5 th Sudan Population and Housing Census Experience 2008

1. 5th Sudan Population and Housing Census Experience 2008 Presented By Isaiah Chol, Chairman, SSCCSE/Sudan Sudan Experience at the 4th African Symposium on Statistical Development, Luanda, Angola 13th February 2009

2. Introduction • The 5th Sudan Population and Housing Census has just been successfully completed. The preparation for this census commenced in 2005, soon after signing the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA). The enumeration count took place in April – May 2008 • This presentation provides a brief description of the whole census process Sudan Experience at the 4th African Symposium on Statistical Development, Luanda, Angola 9 - 13 February 2009

3. Background • The CPA required that a population census be undertaken prior to the elections. The CPA identified the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) in the North and the Southern Sudan Commission for Census, Statistics and Evaluation (SSCCSE) in Southern Sudan, as the two Government agencies to implement the census programme. • The CPA also identified UNFPA as the UN agency to provide technical support and to ensure that the census is carried out using international standards and procedures. • Sudan has conducted 5 Censuses in 1955/6, 1973, 1983, 1993, and 2008 Sudan Experience at the 4th African Symposium on Statistical Development, Luanda, Angola 9 - 13 February 2009

4. UNFPA Role • Mobilization of Resources • Providing Technical Assistance • Coordination both inside and outside Sudan • Training and Capacity Building • Procurement Sudan Experience at the 4th African Symposium on Statistical Development, Luanda, Angola 9 - 13 February 2009

5. GONU AND GOSS • The CPA ushered in two systems of government in one country • GONU is the Federal government with members from North and South Sudan • GOSS is the government in charge of the semi-autonomous Southern Sudan • GONU and GOSS are both responsible for the conduct of the census in North and South Sudan respectively • GONU provided funding for the census for both North and South Sudan since it was considered a national project. GOSS also provided some funding for South Sudan Sudan Experience at the 4th African Symposium on Statistical Development, Luanda, Angola 9 - 13 February 2009

6. Institutional and Implementation Arrangements • South Sudan Commission for Census, Statistics, and Evaluation (SSCCSE) to undertake Census in the South while CBS to carry out Census in the Northern Sudan • UNFPA to provide technical and procurement support to Sudan Census • The Technical Working Group (TWG) comprise of national and international stakeholders has been the main tool for harmonization and coordination of census methodologies programmes for the Sudan Sudan Experience at the 4th African Symposium on Statistical Development, Luanda, Angola 9 - 13 February 2009

7. PCC AND SSPCC • PCC established by GONU Presidential Decree in January 2006 as supreme body to supervise and coordinate the implementation of the census with the authority to approve the census results • PCC has four main committees (Finance, Advocacy, Monitoring and Technical) and several other committee at regional, state and local level. • SSPCC was also established by a GOSS Presidential Decree in September 2006 to supervise implementation of the census in South Sudan. • SSPCC also had its set of main committees (Finance, Technical and Advocacy) and committees at State and County Level. • Reality now is that both PCC and SSPCC have to agree on methodologies, questionnaires, procedures, dates and results before implementation Sudan Experience at the 4th African Symposium on Statistical Development, Luanda, Angola 9 - 13 February 2009

8. Field Mapping • The entire country was divided into 51, 000 Enumeration areas (11, 000 in the South and 40, 000 in the North) • Urban EA size was 150 – 200 Households/Enumerator • Rural EA size was 100 – 150 Households/Enumerator • Staff 1, 425 (900 in the South and 525 in the North) • Villages were used to demarcate the EAs. • Using computers and GPS, digitized maps were produced for the first time in the Sudan for enumeration • Base maps were used in the North while the South started from scratch Sudan Experience at the 4th African Symposium on Statistical Development, Luanda, Angola 9 - 13 February 2009

9. Pilot Census • Conducted in April 2007 to test • Questionnaires • Maps • Logistics • Data Processing • Accessibility, etc • Methodologies and tools were revised based on the result of the pilot evaluation Sudan Experience at the 4th African Symposium on Statistical Development, Luanda, Angola 9 - 13 February 2009

10. Advocacy and Publicity • Advocacy Committees were formed at all levels of government • Advocacy and Publicity campaign were officially launched by the highest authority of the government of National Unity and Government of Southern Sudan respectively. • All State governments were provided with public address systems to support the campaign • Census Materials were produced and distributed throughout the country • Workshops involving traditional leaders, civil society, government officials were held throughout the country. • Radio and TV stations had regular program on the Census • Advocacy started along with mapping in 2006 and continued till enumeration Sudan Experience at the 4th African Symposium on Statistical Development, Luanda, Angola 9 - 13 February 2009

11. Enumeration • Duration • 22nd April – 6th May (Two Weeks) • Method • De Facto (People were counted where they spent the night April 21-22) • Special Population groups (Cattle camps, institutional households, homeless, night travelers etc) • Were enumerated at midnight in the North and in the early morning hours of April 22 in the South due to lack of electricity • Staff • 65, 000 (Coordinators, Field Supervisors, Supervisors, and Enumerators) recruited, trained and deployed to list households and enumerate Sudan Experience at the 4th African Symposium on Statistical Development, Luanda, Angola 9 - 13 February 2009

