Population Censuses in Post-Conflict
Countries
The Liberian Experience
Presented By:
Dr. T. Edward Liberty
Director - General
LISGIS
41st Session of the United Nations Statistical Commission,
UNHQ, New York, 19-26 February 2010
Side Events, 25th February 2010 at 1:50 – 3:00 pm
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Outline
•Brief History of Censuses
•2008 NPHC
•Achievements
•Lessons Learnt
•Way Forward
•Conclusion
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Brief History of Censuses
Since its independence in 1847, Liberia has
conducted 5 censuses; they are:
• 1. The 1962 Population Census
• 2. The 1971 Agriculture Census
• 3. The 1974 Population and Housing Census
• 4.
The 1984 Population and Housing Census
• 5. The 2008 National Population and Housing
Census, the post-conflict census
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Brief History of Censuses Cont’d
• Due to the 14 years of Civil Crisis, the
1984 Population and Housing Census
data was never analyzed and published
• Liberia did not participate in the 1990 and
2000 World Round of Population and
Housing Censuses
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Brief History of Censuses Cont’d
Summary Information about Censuses
Interval
When
After
Provisional
Approximate
When Post
Census
Duration
Preceding
Results
Number of
Enumeration
Cens
us
Type of
Reference
of
Census
Were
Enumerators
Survey (PES)
Year
1962
Census
De Jure
De Jura
Interview
About
5 weeks
About
(Years)
1st
Census
1st
Released
Not
reported
4 months
Employed
1,500
1971
Day/Night
Day of 2nd
April
Day of 2nd
Was Conducted
4 months after
(August 1962)
5 months after
Octor
8 weeks
Agriculture
after
after
Census
(Oct., 1971)
(Oct., 1971)
12
4 months
1974
1984
De Jure
De jure
Day of 1st
2 weeks
February
1st - 15th
after
February
(June, 1974)
Day of 1st
2 weeks
10
February
3 months
350
Growth
Population
1,016,443
Rate
-
850,000
-
farmers
3,500
2 weeks after
1,503,368
3.3
5,000
2 weeks after
2,101,628
3.4
7,000
2 months
3,476,608
2.1
after
(May, 1984
2008 De facto
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Night of
10 days
24
3 months
20th/21st
21st - 30th
after
After
March
March
(June, 2008)
(May, 2008)
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2008 National Population and Housing
Census
Rationales for conducting the census
• The results of the 1984 census were lost in the civil
crisis before they were analyzed and published
• Liberia did not conduct a census in 1994 and 2004
• Most of the Liberia’s data banks were completely
destroyed in the civil crisis
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Census
Rationales for conducting the census Cont’d
• Inadequate or non-existent demographic and socio-economic
data available for socioeconomic development planning
• Only scanty data mainly from sample surveys based on the
1984 Sampling Frame were available at the national and
regional levels
• A need to bridge the data gap by generating needed socioeconomic data for formulating, implementing, monitoring and
evaluating development programmes
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Rationales for conducting the census Cont’d
• Most of all, the Goodwill from the newly elected Democratic
Government of President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf entertained
the need to conduct a fresh census.
• The Government decided in November 2006 to participate
in the 2010 World Round of Censuses by conducting a
National Population and Housing Census in March 2008
• Upon the request of the Government, UNFPA assisted
LISGIS to prepare a project document with the following
objectives:
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2008 National Population and
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Long-terms objectives of the census
• To update the population database, i.e., improve knowledge
on the social, demographic and economic characteristics of
the population of Liberia
• Arrive at better understanding of population and
development inter-relationship in order to elaborate coherent
social and economic development programme
• To establish a national database for monitoring and
evaluation of socio-economic development programmes
such as the poverty reduction strategy (PRS), the County
Development Agendas (CDA) and the MDGs.
