2010 Heads of Planning & Statistics meeting

1. 2010 Heads of Planning & Statistics meeting Secretariat of the Pacific Community, Noumea, New Caledonia 12 July - 16 July 2010, Presentation by: Vanuatu National Statistics Office

2. Content • Part 1: Vanuatu Experience in Coordination in executing censuses and surveys • Part 2: Vanuatu Experience in processing census and survey questionnaires • Part 3: Vanuatu Experience in training in censuses and surveys Slide # 2

3. Part 1: Vanuatu Experience in Coordination in executing censuses and surveys Slide # 3

4. Purpose • To briefly summarize census planning and design practices in past and present Vanuatu 2009 census project; • To discuss the role of coordination in census execution success, including lessons learnt from previous censuses and surveys that were incorporated into the 2009 census planning and design with a view to improving quality and timeliness; Slide # 4

5. Background • Vanuatu has a relatively short history • Two full national censuses prior to Independence (1967 and 1979) • 1989 Census regarded as the first official census hence interval of 10 years Slide # 5

6. Lead time and total duration Tab 1. Total census duration by census years • Lead time and duration decrease but costs increase due to inflation and growth Slide # 6

7. Resources • Use of Pacific model questionnaire • Donor funding upon submission of project profile – VanGov very supportive • Holistic approach, use of existing sub national networks for support and publicity • Adopt use of GPS and OCR • Technical support from SPC – bonded by MOA Slide # 7

8. Expected outputs • It is expected that the inclusion of new tech will take census in Vanuatu into another level • Capacity building • Reliability and timeliness of data Slide # 8

9. Progress to date • The 2009 Vanuatu census in data cleaning stage. • Very minimum TA support in coordination • 2 areas not executed • Pilot of institutions • Post enumeration Survey (PES) Slide # 9

10. Key points for discussion • Mobilizing resources continued to be a challenge • VNSO ISP to have positive spill off effects once fully implemented • In terms of experience, Vanuatu now has a lot in store to offer Slide # 10

11. Part 2: Vanuatu Experience in processing census and survey questionnaires Slide # 11

12. Purpose • To briefly summarize questionnaire processing practices in Vanuatu for censuses and surveys and particular planning for the 2009 census questionnaire processing; • To discuss choice of methodologies, tests, and execution, including lessons learnt from pilot census that were incorporated into the 2009 census questionnaire processing with a view towards what you could have done better if you were to start again Slide # 12

13. Background • Data processing quite new and a technical area mostly done by technical personnel thru technical support in past • The 1979 census was processed outside the then New Hebrides. • It was the 1989 Census that first saw the introduction of microcomputers • For the 2009 Census, it was decided that a step further in data processing be opted and hence, the automated data processing system, the OCR. Slide # 13

14. Expected outputs • Pilot Census evaluation favored the use of GPS and Scanning on the following grounds: • Accuracy: There was no significant difference in reported data quality between the Scanning and KDE. Output tables were very similar which totals almost identical. • Time: Using the results from the pilot, anticipated that data tabulations using scanning will be 40 weeks (or 10 months) earlier than manual data entry. Slide # 14

15. Progress to date • Actual Scanning first used on HH listing forms • data processing has taken longer than anticipated, much of the delays had been going through error checking, supposed to be minimized through field checks • Data transfers from different platforms – for different purposes and strengths • Study tours from countries in the region purposely on Scanning. Slide # 15

16. Key points for discussion • Being the first to implement fully-automated technology, has in many ways, been also used as a trial and error basis • The need for additional mechanisms as support to checks and monitoring prior to scanning – a pacific model would be great • It remains to be seen if the assumption of timeliness and accuracy in opting for the automation of census forms would hold true not to mention the costs of acquiring and maintain new technologies. Slide # 16

17. Part 3: Vanuatu Experience in training in censuses and surveys Slide # 17

18. Purpose • To briefly summarize recruitment and practices in Vanuatu census/survey taking; • To discuss the operations and procedures involved in 2009 census recruitment and training of various categories of census workers, including lessons learnt from previous censuses and surveys, pilot experience, and incorporated into the 2009 census recruitment and training planning and design with a view to improving quality; Slide # 18

19. Background • Training form the essential part of the field operation, determine quality. • Training conducted 2 phases - training of trainers who will then train the enumerators, guided by training manual and schedules were developed • face-to-face interviewers used due to level of literacy • Up to 800 individuals in total were engaged on ad hoc basis • Pool of interviewers nationwide Slide # 19

20. Resources • Use of Pacific model questionnaire • Donor funding upon submission of project profile – VanGov very supportive • Holistic approach, use of existing sub national networks for support and publicity • Adopt use of GPS and OCR • Technical support from SPC – bonded by MOA Slide # 20

21. Expected outputs • Complexity requires delegation of responsibilities – province, area managers, supervisors and enumerators, each with different levels of training • Required to perform different levels of checking and monitoring • Recruitment based on certain criteria, 10 years of educ a minimum and experience in past censuses and surveys Slide # 21

22. Expected outputs cont’ • Use of non teaching teachers (ZCAs) as trainers and later on as area managers • TOT conducted in Vila and Enumerators were trained at different locations throughout the country • Another form of training conducted to data processing staff. Slide # 22

23. Progress to date • TA training support in terms of use of GPS and Scanning technology, and census cartography – all as part of capacity building for VNSO • Output from census results would require further training in terms of analysis and dissemination. Slide # 23

24. Key points for discussion • rigorous monitoring to quality assurance techniques to be developed – a pacific model – and emphasized in training Slide # 24

25. Tankio tumas Slide # 25