Census Evaluation and Post Enumeration Survey - The Liberian Experience

1. Census Evaluation and Post Enumeration Survey - The Liberian Experience Presented By: Augustine Fayiah Director, Survey S & Censuses United Nations Regional Workshop on the 2010 World Programme on Population and Housing Censuses: 14-18 Sept. 2009 - Addis Ababa, Ethiopia LISGIS PAGE 1

2. OUTLINE OF PRESENTATION • Censuses in Liberia – A review • 2010 Round of Censuses – 2008 NPHC • Results • PES • Way Forward LISGIS PAGE 2

3. CENSUSES in Liberia Liberia has conducted 4 Population Censuses since Independence in 1847 • 1962 Population Census: 1,016,443 • 1974 Population & Housing Census:1,503,368 • 1984 Population & Housing Census: 2,101,628 • 2008 Population & Housing Census: 3,476,608 LISGIS PAGE 3

4. 2010 Round of Censuses Reasons for conducting the 2008 NPHC • The data from the 1984 census was looted/destroyed during • the civil crisis, as a result, the data was not analyzed and • published • Liberia did not conduct a census in 1994 either 2004 • Most of Liberia’s data banks both the soft and hard copies • were completely destroyed during the civil crisis LISGIS PAGE 4

5. 2010 Round of Censuses Reasons for conducting the 2008 NPHC • There was a need to bridge the data gap by generating • needed socio- economic data for formulating, implementing, • monitoring and evaluating development programmes • As a result, the government decided in November 2006 to • participate in the 2010 Round of Censuses by conducting a • National Population and Housing Census in March 2008. 9/2/09 LISGIS PAGE 5

6. 2010 Round of Censuses Cont’d Specific objectives of the 2008 NPHC – to Know • Size, composition and spatial distribution of the population • Levels of education attained by the population • Size and employment of the labor force • Prevalence of disability and its spread • Levels of fertility, mortality and migration 9/2/09 LISGIS PAGE 6

7. 2010 Round of Censuses Cont’d • Rates and patterns of urbanization • Housing conditions and availability of social amenities • Access to basic social services • Participation rate in agriculture 9/2/09 LISGIS PAGE 7

8. 2008 NPHC Census Cartography/Mapping • The census cartography/mapping exercise started in March • 2007 and was completed in January 2008, • UNFPA provided a Cartographic Technical Advisor to guide • the process. • About 100 local cartographers and household listing clerks were • recruited to demarcate the entire country into enumeration areas • (EAs) using GPS equipment. LISGIS 9/2/09 PAGE 8

9. 2008 NPHC Census Field Enumeration • The census instruments were designed, developed and shipped • to the field by February 2008. • A total of about 11,250 field staff, including county coordinators; • county inspectors district and field supervisors; and enumerators, were • recruited, trained and deployed for five days to conduct the census • enumeration • The field enumeration was conducted from 21st -30th March 2008 using • de Facto Method • The Final results were released by the president of the Republic • of Liberia in June 2008 putting the population at 3,476,608 LISGIS 9/2/09 PAGE 9

10. Post Enumeration Survey DEFINATION • A Post Enumeration Survey (PES) is conducted after the census • enumeration toexamine the quality of census outputs and process. • UN recommended that a post-enumeration Survey (PES) be undertaken • within three months after the enumeration to determine the degree • of under-or over count in a population and housing censuses • Liberia conducted the PES in June 2008 two (2)months after the census • enumeration. PAGE 10 LISGIS 9/2/09

11. Post Enumeration Survey PES Sample Design • A sample of 352 Enumeration Areas was selected (5% of 7,025 EAs) • The country was stratified by counties (15 counties) as well as urban • and rural areas PAGE 11 LISGIS 9/2/09

12. Post Enumeration Survey The Objectives of the PES were: • To assess the degree of courage during the census enumeration • To examine the implication of coverage deficiencies, if any on the • usefulness of the census data • To obtain information for the design of future censuses and survey • To examine the characteristics of persons who may have been missed • during the census enumeration PAGE 12 9/2/09 LISGIS

13. Post Enumeration Survey Questionnaire • The questionnaire used for the PES was a shorter version • of the Census questionnaire. • It included Questions on name, age, sex, marital status, population • group, home language and level of education for each person listed etc. LISGIS PAGE 13 9/2/09

14. Post Enumeration Survey Field Enumeration • 1,500 temporary staff, including county inspectors, supervisors and • enumerators were employed to work on the PES. • The field staff were recruited from the data base from the main census • and trained for six (6)days at the county level. • Training manuals were developed for all levels of staff. The aim was to • achieve uniform and reliable enumeration in the PES. • The PES was conducted in June 2008, two (2) months after the • enumeration. PAGE 14 LISGIS 9/2/09

15. Post Enumeration Survey Methodology • The field workers were assigned to different districts for field enumeration • The fieldworkers were required to work in pairs on the following tasks: • check the boundaries of the EAs to Which they were assigned. • New summary books (PES summary books) containing EA maps and • orientation Maps, were supplied. • Questionnaires administered in each household listed in EA. • Complete the PES summary book in the same way as in the census, • The dwellings in the EA were listed without having access to the previous • listing. PAGE 15 LISGIS 9/2/09

16. Way Forward • 2008 National Population & Housing Census • Analysis of the census data • Dissemination of the census results • b. 2008 PES • Matching of PES returns with the main census • Analyzing the PES report • Writing the PES report • LISGIS need specialist to assist in PES report writing Thank You for Listening!!! PAGE 16 LISGIS 9/2/09