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Specific objectives of the census – to ascertain
• Size, composition and spatial distribution of the population
• Levels of education attained by the population
• Size and deployment of the labor force
• Prevalence of disability and its spread
• Levels of fertility, mortality and migration
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• Specific objectives of the census – to ascertain
• Rate and pattern of urbanization
• Housing conditions and availability of social
amenities
• Access to basic social services
• Participation in agriculture production
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TIMEFRAME FOR THE CENSUS BY MAIN PHASES
MAIN PHASES
TIMEFRAME
PREPARATION
NOV 06-AUG 08
CENSUS CARTOGRAPHY/MAPPING
PILOT CENSUS
FIELD ENUMERATION
JULY 06-JAN 08
MAY 07
MARCH 08
POST-ENUMERATION SURVEY
PUBLICATION OF PRELIMINARY RESULTS
MAY 08
JUNE 08
DATA PROCESSING
APRIL-DEC 08
PUBLICATION OF FINAL TABLES
MAY 09
DATA ANALYSIS, PUBLICATION & DISSEMINATION January – December 2010
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2008 National Population and
Housing Census
Budget by Main Phases Year of Execution (US$)
Phase
PREPARATION
CENSUS ARTOGRAPHY
MAPPING
2006
2007
100,000.00
244,135.00
2008
-
2009
2010
Total
Percent
-
-
-
100,000.00
1.01
1,451,523.00
-
-
-
1,695,658.00
17.17
-
-
-
46,481.00
0.47
2,475,000.00
-
-
2,975,000.00
30.13
186,678.00
-
-
186,678.00
1.89
797,811.50
8.08
-
101,700.00
1.03
-
166,804.78
1.69
PILOT CENSUS
-
46,481.00
FIELD ENUMERATION
-
500,000.00
POST ENUMERATION SURVEY
-
DATA PROCESSING
-
PUBLICATION OF PRELIMINARY
RESUTS
-
-
PUBLICATION OF FINAL TABLES
-
-
-
166,804.78
DATA ANALYSIS, PUBLICATION
& DISSEMINATION
-
-
-
16,700.00
1,015,906.33
1,032,606.33
10.46
540,000.00
180,000.00
1,378,812.00
13.96
12,000.00
86,000.00
0.87
99,190.00
127,600.00
562,771.50
101,700.00
-
8,250.00
INTNATIONAL EXPERTISE
21,000.00
141,000.00
496,812.00
TRAINING & TOURS
12,000.00
24,000.00
38,000.00
LOCAL COTS
29,877.00
110,496.00
480,893.00
65,902.66
149,577.00
836,745.66
8.47
TOTAL COST
407,012.00
2,372,690.00
3,906,683.00
1,352,178.94
1,365,733.33
9,404,297.27
95.24
20,350.60
118,634.50
195,334.15
67,608.95
68,286.67
470,214.86
4.76
427,362.60
2,491,324.50
4,102,017.15
1,419,787.89
1,434,020.00
9,874,512.13
100.00
4.33
25.23
41.54
14.38
14.52
100.00
5% Unforeseen
GRAD TOTAL
% Distribution by year of
execution
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2008 National Population and
Housing Census
Budget by Source of Funding, Year and Funding Gap (US$)
SOUECE OF FUNDNG
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
Total
Percent
GOL
152,160.60
499,527.50
2,175,000.15
687,756.55
491,908.01
4,006,352.81
41.90
UNFPA
275,202.00 1,786,146.00
1,297,739.00
624,285.34
317,167.00
4,300,539.34
44.98
205,651.00
2.15
262,000.00
2.74
USAID
-
UNDP
-
-
100,000.00
UNMIL(IN KIND)
-
-
215,000.00
-
-
215,000.00
2.25
WORLD BANK/PARIS 21
-
-
127,600.00
-
-
127,600.00
1.33
UNICEF
-
-
186,678.00
-
-
186,678.00
1.95
AfDB
-
-
TOTAL
205,651.00
427,362.60 2,491,324.50
-
4,102,017.15
82,000.00
80,000.00
25,746.00
231,721.00
257,467.00
2.69
1,419,787.89
1,120,796.01
9,561,288.15
100.00
BUDGET GRAND TOTAL
ESTIMATED FUNDING GAP
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427,362.60 2,491,324.50
-
-
4,102,017.15
-
LISGIS
1,419,787.89
-
1,120,796.01
9,561,288.15
-
313,223.99
313,223.99
-
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2008 National Population and
Housing Census
Legal Authority to conduct the census
• One Constitutional Article and two Laws provide the basis
for undertaking the 2008 NPHC
– Article 39 of the Constitution states “The Legislature shall cause a
census of the Republic to be under taken every ten years.”
– The 52th National Legislature enacted the Law on April 21, 2007
empowering the Executive Branch of Government to conduct the
census on March 2008
– Section 50A.8.6 of LISGIS Act states “LISGIS shall conduct
censuses and surveys.”
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Institutional Framework of the census
• 22 National Census Commissioners, 7 Ex-Officio and 32 Regional
Commissioners were appointed by the President of the Republic of
Liberia; the National Census Commission was chaired and cochaired by the Minister of Planning and Economic Affairs and the
Director-General of LISGIS
• The main functions of the Census Commissioners and the other
bodies were to formulate policy, provide general guidelines, mobilize
resources and monitor the implementation of the census activities
• However, the Regional Commissioners were not commissioned
instead the Council of Chiefs and Elders were requested to sensitize
citizens and residents within their respective areas
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2008 National Population and
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Institutional Framework of the census
•
Also a forum for Development Partners meeting was Established
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
•
Minister of Planning and Economic Affairs
LISGIS
Minister of Finance
Director-General of the Budget
UNFPA
USAID
UNMIL
UNDP
Chairman
Member & Secretary
Member
Member
Member
Member
Member
Member
The main TOR for the Development Partners Meeting was to mobilize fund for
the census
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2008 National Population and Housing Census
Publicity and Advocacy
• LISGIS extensively used the print and electronic medias
• Traditional Chiefs and Elders assisted LISGIS with the
civil education
• A private communication NGO, the Liberia Crusader for
Peace (LCP), was contracted to conduct door to door
sensitization throughout the country
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2008 National Population and
Housing Census
Census Cartography/Mapping
•The census cartography/mapping exercise started in March 2007 and was
completed in January 2008, a month before the field Enumeration
•An UNFPA Cartographic Technical Advisor and about 100 local
cartographers and household listing clerks were recruited to demarcate the
entire country into enumeration areas (EAs) using GPS equipment
•Satellite images were used to map urban areas, while free hand sketches
were employed to map the rural areas
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2008 National Population and
Housing Census
Census Cartography/Mapping Cont’d
• The maps and list of households were sent to the GIS