12. Retrieval of Census Materials • Retrieval started 7th May and ended July 27th (2 Months) • Materials were collected from enumeration areas to state headquarters and finally transported to Rumbek/Khartoum Data Processing Centres Sudan Experience at the 4th African Symposium on Statistical Development, Luanda, Angola 9 - 13 February 2009

13. Data Processing This is one of the key activities after enumeration. There is a sequence of sub-activities to be undertaken: • Manual verification before data capture • Data capture through scanning By DRS using OMR • Key Corrections: • Data editing and cleaning • Coding of occupation and industry • Data tabulation and analysis Sudan Experience at the 4th African Symposium on Statistical Development, Luanda, Angola 9 - 13 February 2009

14. Scanning Technology • Data Capture Technology • Optical Mark Recognition (OMR) • Contractor/Scanner Provider • The interest was a company that will offer a total Solution rather than a partial solution • Equipment • 14 Scanners (9 in the North and 5 in the South) were procured from DRS for scanning Sudan Experience at the 4th African Symposium on Statistical Development, Luanda, Angola 9 - 13 February 2009

15. Data Processing Centers and Staffing • Data Processing Centers • Rumbek Data Processing Center (South) • Khartoum Data Processing Center (North) • Staffing (500) • 184 in the South • 316 in the North Sudan Experience at the 4th African Symposium on Statistical Development, Luanda, Angola 9 - 13 February 2009

16. Manual Verification Personnel thoroughly reviewed all envelopes prior to scanning. Ensured each questionnaire, household, and EA was clean and ready for scanning Sudan Experience at the 4th African Symposium on Statistical Development, Luanda, Angola 9 - 13 February 2009

17. Scanning • Forms were run through a scanner and an electronic image is captured. • Computer software transforms the images into a data-file. Sudan Experience at the 4th African Symposium on Statistical Development, Luanda, Angola 9 - 13 February 2009

18. Key Correction • Sometimes, forms have mistakes, or the markings are unclear. Clerks were trained and assigned to make this amendments • During Key Correction, clerks review and enter the correct information from the forms that the scanners did not capture properly Sudan Experience at the 4th African Symposium on Statistical Development, Luanda, Angola 9 - 13 February 2009

19. Data Merging and Editing • Both Datasets from the two Data centers were merged (Sudan Dataset) for final editing • Editing of the Sudan Dataset is carried out jointly by both the North and the South at one Center (Khartoum Data Processing Centre) • Census Priority Tables have been produced and are currently being checked for consistency before final Tabulation Sudan Experience at the 4th African Symposium on Statistical Development, Luanda, Angola 9 - 13 February 2009

20. Monitoring and Observer’s Committee Role • Observe and monitor the whole census process to ensure that the process was transparent and that internationally accepted standards and procedures for conducting Census were followed. • National and International observers were recruited and deployed all over the country • Provides periodic reports to the National population council Sudan Experience at the 4th African Symposium on Statistical Development, Luanda, Angola 9 - 13 February 2009

21. Challenges • Insecurity in some parts of the Country (Darfur and South Sudan) • Funding (Timely release of Funds) • Infrastructure (Telecommunications, roads, storage and training facilities, etc) • Technology (Scanning, programming, etc) • Logistics (Transportation, transfer of cash, etc) • Border issues Sudan Experience at the 4th African Symposium on Statistical Development, Luanda, Angola 9 - 13 February 2009

22. Challenges Cont.. • Human Resources • Influx of Returnees • Whether Conditions • Procurement (Equipment and Material Imported) • Language (Two languages were used. Arabic and English) • Political debate on whether or not to include Ethnicity and Religion on the questionnaire • Enumeration of Nomads Sudan Experience at the 4th African Symposium on Statistical Development, Luanda, Angola 9 - 13 February 2009

23. Whether Conditions and Road infrastructure in South Sudan Sudan Experience at the 4th African Symposium on Statistical Development, Luanda, Angola 9 - 13 February 2009

24. Budget

25. Lessons Learned • Elaborate and comprehensive work plan has to be developed first • Mobilization of Resources (Human, Finance, material, equipment, etc) • Effective Leadership and Management Team • Proper Logistics, Transport, and Storage plans • Enough time for Census planning and execution • Aggressive advocacy and publicity is required for the success of the census • Reasonable working environment or conditions is neccessary • The role of media was very instrumental Sudan Experience at the 4th African Symposium on Statistical Development, Luanda, Angola 9 - 13 February 2009

26. Recommendations • Women involvement is important and should be encouraged • Learning from other experienced countries is useful. e.g. Sudan benefited from visits to 9 countries • Commitment and Political will on the part of the National government underscores ownership • Effective supervision, coordination, cooperation, and communication among stakeholders • Regional and International Support (Technically and Financially) is critical in the success of any census Sudan Experience at the 4th African Symposium on Statistical Development, Luanda, Angola 9 - 13 February 2009

27. Acknowledgement Finally, we would like to acknowledge the invaluable contribution, cooperation and support of the International Community, regional countries and organizations. Sudan Experience at the 4th African Symposium on Statistical Development, Luanda, Angola 9 - 13 February 2009

28. THANK YOU شكرآ جزيلآ Sudan Experience at the 4th African Symposium on Statistical Development, Luanda, Angola 9 - 13 February 2009