The Experience of Census Data Analysis in the Pacific: The Case of Vanuatu

1. The Experience of Census Data Analysis in the Pacific: The Case of Vanuatu For Needs Assessment Conference on Census Analysis in Asia and the Pacific, 23-25 November 2011, Bali, Indonesia Presented by : Mr. BenuelLenge Vanuatu National Statistics Office

2. Outline • Overview of Vanuatu • 2009 census background • Census reports and monographs • Other forms of Analyses and dissemination of 2009 census data • Changing role of NSO • Future plans www.vnso.gov.vu | blenge@vanuatu.gov.vu Vanuatu National Statistics Office Ministry of Finance and Economic Management Port Vila, Vanuatu

3. Overview of Pacific region • 22 island countries and territories • 10 million people, population range from 1,000 to 7million people • Land size from 12 sqkm to 463,000 sqkm • Small low lying atolls to mountainous volcanic islands • 3 main ethnic origins – Micronesia, Melanesia and Polynesia

4. Vanuatu....back ground info • Population = 250,000 and counting • 83 islands • 14,700 sqkm land area • >100 languages

5. 2009 Census = 5th Official census ...Incorporated new processes and questions Data Automation and Questionnaire scanning Incorporated questions on Literacy, disability and ICT XY coordinates of HH locations using GPS

6. Census Activities over the last 12 months Support from UNFPA PSRO and SPC for data processing, analysis and dissemination • Census 2009 Tabulations & Final Reports • Redatam database development • National Data Archiving with Metadata Toolkit • Website Upgrade • Census Dissemination • Development of Population Policy

7. Standard reports • Collaboration with SPC working with national counterparts from NSO • Vol 1 : Basic Tables • Freqs and cross tabs up to island level information • Vol 2: Analytical report • General analysis on population trends, the estimates of demographic components, social and household characteristics, population projections www.vnso.gov.vu | blenge@vanuatu.gov.vu Vanuatu National Statistics Office Ministry of Finance and Economic Management Port Vila, Vanuatu

8. Census 2009 Tabulations and graphs Pacific Regional Information System (PRISM) Upgrade http://www.vnso.gov.vu “ Access this page on our website HTML Full Report Available Here ” …..done for the first time

9. Thematic Analysis • Collaboration with UNFPA PSRO working with national counterparts from NSO • Aimed to draw maximum benefit and utilization of census data for purposes of evidence-based policy information or formulation. • Capacity development of national staff • Currently working on Gender Monograph (released) and Youth monograph (to be released) • Plans for other thematic reports in 2012 www.vnso.gov.vu | blenge@vanuatu.gov.vu Vanuatu National Statistics Office Ministry of Finance and Economic Management Port Vila, Vanuatu

10. The Gender Report on “Women and Men in Vanuatu” • Topics included in report: • Marriage, families and households • Health and wellbeing • Education • Work and employment • Migration • Information and technology • Income, assets and housing • Produced provincial factsheets, brochures and press kits • written for a broad audience, including people who have no experience in using statistics. www.vnso.gov.vu | blenge@vanuatu.gov.vu Vanuatu National Statistics Office Ministry of Finance and Economic Management Port Vila, Vanuatu

11. Redatam database To promote access to and analysis of census data for informed decision making • To be launched in 2012 • Planned to release information at the lowest geographical level i.e Villages • To be available in stand alone and online mode

12. Vanuatu Population GIS • Update data to 2009 Census • Current work by SPC for upgrade with web capabilities • The system has the capacity to: • Highlight regional variations across a country (example: access to services, well-being, wealth, hardship, poverty are usually not distributed equally on the ground; hence not very visible in the form of a national indicator (e.g. MDG). • Identify “hot-spots” justify (improve) geographic targeting (example: more effectively visualize/target priority areas; avoid investing scarce resources in non-needy areas in the name of equality; direct intervention to most needed areas; optimize success/impact of interventions )

13. Metadata/Microdata National Data Archive (IHSN) • Incorporation of NADA 3.0 technology into the VNSO website http://www.ihsn.org Provides the opportunity to make a good start with documenting the past censuses “ The microdata toolkit is being used to document the Census and surveys and has become an integral piece of software in the overall end-to-end documentation process. Access this page on our website

15. National Population Policy • 2009 Census data assist in finalizing the first NPP • The policy targets the following areas: • Fertility • Mortality • Migration • Data availability on population • Gender issue • unemployment and underemployment • Reduce hardship and poverty

16. Changing role of NSO • Institutional Strengthening Program by ABS • Restructuring • Establishment of Provincial Offices • Review of the Statistics Act • Closer connections with other ministries, decentralization of activities, etc thru providing support for data collection, processing and analysis

17. Upcoming census activities • Release of Redatamdatabase • Data analysis and report writing for stakeholders including media and parliamentarians • Update the PopGIS • Population Atlas • Other Monographs • Census Infor (?)

18. Thank you