Ethiopia Ready to Conduct Census Albeit Challenges: CSA

Addis Ababa  February 19/2019 Ethiopia is finalizing preparation to conduct the 4th population and housing census as per schedule, Central Statistics Agency said.

CSA Director-General, Birratu Yigezu said the country is ready to conduct successful census, despite concerns related to displacement and conflict.

According to Birratu, these facts along with misinformation intentionally shared on social media have created confusion among the public. However, these things could not affect the census from being taken place.  

“Individuals, counselors, research institutions, political parties, among others are beneficiaries of successful census. These facts have huge significance for a long time. So, everybody needs to be aware of it. However, there may be some confusion and baseless doubts released by the social media which could not affect the process and normal like other countries”.

The Director-General noted that the challenge that the country is facing currently including security issues and disputes among administrative boundaries and identity in some areas could pose a challenge for the census. 

However, preparations are being underway in collaboration with various associations including civic societies, community elders, and prominent personalities to improve awareness and resolve challenges.

“There may be some areas in between two Woredas, Zones or regional states arguing each other related to eligibility of land and identities. Census is beyond identity and border issues with details of a given area in to consideration. Activities are being undertaking by census commission and all stakeholders”, he pointed out.

About 190,000 experts will be engaged in the upcoming census and the training is being given both in theory and practice before the actual activities started.

As the country is committed to conduct the census as per the schedule, it has established a 20-member advisory council in November in order to closely monitor the process and provides remedies for challenges that may occur.

Dr. Eshetu Gurmu Lecturer at Addis Ababa University is one of the members of the Advisory Council. He said the council is following the process closely and ready to provide solution for any challenge.

“We are just providing technical support and advise about trainings based on standards. This census is not the duty to be left for one institution it rather needs the mobilization of all. An accurate census is useful not only for tomorrow but for the coming 10, 20 years and the coming generation”, he stressed.

Going Digital

Ethiopia will apply digital technology for the first time in the census, scheduled to take place from April 7 to 28.

The previous censuses that Ethiopia had conducted were paper-based, making the process challenging.

Encoding the raw data into computer was a challenge as it takes time and there is a possibility of losing some data.

“The new technology is crucial to report the data straight to the headquarters as soon as the census completed without any loss of facts in the process and it reduces time”, he noted

The census will be conducted using five local languages namely Amharic, Afaan Oromo, Afar, Tigrigna, and Somali. 

Security Issues

The National Population and Housing Census, which was scheduled to take place last year, was postponed to 2019, due to security challenges that affected parts of the country.

There are concerns over the timing of the census, as many have displaced due to violent clashes and the existence of disputes over areas and identity.

Birratu said activities are being undertaking to conduct the census in some unstable areas in collaboration with all stakeholders. “Our goal is to have a successful census and standardized data throughout the country.”

“We may face some conflicting areas during the process and we are ready to resolve as it happens. Since every pocket areas should be included in the census, we will exert our maximum efforts in such areas”, he affirmed.

Various associations and other actors including dignitaries will be involved in such areas and support the process by creating awareness among the society, he added.

Census and the Identity Issues

Ethiopia has seen been experiencing disputes and sometimes deadly clashes over administrative boundaries that were drawn along ethnic lines and related issues regarding identity.

“It is important to be aware that the objective of Census is beyond identity and border issues. Yes, census considers details of a given area but the total outcome will benefit everyone in the country", he pointed out.

Activities are being undertaking to negotiate those parties who are arguing in such areas by the census commission and all stakeholders, according to Birratu.

According to him, with all the challenges, the country will conduct the 4th Population and Housing Census from April, 7-28, 2019 successfully.

Ethiopia has so far conducted 3 Population and Housing Censuses (PHC) in 1984, 1994, and 2007.