To ensure the success of next year’s population and housing census, an extensive public information campaign is key. This is one of the conclusions reached at a roundtable organized by the National Bureau of Statistics in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund, which discussed the trial census that was conducted during August 28- October 10 in 11 localities of Moldova.
Oleg Cara, director of the National Bureau of Statistics, declared that obtaining a comprehensive picture of the nation that can be used to produce change depends on the participation of every citizen in the census and the provision of accurate and complete answers. He encouraged the population to participate in the 2024 census by confidently welcoming the census takers into their homes. “The trial census helped to better understand the difficulties, challenges and barriers we could face in the actual census. It made it possible to identify solutions to improve and streamline the process next year”, said Oleg Cara.
Jan Demidovitš-Mekeläinen, program officer for regional development, tourism and statistics at the EU Delegation to the Republic of Moldova, said that the data obtained through the census will be used for the development and monitoring of public policies in health, education, social protection, local administration reform and research and administrative activities. Data is also important for allocating budget funds exactly where they are needed. The European Union supports this exercise and, at the same time, coordinates and supports together with civil society the way in which the census takes place and the quality of the data collected.
Aliona Cristei, program analyst at UNFPA Moldova, noted that the census data is the information base used by the central and local authorities in the process of planning social services, medical services, in the process of monitoring sustainable development goals so that no one is left behind. This exercise is one of the most comprehensive activities that also requires rigorous institutional changes to improve, especially the infrastructure of the National Bureau of Statistics by integrating innovative tools in the next census and administrative data that are available. The National Bureau of Statistics will be provided with the necessary equipment, with tablets and other forms of technical assistance, including apps and software to be used in the national census.
The participants in the round table proposed as solutions the preparation of an extensive national information campaign regarding the conduct of the census and its implementation in optimal terms, the revision of the census questionnaires by reducing their volume, the improvement of the reviewers’ and supervisors’ guidelines. Another solution concerns streamlining census staff training by optimizing training content and expanding sessions aimed at creating practical skills.
According to the opinion poll conducted with the people who participated in the trial census, 95% of them mentioned that the process was well explained to them and they understood the questions well. Over 70% said the review time was reasonable. Also, 33% found some questions to be disturbing. The reluctance of some respondents, especially in urban areas, to participate in the census and the length of the questionnaire are among the challenges faced.
Other challenges include the sensitivity of some questions, such as personal identification number, consensual union, workplace, collection of data on unoccupied or occupied housing, for which it was difficult to correctly determine the status even after repeated visits.
