International Experts Assess Stats-SL for 2025 Census
To determine Statistics Sierra Leone’s (Stats SL’s) readiness and capacity to successfully and accurately undertake the 2025 Sierra Leone Population and Housing Census (SLPHC- 2025), the United States Census Bureau (USCB), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)–New York, and United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) have on Monday 13th January 2025 started a comprehensive assessment and support mission at the New Brookfields Hotel, Jomo Kenyatta Road, Freetown.
The high-powered delegation of technical experts comprises of, Derek Azar, Senior Advisor, International Programs Center, Population Division, USCB, Dr. Mitali Sen, Chief Technical Assistance & Capacity Building Branch, USCB, Sarveswara R. Surumpudi, Chief, Methodology & Software Development Branch, USCB, Tapiwa Jhamba, Program and Technical Adviser, Data Generation & Systems, UNFPA, Donatien Beguy, Population Data Adviser, UNFPA, William Muhawava, Chief, Population and Youth, UNECA, and Molla Hunegwan Asmare, Statistician, UNECA.
The critical assessment and support mission, which ends on Friday,17th January 2025, focuses on examining, and where necessary, supporting key census components, including logistics and resource mobilization, technological infrastructure, census legal frameworks, human resources, and stakeholders’ engagement.
Officially welcoming the delegation, the Statistician General, who doubles as the Chief Census Officer, Andrew Bob Johnny, emphasized the importance of the mission, noting that the outcome from the mission would help intensify Stats SL’s preparedness and capacity to successfully undertake a credible and accuate census.
“We are delighted to host you. Your mission here is a very critical moment for us, as it will help determine our strengths, weaknesses, and areas requiring improvement, collaboration and support to ensure that the 2025 census aligns with international best practices for digital data collection,” said Mr. Johnny.
Speaking on behalf of the UNFPA Sierra Leone, Officer-in-charge, Sibeso Mululuma, expressed her institution’s strong commitment to supporting the government to conduct a groundbreaking census that follows international best standards and practices.
Remarks made by the U.S. Embassy Rep, Paul McDermott and UN Resident Coordinator in Sierra Leone, Seraphine Wakana, re-echoed the relevance of census as a process of identifying gaps and opportunities, enhancing development, effective governance, health, and education, as well as addressing inequalities by way of catering for the needs of all. They both pledged the UN & US support to the entire census process.
The Minister of Information and Civic Education, Chernor Bah, registered the government’s total commitment to the census process. He ascertained that because census is a civic imperative, collaborating and engaging with people at all levels is very critical for the outcome of the 2025 census.
In her statement, The Minister of Planning and Economic Development, Kenyeh Barley, pointed out that, no country would plan its resources evenly without a reliable census result.
“Census determines the country’s future. It is needed to help shape the country’s development plans, policies, and decision-making processes and as well as evaluate the impact of development programs,” said Madam Barley. She ended by officially declaring the mission’s work open.