Laboratory at LISGIS Head Office for processing
• A total of about 7,020 EAs were demarcated
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• Census Cartography/Mapping Cont’d
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Census Cartography/Mapping Cont’d
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2008 National Population and
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• Census Field Enumeration
•
•
•
A Pilot Survey was conducted in March 2007, its data analysis completed in
September 2007 and based on the analysis, the census instruments were
prepared
The printing of the census instruments was out sourced
•
The census instruments were designed, developed, printed and ready for
shipment to the field by January 2008 when a key partner withdrew its
support; at this point, the President gave up her personal luxury in support
of the census
•
A total of about 11,250 field staff, including county coordinators; county,
district and field supervisors; and enumerators, were recruited, trained for 5
days, and deployed to conduct the enumeration
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2008 National Population and
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• Census Field Enumeration
• The field enumeration was conducted from 21st – 30th March 2008
using De Facto Method; and the Post Enumeration Survey (PES)
was conducted in May 2008
• The preliminary results of the census were released by the
President of the Republic of Liberia in June 2008 putting the
population at 3,489,072
• Five UNFPA short and long term International Consultants were
recruited to assist LISGIS implement the above activities
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• Census Data Processing
•
A total of about 100 coders and 100 data entry clerks were recruited and trained
for about a month to code and enter the data, respectively
•
These clerks worked on two shifts, first shift worked from 8am-7pm and the
second from 7pm-6am 7 days a week and they completed the exercise within 6
months, commencing in July and ending in December 2008
•
One long-term UNFPA International Data Processing Consultant was recruited
to train and assist LISGIS data processing staff
•
The final results were released by the Minister of Planning and Economic Affairs
in May 2009 putting the population at 3,476,608 , which is 0.4% less than the
preliminary result; see www.lisgis.org
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2008 National Population and
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Data Analysis and Dissemination
• 15 thematic topics have been identified to be considered for
analysis between now and December 2009; these include 1)
Census Administrative Report, 2) Fertility, 3) Nuptiality, 4)
Labor Force, 5) Population Projection, 6) Youth and
Adolescent, 7) Gender Dimension, 8) Housing and Household
Characteristics, 9) Migration and Urbanization, 10) Mortality,
11) Population Dynamics, 12) Poverty, 13) Agriculture, 14)
Disability, 15) Literacy and Education
• Massive dissemination exercise is being planned to take place
between July and December 2010
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2008 National Population
and Housing Census
Achievements
• Trained about 20 LISGIS staff how to use GPS tools to produce
maps
• Trained more than 11,000 persons throughout the country how
to interview household members in surveys and censuses
• Placed 3 senior staff are in the University of Uganda to study at
graduate level in the areas of demography and econometric
• About 10 LISGIS personnel have been trained in the Integrated
Management Information System (IMIS) software and the
census data has been uploaded into the software
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2008 National Population
and Housing Census
Achievements Cont’d
• Provided short-term training for LISGIS staff in GIS and demography in
Kenya and Sierra Lone
• Secured and equipped LISGIS Head Office with office furniture and
communication, and transport equipment
• Established modern GIS laboratory and data process facility at LISGIS
Head Office
• Successfully developed a National Sampling Frame for conduct of
researches, surveys and censuses, IMIS Database and CensusInfo
• (A DEMO AT THE END OF THIS PRESENTATION)
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2008 National Population and
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Lessons Learnt & Challenges
• Great interest by the government for the conduct of the census
• Limited capacity to conduct/manage data compilation at LISGIS
before the 2008 census
• Limited physical infrastructure and human resources to
compile, analyze and disseminate reliable survey and census
data
• Funds were not available when needed and as such
implementation schedules were impacted
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2008 National Population and
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• Visual Photos of Challenges (Trunk road)
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• Visual Photos of Challenges (Trunk road)
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• Visual Photos of Challenges (Mapping)
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2008 National Population
and Housing Census
Way Forward
• There is a need to mobilize funds in order to bridge the
funding gap, which is needed for the data analysis and
dissemination of the census results
• There is a need to conduct a CensusInfo Workshop for
LISGIS staff as well as upload the census data into the
CensusInfo software
• There is an urgent need for a technical assistance in the
areas of data analysis and dissemination of census data
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2008 National Population
and Housing Census
• Acknowledgement
• We acknowledge the Government of Liberia and its
Development Partners, particularly the UNFPA, for
giving us the support to conduct the first post-war
census and also, after 24 years since the last
census was conducted.
• Other Partners are USAID, UNMIL, UNDP,
UNICEF, EC, WB/PARIS21, UNSD and AfDB
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2008 National Population
and Housing Census
• We also thank the UNSD, ECOWAS and
the organizers of the 41st Session of the
UN Statistical Commission for inviting and
supporting us to come and share our
experiences
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THANK YOU FOR
YOUR ATTENTION
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