the population and indicates what resources people need such as education, healthcare, housing and transport.” As to him, during housing and population census, an error can happen due to various reasons.
The case is not unusual. South Africa, for instance, though is taken as a model country in Africa in terms of conducting relevant and reliable population census; it is not entirely free from biases. Thus, to restrain the errors as much as possible and carry out unbiased housing and population census, the government should give the required trainings for people taking part in the survey, Hailu opined. Representing Population Department Director of the Central Statistic Agency, Tiruzer Tenagne said that without having accurate picture of the population, formulating national plan is not viable. Hence, the Agency, in the fourth National Housing and Population Census, plans to undertake error free census As to her the fourth National Housing and Population is different from the other three censuses conducted in the prior years in many ways. Supporting the count with tablets, Global Positioning System (GPS) and other hightech equipments makes the fourth National Census unique. Employing these technologies enable to restrain the errors and attain reliable and quality data within a short period of time. The Agency also works with different stakeholders including the Ethio Telecom and Information Network Security Agency (INSA) in order to tackle cyber attacking through creating unique internet network lines. Unlike the previous censuses the fourth census will be conducted in all parts of the country [in a rural, urban and pastoralist areas] in a similar duration of time, Tiruzer further noted.
Herald March 20/2019
BY TAMERU REGASA
