Overview of the revised Handbook
Expert Group Meeting on the Revision of the Handbook on the Management of Population and Housing
Censuses
New York, 14 – 17 December 2015
Background
 The current version issued in 2001
 Based on Principles and Recommendations for Population
and Housing Censuses from 1998
 In general terms, still relevant
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New overall management practices
New principles and recommendations
Contemporary technology
2010 census round experiences
Census methods advancements
Expert Group Meeting on the Revision of the Handbook on the Management of Population and Housing
Censuses
New York, 14 – 17 December 2015
Guiding framework
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Revised set of Principles and Recommendations for Population and
Housing censuses, Revision 3 adopted by the United Nations Statistical
Commission in March 2015
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Generic Statistical Business Process Model, Version 5.0, from
December 2013
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National Quality Assurance Framework, adopted by the United Nations
Statistical Commission in 2012
Expert Group Meeting on the Revision of the Handbook on the Management of Population and Housing
Censuses
New York, 14 – 17 December 2015
Comparison
 Revision 1
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Overall census management
Preparatory tasks
Field operations
Data processing
Census products
Evaluation
 Revision 2
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Population and housing
census – essential
characteristics
Planning, organization and
administration
Pre-enumeration operations
Field enumeration
Data processing
Census products,
dissemination and utilization
Evaluation
Documentation and archiving
Expert Group Meeting on the Revision of the Handbook on the Management of Population and Housing
Censuses
New York, 14 – 17 December 2015
Chapter I – Essential characteristics
 Definitions and essential features
 Relevance to users’ needs
 Uses of census data
 Strategic objectives
 Compliance with international statistical standards
Newly introduced
chapter – direct
correspondence with
Principles and
Recommendations
Expert Group Meeting on the Revision of the Handbook on the Management of Population and Housing
Censuses
New York, 14 – 17 December 2015
Chapter II – Planning, organization and administration
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Overall census planning
Stakeholder identification
Developing project plans
Plans for enumeration
Administrative organization and managerial structure
Census legislation
Census calendar
User consultation
Enhanced and
Communication and publicity
restructured chapter –
Financial management
emphasis on the need
Procurement
for timely and
Contracting out
wholesome planning
Use of technology
Documentation system
Quality assurance
Use of sampling
Expert Group Meeting on the Revision of the Handbook on the Management of Population and Housing
Censuses
New York, 14 – 17 December 2015
Chapter III – Pre-enumeration operations
 Mapping
 Questionnaire content and design
 Testing and evaluating census questions and procedures
 Instruction manual preparation
 Recruitment and payment
 Field staff training
 Logistics for census materials
 Distribution and return of materials
Expert Group Meeting on the Revision of the Handbook on the Management of Population and Housing
Censuses
New York, 14 – 17 December 2015
Chapter IV – Field enumeration
 Enumeration
 Monitoring and management of field enumeration
 Quality assurance for field enumeration
 Type of technology for field enumeration
Expert Group Meeting on the Revision of the Handbook on the Management of Population and Housing
Censuses
New York, 14 – 17 December 2015
Chapter V – Data processing
 Processing strategies
 Location of processing centers
 Establishing the workforce structure and recruiting staff
 Processing operations
 Technology issues
 Quality assurance for data processing
Expert Group Meeting on the Revision of the Handbook on the Management of Population and Housing
Censuses
New York, 14 – 17 December 2015
Chapter VI – Census products, dissemination and utilisation
 Dissemination strategy
 User consultation process
 Broad product strategy
 Product development
 Product dissemination and promotion for utilization
Expert Group Meeting on the Revision of the Handbook on the Management of Population and Housing
Censuses
New York, 14 – 17 December 2015
Chapter VII - Evaluation
 Planning and implementation
 Basic measurement and overall quality
 Methods of evaluation
 Communicating data quality issues
Expert Group Meeting on the Revision of the Handbook on the Management of Population and Housing
Censuses
New York, 14 – 17 December 2015
Chapter VIII – Documentation and archiving
 Type of documentation
 Archiving individual census records
Newly introduced
Expert Group Meeting on the Revision of the Handbook on the Management of Population and Housing
Censuses
New York, 14 – 17 December 2015
Proposed method of work for the EGM
 General comments and discussion
 Review of the draft sub-section by sub-section (and paragraph by
paragraph as necessary)
 Taking full note of all the comments and suggestions
 Placing national examples and experiences throughout the text
 Finalizing the draft (UNSD) and incorporating all national inputs
 Circulating the final draft to the EG for final comments and suggestions
 Finalizing the Handbook (UNSD)
Expert Group Meeting on the Revision of the Handbook on the Management of Population and Housing
Censuses
New York, 14 – 17 December 2015